Reading continue march for trophies

Although Reading have already won the Premier League title and the Cup winners no longer have an automatic place in European competition, it is unlikely that today's semi-finals in the men's and women's Cups and tomorrow's finals will be less fiercely contested.

Although Reading have already won the Premier League title and the Cup winners no longer have an automatic place in European competition, it is unlikely that today's semi-finals in the men's and women's Cups and tomorrow's finals will be less fiercely contested.

For Reading, winning the Cup for a third successive year is the immediate challenge, with the European Cup-Winners' Cup at Easter in the Netherlands and then the National Premiership play-offs to follow. All are well within their grasp. Today they are likely to be without two of their younger players in Andy Todd and Jonty Clarke, but are hoping that the New Zealand international Ken Robinson will be fit. Their opponents, Surbiton, will be missing their captain, Brett Garrard, but otherwise will be at full strength.

In the second semi-final, Guildford, surprise winners of the Indoor Cup earlier this year, will be looking for another success on their first visit to the National Stadium when they play Canterbury.

In the women's semi-finals, Slough look favourites to beat Sutton Coldfield, while Hightown's experience might just give them the edge over Olton and West Warwick.