Sporting Digest: Hockey

As the National League clubs' managers and coaches meet this week to consider ways of improving the League structures to provide a more purposeful environment to promote England's elite players, the battle for National League status warms up. One such meeting took place at Eastcote on Saturday where the home side were held to a 2-2 draw by High Wycombe in a game in which nerves and concentration lapses ruled the day. Eastcote, who have led the ESL South Premier for most of the season, were leading 2-0 at the interval against the run of play, Samin Samuel and Adrian Carter taking advantage to score. Wycombe continued their territorial advantage with goals from Andy Burroughs and Gavin Elliot to share the points.

The late decison by the English Hockey Association to hold a Four Nations' Tournament at Southgate on 17 to 19 April has caused a clash with the County Championship, which starts the same weekend. Less than 15 miles across London, Middlesex are staging one of the A Division pools at Chiswick and are upset with the arrangement. Maurice Kittrell, the Middlesex presiudent, said yesterday: "It seems to be incredible that the EHA cannot work in conjunction with the counties. News of the tournament first appeared in the media and there has still been no official communication."