Hockey: Cooper lifts Richmond

WILL COOPER scored a fine hat-trick for his team Richmond, the former National League side, as they climbed to the top of the South Premier League with a 4-1 win over Wokingham. Wai-Lun Choi scored Richmond's fourth.

Three other sides - Maidenhead, High Wycombe and Fairham - are equal on points with Richmond and striving for senior status for the first time. Maidenhead, with Mike Williamson - the Welsh player-coach in the recent Commonwealth Games - bolstering up their defence, won 3-2 at Tunbridge Wells, thanks to two goals from Shoaib Raja and a third from Mike Easton.

A rebound off the goalkeeper five minutes from the end gave Andy Burroughs the chance to snatch High Wycombe's winner in their 1-0 victory against Winchester although, with the two Tims, Prior and Townley, looking dangerous up front, the game always seemed likely to swing Wycombe's way. Guildford's former striker, Jim Moseley, led the way for Fareham in their 4-2 away victory at Old Whitgiftians, with Tim Tavender, Steve Lemon and Brian Oliver completing the scoring. The Old Boys' goals came from Matt Puddephatt and Danny Byfield.

City of Portsmouth, another former National League side, registered the day's best win in the South Premier League over their neighbours, Chichester, running out convincing 5-1 victors. After Stuart Avery had claimed his customary goal to give City the lead, Andy Wallace cashed in with a couple before Paul Hilton and Paul Cooper completed the scoring. A last-minute penalty stroke from David Knapp, his second goal of the game, gave Old Cranleighans their first points since promotion, with a 3-2 win at Blackheath. A former England international, Don Williams, scored Old Cranleighans' third. Blackheath had earlier taken a two-goal lead through Tony Mitchell and Peter MacNamara.

In the Premier Holidays East Premier League, Colchester and Peterborough are both leading the way on maximum points. Colchester narrowly edged home 3-2 against as-yet pointless Clacton, whilst Peterborough overcame Blueharts, who were relegated from the National League at the end of last season, in a 2-1 victory.