Hockey: Pompey cane the students

CITY OF PORTSMOUTH took advantage of their re-arranged game against London University on Saturday, abandoned before Christmas, by beating the students 5-0 to assume the leadership of the B Division of the Peroni South Premier League, writes Bill Colwill.

A penalty stroke from Paul Cooper and a couple of goals each from Paul Tapp and John Oliver did the damage, to take them two points clear of Gore Court. With the top three clubs all winning, Redbridge and Ilford, 3-0 winners at Broxbourne, maintain their No 1 spot in the Norwich Union East Premier. Crostyx, who won

2-1 at Dereham thanks to goals from Nick Duck and Tony Puddick, are in second place.

The day's top score came from third-placed Ipswich, who thrashed Stevenage 8-0, with an Andy Cook hat-trick. Richard Jubb also scored three times in Westcliff's 4-0 win at Ford.

The Ernst and Young Midland Premier leaders, Edgbaston, had a goalless draw with Coventry and North Warwick, although they are still three points ahead of Leicester Westleigh, 5-1 winners at Belper, and Worcester Norton, who won 3-2 at Derby.