Hockey: Holders Cannock confront Lewes

LEWES, THE only non-Premier League side guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals of the EHA Cup, were yesterday drawn away to the holders, Cannock, while Hounslow and Southgate will contest another Middlesex derby.

Reading's tie against Canterbury at Sonning Lane could be an exciting, high-scoring affair, but first Reading have to dispose of Loughborough Students in their postponed fifth-round tie.

The fourth game of the ties, to be played on Sunday 28 February, will be a rerun of the 1994 final, between Old Loughtonians and Teddington. Relishing the tie at Southgate, Hounslow's manager, Paul King, said: "We have a new air of confidence in the side and I really think we could go through."

With the restart of the regional leagues after the mid-season break Ipswich, held to a 2-2 draw at Bishop's Stortford, moved one point ahead of Peterborough Town, who crashed 5-1 at Hitchin to Blueharts. In the north, Formby held on to top spot with a 3-2 win against Neston, as did Robinsons in the west, through a 2-2 draw at Weston-super-Mare.

The DTZ leaders, Edgbaston, returned to form with a 6-1 win over Hampton in Arden and are six points clear of Harborne. In the south, Fareham opened up a six-point lead by beating Bournemouth 4-0. However, their nearest rivals, Beckenham, have a game in hand.

EHA CUP Sixth round draw: Cannock v Lewes; Old Loughtonians v Teddington; Reading or Loughborough Students v Canterbury; Southgate v Hounslow.