Hockey: Hightown retain indoor crown

IN A pulsating final of the Women's Indoor Club Championship at Crystal Palace yesterday, Hightown squeezed past Ipswich to win 2-1. It was their seventh title and third in successive years and will leave them in buoyant mood on Thursday on departure for the European Indoor Club finals in Berlin.

After a goalless first half Ipswich, who owed so much to their goalkeeper Jo Thompson and Sandie Lister, took the lead four minutes after the interval through a brilliant move finished by Sarah Bamfield. Hightown equalised when Tina Cullen was sent away by Maggie Souyave to score, and with two and a half minutes to go, Souyave herself crowned a fine performance by grabbing the winner.

Hightown's path to the final had been smooth. Having built a 5-0 interval lead in the semi-final against Chelmsford, they won 8-3 with Lorraine Marsden and Jackie Crook each scoring twice. Ipswich, however, had been made to fight all the way before winning 3-2 against a stubborn Slough side, in which Karen Brown was the hub.

The final of the Schools and Youth Championship was a family affair for Dame Alice Harpur who beat previous champions Gordano 3-2. England's Under-21 defender, Lucy Cope, scored all three goals for a side coached by her father and managed by her mother.

In the men's PizzaExpress National League, Hounslow, 3-0 winners at Cannock, remain top with Southgate, 3-0 winners against St Albans, keeping up the pressure.

In the Second Division, Reading remain seven points clear at the top after a 7-0 League win over Harleston Magpies. Paddy Osborn scored twice, having already scored Saturday's winner against Beeston in their Royal Bank of Scotland Hockey Association Cup quarter-final.