Hockey: Ipswich aim to top the league

IPSWICH, WITH Slough inactive, hope to be three points clear at the top of the Women's National League Premier after Saturday's encounter with Fyffes Leicester in the day's top fixture. With the former England captain, Sandi Lister, available following her return from Australia with the England indoor cricket side and Lucy Youngs fit again, they go into Saturday's match in a confident mood.

Confidence is also high over in the Leicester camp. Fortified by their new sponsor and new coach, manager Kevin Blanks reports a happy team with everything ticking. The signing at the start of the season of the Dutch coach, Bo Koolen, who was assistant coach to the US side at the Atlanta Olympics, is beginning to pay dividends and Koolen will be looking to improve on the draws they have had in their last two games against Hightown and Olton, although a draw at Ipswich would be a useful point.

There is good news on the progress of Purdy Miller, England's leading goal scorer in the World Cup, who is recovering well from a serious knee operation but is unlikely to be considered until the New Year.

Slough, England's representatives in the European Indoor Cup this year, are in Hamburg over the weekend taking part in an invitation tournament under their new indoor coach, the former England and St Albans captain, Andy Halliday.

Their game against Doncaster has been postponed to 29 November. Clifton Scottish Life, one point behind the leaders Ipswich and Slough, travel to Hightown, the draw specialists, where they will want to take their chances better than they did against Ipswich in their last game when they went down 0-1.