HOCKEY : Woods in the mood

HOCKEY

BY BILL COLWILL

Loughborough University 7

West London University 3

(after extra time)

Loughborough claimed their 14th British Universities title at Cannock yesterday - their first since 1990 - in an exciting but at times one- sided game which nevertheless required extra time to decide the winner.

Dominating the first half, Loughborough took the lead in the 13th minute when Duncan Woods converted a penalty stroke. With further first-half goals from Jason Lee and a brilliant solo effort from Woods, who weaved his way through the West London defence to score the third, the game appeared to be over by the interval.

But Surbiton's Brett Garrard, moving forward in the second half, sparked off a transformation as West London fought back, scoring three times in four minutes to force extra time. William Sawrey-Cookson hit the first in the 64th minute, James Grant scored three minutes later and then Sawrey- Cookson struck again.

With Loughborough's English internationals, Woods and Lee, coming to life again in extra time Loughborough regained control - Lee and Brett Gillmon scoring in the first half of overtime and Simon Archer and Zak Jones completing the scoring after the interval.

Loughborough completed their dominance of University hockey when they won both the second and third XI finals to add to their women's victory last week in Sheffield.

Loughborough University: N Macmillan; M Dye, J Warren, Z Jones (capt), S Wood, M Grace, P Cunningham, D Woods, J Lee, L Hannah, B Gillmon. Substitutes used: S Archer, A Thomas.

West London University: M St Gallay; M Avoth, S Flannery, A Brooker, W Sawrey-Cookson, B Garrard, K Black, D Geach, I Saunders, S Matton (capt), R Lowe. Substitutes used: J Grant, J Curtis, P Gibbins.

Umpires: P Marshall and P Talbot (both MCHUA).