Hockey: Play-offs for Bowdon

Bowdon from the North Regional League became the first team to secure a National League play-off place when they beat Southport 7-3 with Chris Cheetham scoring four. Bowdon, who just missed out on the play-offs last season, have also booked a EHA Cup home quarter-final against Havant.

Harleston Magpies, currently nine points clear at the top of the Printwize East Premier, are another club with clear designs on reaching the play-offs after their 4-2 win at the weekend against Ipswich and East Suffolk. But in the South, Maidenhead, last year's champions, are one place off the bottom.

City of Portsmouth, who scraped home 3-2 winners against bottom club Old Cranleighans, currently lead the South Premier by three points from Purley Walcountians. Purley, with Nick Hayes scoring twice beat Fareham 4-1, and are five points ahead of Richmond for whom Graham Berry scored all four goals in their 4-2 win over Maidenhead.

Harborne lead the way in the DTZ Midland Premier, while Bath Buccaneers lead the Gerrards West League.