Hockey: Students can graduate

While the County Championship will dominate proceedings at Milton Keynes today and tomorrow, Loughborough Students and Edgbaston will be doing battle at the National Stadium to decide the last place in next season's National League line-up, writes Bill Colwill. The striking power of Loughborough's Brett Gillmon could see them through to be the first university with teams in both the men and women's National Leagues.

A Surrey v Cheshire final looks most likely in the County Championship but first Surrey, based strongly on the relegated Surbiton side, must account for Sussex, while Cheshire, including the three Crutchley brothers, need to beat Lancashire.

The final stages of the RAF Careers Youth Cup takes place tomorrow at three venues with the finals being played at the National Stadium on Monday. In the Under-14 event, Bethnal Green High School defend their title in the early stages at Warwick University while in the Under-16 event at Bedford Hockey Club, St George's College will be the team to beat.

Last season's Under-18 winners, Wellington College, failed to qualify and will be missing from their group at the Milton Keynes Club where Cannock could cause a surprise.

A number of players from England's successful Under-16 and Under-18 squads in the recent Home Nations at Milton Keynes and Six Nations Tournament in Cologne will be on view, including Millfield's Andrew Todd in the Under- 18 event. Todd, who has had National League experience this season with Isca, of the First Division, looks set to join his brother Rob at the league champions, Reading, next season.