Hockey: Slough's survival battle

SLOUGH, one of the best sides of the late 1970s and 1980s, face their most important game since winning the European Cup in Barcelona in 1980 when they play Canterbury tomorrow in a relegation battle, writes Bill Colwill.

Slough are three points clear of the Kent club with a game in hand. But their remaining two games are against the leaders, Havant, and seventh- placed East Grinstead.

So with Bromley already relegated doomed for to the Second Division, the odds are that the losers of tomorrow's game will join them. 'Quite simply we must win. We got ourselves in this position and we must get ourselves out,' Mark Kirkland, the Slough captain, said. 'I am confident we will create the chances against Canterbury. We just have to put them away.'

Havant, three points clear at the top of the table, are at full strength for their visit to Southampton for the local derby against mid-table Trojans. Havant need only four more points from their last two games to secure the title.

Hounslow, away to Bournville in the Sky televised game, are likely to keep the pressure on.