Hockey: Graham welcome

OXFORD and Cambridge registered League wins at the weekend before their meeting today in the University Match at Reading, writes Bill Colwill.

Oxford are one point behind the leaders, Maidenhead, in the Peroni South Premier B Division, with a game in hand, and remain on course to become the first university to achieve PizzaExpress National League status.

For today's game, Oxford welcome back Wayne Graham, although he only arrived at Heathrow last night after leading South Africa to victory in the Africa Cup in Nairobi, who thus qualify for the Intercontinental Cup in the summer. It was South Africa's first tournament since 1974.

Cambridge are in sixth place in the Norwich Union East Premier following a 4-0 win against Redbridge and Ilford, the pace-setters for most of the season.

At the top, Crostyx beat Blueharts 3-0 to go four points clear of Ipswich, who continue to pile up the goals with a 6-0 win against Westcliff to bring their total for the season to 72.

Edgbaston, 3-2 winners against Belper in the Ernst and Young Midland Premier, became the first team to qualify for this season's Inter League play-offs for a place in the National League.