Norton stand out

With the majority of Regional Leagues now into their mid-winter break, there have been several outstanding performances by teams striving to gain, or in some cases regain, promotion to the National League. None more so than in the North, where Norton, with Guy Bolsover on nine goals leading the way and with a game in hand, are seven points clear of Formby.

In the East, the Adnams Premier club Cambridge City, with goals from Gareth Machin (two), Julian Archer and Jeremy Allen, won 4-1 away to Dereham at the weekend to maintain their full points record. They are now six points ahead of Chelmsford.

In the South Nastro Azzurro Premier, there is a neck and neck race between two clubs who, like Cambridge City, have both tasted National League hockey. Hampstead and Westminster and Anchorians are already nine points clear of the field.

Jan-Job van Dijk's hat-trick set Hampstead and Westminster on their way to a 5-0 away win at Wimbledon, with the player-coach Rob Thompson and Nottinghamshire's Rob Turner completing the scoring.

Hampstead have so far averaged just over five goals a game. Mark Crowley, a medical student, leads the way on 18, with Thompson in second place with 10.

Anchorians, with a much inferior goal difference, kept the pressure on Hampstead with a 4-1 win away to Spencer. Goals from Mark Constable, Richard Barrett, Neil Gordon and Mike Gillett won the day, with Jon Stenner replying for Spencer.

CHAMPIONS TROPHY (Madras, third day): Germany 1 Netherlands 2. Positions (after two rounds): 1 Netherlands 6pts; 2 India 3; 3 Germany 3; 4 Pakistan 3; 5 Australia 1; 6 Spain 1.