Hockey: Canterbury set to bring home cup on final stage of National pilgrimage

The progress of Canterbury's women to their first major domestic final in the National Cup has been something of a dream, as they will enjoy home advantage against Slough tomorrow after the event was moved to Polo Farm from Milton Keynes.

Canterbury's coach, Danny Kerry, has built up a strong squad, which has blossomed since Christmas with the addition of a couple of South African players and will provide a major obstacle to Slough's dreams of a League, Cup and Premiership treble, of which they have already completed the first leg.

Kerry's preparations have been handicapped by sickness and by three of his players being at Bisham Abbey with the England training squad. Slough will be without the Scottish international Jane Burley, who is nursing a broken hand, and Chloe Strong, whose studies take priority, and must hope their eight players at the England camp return unscathed.

Cannock will defend their title in the men's final, also at Canterbury, where they face Reading, whom they recently beat 5-1 to take the National League title. Reading will be strengthened by the return of New Zealand's captain, Simon Towns, who missed that game.

Reading's goalkeeper, Simon Mason, said yesterday: "Simon [Towns] is a class act and could make all the difference."

Reading's Jonty Clarke and Cannock's Barry Middleton now line up against each other after teaming up with great success for England against Belgium this week.