Hounslow to lose key men

HOCKEY Hounslow, one of six teams who this weekend could take over the National League First Division leadership from Surbiton after their games against Teddington and East Grinstead, are likely to be at full strength today for the last time this season,writes Bill Colwill.

Tomorrow, against Teddington, they will be without their Welsh international, Jon Rees, who is away on a business trip, and then they lose their English internationals, Bobby Crutchley and Simon Hazlitt, for the rest of the season.

After returning from England's trip to India, Crutchley is going to play for Canberra Lakers in the Australian National League while Hazlitt's army duties are taking him to the United States. Jon Potter is also on the move: he is going to work in Prague for three years from 1 May. Although he should be available to the end of the League season, he would miss the Cup final, if Hounslow reach it.

England's women introduce five uncapped players to their squad to play Russia this afternoon and tomorrow morning at Bisham Abbey, in games which start the build-up to the defence of their European title in Amsterdam in June. Yesterday, thanks to a goal from Irina Sviridova, the Russians beat England's Under-21 side 1-0 in a continuous downpour at the same venue.