Hockey: Smith's prowess edges Slough closer to title

Jane Smith, after her record- breaking eight successive indoor league hat-tricks, hit the target again yesterday as the EHL Premier League resumed action after the mid-season break.

Smith opened the scoring for Slough in the second minute at Clifton. Liz Monks equalised on her league debut after 12 minutes before goals from Vicky Goodacre and Alex Scott secured a 3-1 win for the defending champions. The win moves Slough three points clear of Olton and West Warwicks at the top.

Jenny Wilson was another debutante getting off to a good start with her new club Canterbury. The South African international scored twice in their 3-2 win against Leicester.

There was no joy for Ipswich's South African debutantes, Anli Kotze and Kate Hector, however. The Suffolk side suffered a 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Hightown for whom Tina Cullen scored the day's only hat-trick. Trojans and Sutton Coldfield drew 1-1 at Southampton.

In the men's Second Division, Bowdon extended their lead at the top with a 4-2 win against Indian Gymkhana at Osterley.

In the Higgins Group Indoor play-offs at Larkhill, Reading and Crostyx secured places in the men's National League with Cheltenham and Oxford clinching the women's slots.