Hockey: Smith inspires Slough to indoor title hat-trick

Slough produced a workmanlike display to win their third successive Indoor Championship in the Higgins Group finals at Crystal Palace last night. In the men's event, Guildford play Loughborough Students today in a repeat of last year's final.

Jane Smith gave Slough the early lead against Canterbury and made it 3-2 at the interval with her second goal after a cat-and-mouse first half. After repelling an early Canterbury corner in the second half, Slough went further ahead through Sarah Kelleher and Sue Chandler inside three minutes. Chandler claimed a second with Louise Bevan completing Slough's 7-2 win.

In the semi-finals Smith gave Slough another good start against Chelmsford with a third-minute goal. Chelmsford's captain Lisa Wooding was quick to equalise with the Berkshire side scoring on the whistle to go into the interval with a 2-1 lead. Chelmsford levelled but Slough then streaked away for a comfortable 5-2 victory in a game dominated by their captain Kate Walsh.

It was much the same in the second semi-final with the scores locked at 2-2 a minute into the second half before Canterbury got into their stride to beat Clifton 7-2 with their captain Mel Clewlow claiming a hat-trick.

The men's semi finals were much more one-sided although Loughborough Students came from behind in the first game to beat Canterbury 6-1, while St Albans were no match for a well-drilled Guildford side going down 7-4 with Ian Jennings scoring four times.