Hightown rely on Reid

Hockey

Hightown won their third AEWHA Cup Final at Milton Keynes yesterday when they beat Clifton 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out after the teams had drawn 2-2 after normal time.

Tina Cullen, who had handed over the captaincy to Linda Carr for her farewell appearance for the club, scored two smashing goals as Hightown twice took the lead, only to be pegged back almost immediately. Clifton's first goal was scored from close quarters by Lucy Culliford. Denise Marston- Smith scored the second from the penalty spot after she had weaved her way around the circle before being blocked to win the penalty.

For Clifton, who dominated the game for long periods, failure in the penalty shoot-out, in which Hightown's Carolyn Reid made two good saves, was a bitter pill after losing last year's final to Ipswich in the same way.

Earlier, Queenswood School beat Harlesden Magpies 3-1 on strokes after a 1-1 draw in the Under-15 Final. In the Plate Final Poynton won 2-0 on strokes after a 4-4 draw with Driffield.

Hightown: C Reid; L Carr (capt); M Morton, C Gilbert, K Walsh; J Aspin, F Lee, M Liptrot; L Newcombe, T Cullen, Y Williams. Substitute used: M Souyave.

Clifton: C Burr; S Brimble; R O'Bryan, M Robertson, L Hipkins; L Marsden, T Miller (capt), E Basterfield; L Culliford, D Marsten-Smith, J Rayden. Substitutes used: J Martin, J Scullion.

Umpires: D Henning, M Hunnabell.

n Jane Smith's hat-trick gave England a well-deserved 3-1 win against the United States at Milton Keynes last night.

England: H Rose; K Brown; J Empson, M Davies (capt), J Mould; L Wright, K Bowden, C Voss; J Sixsmith, J Smith, S Blanks. Substitutes used: L Copeland, P Miller, T Cullen, L Newcombe.

United States: A Wieland; R Asplin; P Neiss, C Debow, K Holmes; C Sscharz, T Fuchs (capt), K Kauffman; J James, L Tchou, T Maguire. Substitute used: M Thorpe.

Umpires: G Clarke (England), M Braynard (US).