Hockey: Slough lean on Brown

FORTIFIED by an Olympic bronze medal, Karen Brown takes over the captaincy of Slough as they step out tomorrow in search of their fourth successive National League title - entertaining Doncaster in their opening League game at Wexham School.

Missing from the Slough squad are Britain's goalkeeper, Jo Thompson, who has joined Ipswich, their free-scoring striker Kate White, who has moved to non-League Guildford and Helen Thornalley, who is injured. Slough include the English international, Julia Robertson, a recruit from Ealing, in their squad.

Although past Doncaster-Slough games have been closely contested the Yorkshire side's international goalkeeper, Val Hallam, looks likely to be in for a busy afternoon.

The match of the day should be at Ipswich's Tuddenham Road ground where the European Cup winners, First Personnel Sutton Coldfield, will be the visitors. In addition to Thompson, Ipswich have signed two other English internationals, Kirsten Spencer from Clifton, and Lucy Youngs from Harlesden Magpies, which should see them improve on last season's fifth place.

Ealing travel to Formby to take on Hightown without their latest acquisition, New Zealand's Olympic defender Trudy Kilkolly, who, as a result of an administrative error, has not been registered.