Hockey: Parker perks up Slough

SLOUGH, aiming for their fourth successive Women's National League title, had a winning start on Saturday in their home game against Doncaster.

Kate Parker, after a good run by Leslie Hobley, gave them the lead in the 11th minute and after that it was all one way traffic towards the Doncaster goal, without the champions being able to increase their slender lead.

Welsh striker Yana Williams scored twice just before the interval to give her new club Clifton a 2-0 interval lead away at Chelmsford where, with further goals from Sue Brimble and Alison Swindlehurst, the visitors scored the biggest win of the day.

An 11th minute Vickey Dixon penalty-corner strike gave Ipswich a 1-0 home win against First Personnel Sutton Coldfield, with Sutton being denied the equaliser - a penalty from the former England captain, Barbara Hamley, was controversially deemed to have been illegally hit.

Kath Johnson gave Leicester the lead from the spot in the eighth minute at Wimbledon, who equalised just on the interval from a Michelle Batchelor penalty-corner. At Formby, Hightown beat Ealing 2-0 with goals from Nancy Stokes and Tina Cullen while at Ottery St Mary, Ana Starcevic scored from a 16th-minute penalty-corner to give visitors Pickwick a 1-0 win against Exmouth.

Rob Thompson started the English season with two well-taken goals in Hounslow's 2-1 win in the Club Champions Trophy at East Grinstead yesterday as the London club continued their stranglehold on the event, completing their fourth successive win and for the third year at the expense of Havant. Thompson opened the scoring in the 17th minute after good work by Nick Gordon. Although Don Williams equalised within seven minutes, Thompson, again with Gordon assisting, scored the winner seven minutes into the second half.