Hockey: Pearn power earns Reading title

Reading claimed their first National League Premier title with an emphatic 4-1 victory over last season's champions, Cannock, before a large, partisan crowd in pleasant sunshine at Sonning yesterday.

Mark Pearn, their 19-year-old England striker who was prominent when Reading won their silver medal in the Prudential European Cup-Winners' Cup last weekend, was again in the limelight, winning a free hit on the edge of the circle in the 23rd minute from which Grant Edwards opened the scoring.

Jon Wyatt made it 2-0 from the penalty spot before Pearn scored two second- half goals. Cannock's consolation came from Paul Edwards at a penalty corner six minutes after the interval.

Teddington, who would have taken the title had Reading faltered, crushed Canterbury 8-3 at Chiswick with Nick Colman scoring three times. Guildford were also rampant against relegated Havant with Danny Hall getting a hat- trick in an 8-2 victory.

An Andy Whalley goal 70 seconds from time relegated Surbiton after they had twice led Hounslow with goals from Neil Pendle and Simon Tinkler. A goal from Pritpal Bhurji two minutes from time saved Barford Tigers from the drop with a 2-1 win against East Grinstead.

Slough took a major step towards winning their fifth women's title when they beat Ipswich 2-1 on Saturday thanks to two goals from Karen Brown. The Buckinghamshire club are two points ahead of their Suffolk rivals, who had some revenge yesterday when they beat Slough 4-2 in their cup quarter-final. Clifton, Doncaster and Hightown complete the line-up for today's semi-final draw.