Hockey: Laird to the manner born

Morag Laird converted with two second-half penalty strokes to put Balsam Leicester well on their way to a 4-1 win against First Personnel Sutton Coldfield in the Premier Division of the women's National League, writes Brian Tatlock. They retained their two-point lead at the top from Ipswich, who won 1-0 at Ealing with a goal by Vickey Dixon. Slough renmained in third place by beating Hightown by the same score, their only goal coming from the 17-year-old schoolgirl Anna Bennett after a powerful drive from Karen Brown. Bracknell beat Bluehearts 2-0 with goals from Karen Whitham and Tracy Gustad to go four points ahead at the top of the First Division.