Hockey: Mixed bag for Leicester

BALSAM LEICESTER moved two points clear at the top of the women's national league on Saturday but went out of the AEWHA Cup yesterday, losing 4-1 on penalty strokes after drawing 1-1 with Ealing, writes Peter Colwill.

On Saturday two penalty corner goals by Sue Holwell and a late strike by Nicki Wright gave them a 3-0 victory against a severely depleted Clifton.

Ipswich, who lost the league leadership after drawing 0-0 with Slough, suffered a further setback when they were knocked out of the Cup by First Personnel Sutton Coldfield, Jane Swinnerton scoring twice in their 4-1 victory.

Slough, who remain in third place ahead of Hightown on goal difference, cruised into the sixth round of the Cup, beating Bradford Swithenbank 6-1. Kate White scored twice.

The upset of the round was by Loughborough Students, who beat the First Division team, Bracknell. Jenny Hodson scored the only goal just after half-time.

The other non-national league sides lost - Aldridge, 1-0 at Exmouth, while Tulse Hill stumbled to a 6-0 defeat at Chelmsford, for whom Lynn Bollington scored three.