Hockey: Havant's tough start

THE CURTAIN rises on another English season with the traditional Club Champions Trophy match between the Cup-winners and the Pizza Express National League winners.

For the third year in succession the game, which is being staged at East Grinstead's Saint Hill ground tomorrow, brings together the champions, Havant, and Hounslow, the Cup holders.

The London team have won the last two meetings but since last year's match, when they defeated Havant 2-0, Hounslow have lost the England international, Martyn Grimley, and their captain, Andy Ferns. They will also be without the Welsh international, Jon Rees, who is on honeymoon.

Simon Hazlitt, the Army captain, will lead Hounslow, whose team also includes their new recruit from Neston, Bob Crutchley, a young, versatile player equally at home in defence or attack.

Havant also have a new captain in Colin Cooper. He has taken over from David Faulkner, an Olympic gold medal winner with Great Britain in 1988, who is now the new player-coach. However, Havant will be without Rob Hill, the penalty-corner specialist who was Britain's leading scorer at the 1992 Games in Barcelona. Hill has moved to Firebrands.

Havant (probable): S Rowlands; D Faulkner; D Roberts, S Lawson, D Cunliffe; P Nail, C Cooper (capt), R Garcia; M Cross, D Williams, C Giles. Substitutes: J Lewis, I Pattison, G Roberts, S Avery, S Baker.

Hounslow (probable): J Barrow; P Bolland; G Fordham, S Hazlitt (capt), M Williamson; D Hacker, J Potter, B Crutchley; N Gordon, R Thompson, S Hankin. Substitutes: J Williams, A Thompson, P Nichols, G Swayne, M Rose.