Hockey: Beeston aim to slip into play-offs

BEESTON, BACK from their exploits in Europe last weekend in which they finished a creditable fifth in their first attempt in the European Club Championship, could upset the season's form books tomorrow and snatch a place in next weekend's Premiership play-offs at Reading.

First, however, they must beat Southgate, already qualified for Reading, and then await the result from Canterbury. The Kent club would lose out if beaten by Guildford. Mathematically a large defeat for Reading at home to relegated Brooklands would also let Beeston in but the odds are heavily stacked against this.

Beeston's manager Graham Griffiths, announcing a full squad, said: "More than we had in Europe," referring to the absence of Philip Sully and Andrew West with the England Under-18 squad winning European Gold, and added: "We are looking forward to the game where much will depend on how Southgate approach it. Five days in Europe has given us a big bonus. We learnt more there than in half a season at home." Southgate will be without their high-scoring German international, Eiko Rott, missing with a knee injury.

Peterborough Town, looking to regain their National League status, drew first blood in the Inter League play-offs at Milton Keynes yesterday, beating Fareham 2-1.