Hockey: Grant in limelight

AFTER just two weeks of the Women's National League, the surge of young players forcing their way into the limelight has been most encouraging, writes Bill

Colwill. The youngest, Helen Grant, a 14-year-old Halifax schoolgirl playing alongside Great Britain's captain Jill Atkins, scored her first League goal last Sunday for Bradford Swithenbank and can be expected to cause a few problems for visiting Bracknell when the teams meet tomorrow at Keighley.

The 19-year-old Brunel University student, Bryony Hoskins, is expected to line up with the New Zealand captain, Kate Trolove, and Britain's Mandy Nicholls, as the front-runners for Ealing, in their home game at Hounslow's new ground against the Cup holders, Balsam Leicester.

Leicester, one of only four sides in the three divisions holding a 100 per cent record, will provide tough opposition for the West London club who already are becoming known as the 'first half only' club. Leicester will be without their 18-year-old international Lucy Cope, who is recovering from a stress fracture.

The champions and current leaders Ipswich travel to Clifton in confident mood. The West country side, under Sue Slocombe, has a number of promising youngsters in their ranks, in particular Charlotte Merrett, at centre-back.