Hockey: Ipswich up against it

IPSWICH, the defending champions, must win today's game away to Balsam Leicester to retain their title while a draw for Leicester, in this final round, would be enough to give them the Premier League title for the first time.

At the bottom, Ealing must avoid defeat against Clifton, which would relegate the Bristol club.

England's captain, Sandie Lister, along with her England team-mates Lucy Youngs and Jo Thompson, who returned from a Five Nations Tournament in Argentina on Wednesday, will be spearheading the Ipswich assault. Lister said: 'We are very optimistic. The fact we must win is in our favour as we play positive, attacking hockey.'

Leicester, however, are not to be underestimated. They have a strong defence which conceded just one goal in four games in the European Cup-Winners' Cup tournament at Easter to take the bronze medal.

Slough visit Cannock to play First Personnel Sutton Coldfield tomorrow in the league, and again in a quarter-final cup game tomorrow. They are likely to rest several players for the league game.