Guildford have an eye for the top spot

Hockey

Hockey

BILL COLWILL

Guildford's hopes of leading the First Division of the National League this evening could thwarted by the absence, on holiday, of their left- half Tony Robertson. The Surrey club entertain East Grinstead in the day's only First Division game - a win will see them go top.

The leaders, Cannock, travel to Reading tomorrow where both sides are expected to be at full strength. Second-placed Southgate, who were surprisingly beaten by Hounslow last weekend, entertain Surbiton, which will mean a return for their player-coach, James Duthie, who played there for 16 years. A draw for Surbiton will almost certainly clinch their First Division place for next season.

Havant will again be without Calum Giles for their southcoast derby with Trojans, which the Southampton club must win to keep alive any chance they have of remaining in the elite division.

While Great Britain's women train this weekend at Milton Keynes, the England Under-21 squad open their warm-up campaign for next summer's European Cup in Cardiff with two games against Russia at Bisham Abbey this afternoon and tomorrow morning. Although missing Anna Bennett and Lucy Cope, England are likely to be too strong for the Russians.

ENGLAND UNDER-21 SQUAD (v Russia, Bisham Abbey, today and tomorrow): K Roberts, P Miller (both Blueharts), N Goodhill, J Fletcher, F Greenham, M Merrigan (all Loughborough Univ), J Bimson (Bromsgrove), K Bowden, V Knott, S Blanks (all Balsam Leicester), D Marston-Smith (Portishead), C Gilbert, L Newcombe (both Hightown), K Taylor (Aldridge), M Clewlow (Canterbury).