Hockey: Mayer earns recall

CHRIS MAYER, the Cannock winger, has been called in to replace the unsettled defender Rob Hill in the Great Britain squad for next month's Four Nations' Tournament in Barcelona and the Champions Trophy in Lahore in March, writes Bill Colwill.

Mayer, 25, who won the first of his 68 caps in 1988 but has been unlucky to have missed major events, gets a deserved recall and his presence will give more balance to the side who previously bore a defensive look.

Yesterday's draw for the fifth round of the Hockey Association Cup threw up a number of intriguing contests. Hounslow, the holders, visit East Grinstead, whom they have knocked out in the semi-finals for the past two years.

Hounslow's manager, Keith Rowe, said yesterday: 'Thank heavens for a local draw. EG will not be easy and they will be aware that they are the only side to have beaten us in domestic competitions for the past 14 months.'

In two other all First Division ties, Southgate visit struggling St Albans and Cannock travel to Reading.

HOCKEY ASSOCIATION CUP FIFTH ROUND: Beeston v Warrington; Bournville or Isca v Old Loughtonians or City of Portsmouth; Bromley or Coventry and North Warwick v Stourport or Havant; East Grinstead v Hounslow; Harrogate v Bloxwich or Trojans; Reading v Cannock; St Albans v Southgate; Surbiton v Teddington. (Ties to be played on 16 January).