Hockey: Cannock's Cup coup

Ben Sharpe's three goals in the opening 11 minutes inspired Cannock's destruction of Second Division Belper in the EHA Cup final at the Milton Keynes National Stadium yesterday, Cannock going on to win a very one-sided affair 7-0.

Cannock, who had beaten their Premier opponents Teddington 5-1 in their semi-final the previous day, led 6-0 at the interval, but only added one further goal in a second half which they played at half-pace. Only a brave display of goalkeeping by Jason Wellings prevented the score going into double figures.

The women's final was a much more competitive game between two Premiership clubs, in which Ipswich eventually defeated Olton and West Warwicks via a golden goal in the 80th minute. It came from from the captain, Leisa King, with a penalty stroke, after Caroline Gilbert had taken Sarah Bamfield's stick. Olton and West Warwicks also lost last year's final on a golden goal.

King had earlier twice put her side into the lead at penalty corners with Olton and West Warwicks equalising through Vanessa Hawkins and Rachel Walker, the scorer of four goals on Saturday in their 8-0 semi-final victory against Second Division Leyland Motors. Ipswich had progressed via a 5-2 win against Sutton Coldfield.

Elsewhere, Reading, the European Cup-Winners' Cup silver medallists, came from behind to beat Canterbury 5-3 to retain their Premiership title. The New Zealander Ken Robinson scored twice to take his season's league total to 18.