Rampaging Reading go clear at top

Hockey

Reading ran up an 8-1 victory over struggling Trojans to move two points clear at the top of Division One of the National League after the weekend's programme, writes Bill Colwill.

Scott Ashdown collected the first hat-trick of his career as the Berkshire team, who dominated midfield through the efforts of Howard Hoskin and Pablo Villar, their Spanish junior international, dominating the midfield, exposed the Trojans' defence.

Old Loughtonians dropped their first points in a 3-3 draw at Surbiton. Jason Lee put the visitors ahead after 13 minutes but Surbiton replied with three goals in five minutes before the interval. Jon Molloy scored the first, then angled a penalty corner shot for the diving Tom Sexton to jab in. An appaling clearance by substitute goalkeeper Howie Ford, who came on for the Old Boys' Scottish international Alasdair Seaton, injured in the warm-up, gifted Gareth Notton the third.

Thompson struck back within a minute before Loughtonians equalised 14 minutes from time when Lee flicked the sixth of seven second-half corners into the roof of the net.

Ian Jennings scored four times in Guildford's 7-1 victory at Bournville, which takes the Surrey club into second place, while Bobby Crutchley collected his third hat-trick in four games in Cannock's 9-0 win at Hull.

In a day of high scoring, Bill Waugh struck three times in Southgate's 7-0 win against St Albans and Dharminder Singh did the same for Barford Tigers as they beat Canterbury 5-2.

Results, Sporting Digest, page 24