England and Ireland celebrate centenary

Hockey

BILL COLWILL

England meet Ireland in Dublin this afternoon to commemorate the centenary of the first women's international hockey match which Ireland won 2-0. Since then Ireland have only won 13 of the 102 matches and it seems likely that England will pick up another couple of victories this weekend, although they are without 11 players in the Great Britain Olympic squad which leaves on Monday to play three Test matches in Russia.

Even so coach Maggie Souyave was in confident mood: "We have a good blend of experience and young players and it gives me an early opportunity to see some of the new players who may well feature in next year's World Cup qualifier." Seven of the squad are uncapped.

ENGLAND SQUAD (v Ireland in Dublin today): S Chandler (capt), S Knight, S Wright (Slough), C Reid, J Crook, C Gilbert, L Newcombe (Hightown), K Bowden (Balsam Leicester), M Clewlow, K Empson (Canterbury), S Gibson, K James (Trojans), F Greenham (Loughborough Students), L Marsden (Clifton), J Smith, L Youngs (Ipswich).

Calum Giles, Great Britain's penalty corner specialist, returns for Havant's second XI today after a hernia operation and providing there is no reaction will be with the first XI at Teddington tomorrow.