Hockey: D'Cruz cruises in: Surbiton's men move two points clear while Slough's women still lead the way

NIGEL D'CRUZ, Surbiton's 30-year-old close-season signing from non-League Old Midwhitgiftians, was instrumental in his club's 4-2 win at Reading that put the newly promoted side two points clear in the National League First Division, writes Bill Colwill.

After Gareth Notton, following up at a second-minute penalty corner, had given Surbiton the lead, Mark Hoskin equalised for Reading before Surbiton's Jon Molloy twice came off the bench to score, from a penalty corner and a penalty stroke. But it was D'Cruz's brilliant solo goal on the stroke of half-time for a 3-1 interval lead that paved the way for their victory. Jon Wyatt converted Reading's second goal.

Havant, the champions, collected their first win of the season with goals from Calum Giles and Don Williams in a

2-0 win at Slough where their international winger Williams was shown the red card for a comment made to the umpire. With 16 days' suspension he will miss England's Four Nations Tournament in Germany over from 14 to 16 October.

The England winger, Chris Mayer, went to hospital with a finger injury after Cannock's 2-2 draw with Trojans.