Hockey: A bold start for Captain Kirkham

ENGLAND'S youth teams were off to a good start in the Home Countries quadrangular tournament in Dublin yesterday, the Under-16s showing the way with a 3-0 win against Scotland in a workmanlike performance.

Glenn Kirkham, the captain, opened the scoring at a penalty corner in the ninth minute, with second-half goals coming from David Tyler and Lee Rimmer.

In the Under-18 game between the two countries, Mark Ralph gave Scotland the lead at a penalty corner also in the ninth minute but thereafter it was nearly all one-way traffic as England went on to win 4-2. Matthew Taylor claimed the equaliser for England just before the interval and then put them in the lead in the 50th minute. A minute later James Davies scored the first of his two goals, split by Scotland's second from Ken Morrice.

At home the last games of the National League Premier Division are scheduled for tomorrow, with the one issue remaining to be settled - who will join Doncaster in the First Division next season? Barford Tigers, on 14 points, entertain Hounslow and must win to keep their slender hopes alive.

If Barford win and Beeston, who are one point ahead, but without three first-choice players on duty in Dublin, do not beat East Grinstead, then the result of Hounslow's match next Saturday with Beeston, postponed from last Sunday, will decide the issue.