Hockey: Oxford are in the box seat

EIGHT teams today begin the gruelling process of deciding the last four places in next season's PizzaExpress National League, writes Bill Colwill. The Inter League competition begins at Olton HC, Solihull, where the six regional league winners will be joined by Chelmsford and Brean, who were placed immediately above this year's automatic relegation positions.

The winner of each of the two pools on Sunday evening will go through, with the teams finishing second and third playing off on 24 April for a place in next year's National League Second Division.

Although Chelmsford and Brean have the most to lose - the Essex club with facilities and support the envy of most clubs in Britain, and Brean as founder members of the National League - the odds are stacked against them. Both have lost the winning habit this season while the regional league winners are on a high, particularly Oxford.

Oxford are a free-scoring machine, with 59 goals in their 17 League games, and a splendid defensive record. They have conceded just seven goals.

INTER LEAGUE COMPETITION (Olton HC, Solihull, today): Pool A: Brean v Edgbaston (11.0am); Sheffield v Gloucester City (3.0pm). Pool B: Crostyx v Chelmsford (1.0pm); Oxford Univ v Anchorians (5.0pm).