Hockey: Students top of the class thanks to Bleby's double

Jon Bleby's two goals for Loughborough Students helped them secure a 5-3 win at Chelmsford on Saturday evening.

Jon Bleby's two goals for Loughborough Students helped them secure a 5-3 win at Chelmsford on Saturday evening in an exciting game which keeps them ahead of Cannock and Reading, who both had useful 3-1 away victories yesterday.

Cannock, with Andy Brogdon scoring twice, were always in control against Old Loughtonians in a fiercely contested game but might have been fortunate to come away with three points had the Old Boys taken their chances. It could all have been different if South African international Mike Cullen, who had just returned from South Africa, had been selected.

Reading came from behind at Canterbury with second half goals from Scott Ashdown, Rob Todd and Richard Mantell to overcome an eighth minute penalty corner conversion from Robert Playford.

In Saturday's games in the women's National League defending champions Bowdon Hightown dropped their first points of the season with a 3-3 draw at home to Chelmsford who finished runners up to them last season. Olton and West Warwicks, thanks to four goals from England midfielder Rachel Walker in their 5-1 thumping of newly promoted Trojans, took over the leadership on goal difference ahead of Canterbury and Slough.