Hockey: Slough close on sixth title

A WIN for Slough tomorrow at home to Doncaster will assure the reigning champions of their sixth National League title in nine seasons and will send them to Russelsheim next week for the European indoor finals in good heart.

Second-placed Ipswich welcome the return of Debbie Rawlinson and Sarah Bamfield for their game against Olton, who beat them 2-0 when the teams met at the beginning of the season. Ipswich await fitness reports on Kirsten Spencer and Tracy Fry.

At the bottom, Trojans are unlikely to get much from the visit of Clifton Scottish Life. With the proposal to expand the leagues to 10 teams - advocated by the director of performance, Chris Spice - now unlikely to become effective before the 1999/2000 season, the relegation battle will intensify.

In the men's European Indoor Championship in Hamburg, St Albans will this afternoon face the host club, Harvestuder, in a baptism of fire and this evening the Poles, MZCS Pocztowiec, without the services of the influential Ian Jennings. Jennings has decided that his outdoor club, Guildford, and their movement away from the Premier relegation zone, must be his priority.