Hockey: Fatigue may be a factor

Tomorrow's National League programme could be significantly affected by last night's Indoor Club Finals at Crystal Palace with East Grinstead, Cannock and Old Loughtonians likely to be showing fatigue from their performances.

Teddington, Grinstead's opponents at Saint Hill, will be wanting to take their run of successive victories to eight games as they start their relationship with new sponsors, Acer, the Buckinghamshire manufacture of personal computers.

Cannock, four points clear of Reading at the top of the Premier, who shared eight goals with Canterbury in an earlier game this season, entertain the Kent club for the return at the Morris Ground.

Reading's defence could be on the end of a shock when they entertain lowly Hounslow, who in their last two games have scored 11 goals.

In the First Division, Beeston, five points clear of Doncaster at the top, should win on their visit to Edgbaston.

St Albans claimed their eighth National Indoor Club Championship when they beat East Grinstead 6-4 in an exciting final before a packed house.

Ian Jennings scored four times, always keeping the Hertfordshire side in the lead, and was afterwards named player of the tournament. St Albans' captain, Keith Black, who had opened the scoring, put the game beyond doubt with the final goal in the last minute.

St Albans' route to the final followed their comfortable 9-6 win against Harborne in their opening game and then a cracking 6-5 win against defending champions Old Loughtonians. Jennings collected a hat-trick in each game. Although the Old Boys opened the scoring through Alan Philpott in the third minute, thereafter the Saints were always in the lead - at one stage going ahead 5-2.

In the other Pool, East Grinstead opened with a 9-0 win against Doncaster and then accounted for outdoor champions, Cannock, 11-4.