Hockey: Hounslow's title

HOUNSLOW needed two goals in the last seven minutes at Canterbury to secure their second PizzaExpress National League title. Dave Hacker might have let the side down when he incurred a temporary suspension but he came back on to convert a penalty stroke in the 63rd minute. It was fitting that Rob Thompson, who had had an outstanding game, should set up his captain, Simon Hazlitt, for the title-clinching goal just one minute from time.

Southgate, in second place, won 5-4 against East Grinstead but they could still be overtaken by Old Loughtonians, who have a game in hand. The Old Boys won 2-1 at Bromley, with Alan Philpot getting the 69th-minute winner after the home side had been reduced to 10 men when Tom Hamilton was expelled for striking an opponent. Chris Gladman had put Loughtonians ahead before the interval, with James Henderson equalising a minute before Hamilton's departure.

The fight for the second promotion place from the Second Division will go to the last game next week. Guildford, 2-1 winners at Reading, inflicted the season's first defeat on the champions, while Indian Gymkhana won 3-1 at Isca.

It was a mixed weekend for the Women's National League leaders Ipswich. After their first league defeat of the season by struggling Leicester Balsam on Saturday, they defeated the cup-holders Hightown 1-0 on a Lucy Youngs goal yesterday.

Slough, champions last season, saw their hopes of retaining the title slip away in a 1-0 defeat by First Personnel Sutton Coldfield on Saturday. Yesterday they went out of the cup to Chelmsford on penalty strokes after they were level

1-1 after normal time. Sam Wright and the Slough captain Karen Brown both missed from the spot.