Hockey: Slough suited by Swinnerton strike

SLOUGH, three times champions, took advantage of Ipswich's slip to go back to the top on goal difference over Balsam Leicester, with whom they drew 1-1, writes Bill Colwill. Ipswich, the champions, were knocked back when a 54th- minute goal by First Personnel Sutton Coldfield's Jane Swinnerton at a penalty corner condemned them to a 1-0 home defeat.

Slough's captain, Karen Brown, was always dominant and controlled the mid-field but her side had to fight back after Morag Laird gave Leicester the lead from a 26th-minute lead from a penalty stroke. The veteran striker, Lesley Hobley, claimed the equaliser in the 54th minute.

Goals from Lorraine Marsden and Lucy Newcombe gave Hightown their first points of the season in a 2-1 home win against Clifton. At Chelmsford, Kate Trolove scored first for Ealing four minutes into the game. Chelmsford's Jane Smith missed one penalty stroke, Lynn Bollington equalised at a second and their winner came from a Jo Green penalty corner.

Liz Clegg scored her first National League goal, and finished with four in Woking's 7-0 win against Colwall in Division Two while Olton suffered their first League defeat in five years going down 2-1 at Sherwood.