Hockey: Trojans' trial

WITH Wales and Scotland contesting a semi-final in the Intercontinental Qualifying Tournament in Switzerland, the Pizza Express National League programme has been disrupted for the second week with only four First Division fixtures remaining, none involving the top clubs.

The day's most interesting fixture is likely to be at Eastleigh where Trojans entertain St Albans. While both sides are currently pointless they have much to offer English hockey with several likely stars of the future on view.

Trojans, under their Australian international player-coach, Andrew Deane, played attractive, attacking hockey before losing 4-3 to Southgate last Saturday. Although they are likely to be without the full-back, Mark Ellis, with a knee injury, the former captain, Mike Watts, is a very experienced replacement. Their manager, Alan Jackson, whose son Graham scored twice at Southgate, believes that if the team can believe in themselves they can quickly move away from the bottom.

St Albans' young Turks, including three of England's Under-21 squad (Rowan Davis, Peter Gibbins and Duncan Woods) are still sorting out their best positional line-up under their new captain and goalkeeper, Martin Langston, but with their talented juniors should ensure an interesting game.

In the Second Division the visit of Reading to Feltham to play Indian Gymkhana could spark a high-scoring match while tomorrow the first round of the Royal Bank of Scotland Hockey Association Cup gets under way without the National League sides who are exempt until the third round.