Hockey: Jones applies final flourish

Cannock and Reading both remain on course for the triple after victories in the semi-finals of the EH Cup yesterday.

At Guildford, Cannock were taken to extra-time after a 3-3 draw, and advanced courtesy of Martin Jones' decisive stroke in a 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory. They now face Reading, who came from behind to beat Loughborough Students 4-3.

Old Loughtonians celebrated last week's promotion to the Premier Division with a 4-1 win over Firebrands, with their veteran international Nicky Thompson scoring a hat-trick.

In the Second Division, Indian Gymkana's Tajinder Hanspal strengthened his case for an England call-up by taking his season's tally to 29 with five goals in his side's 6-2 win over Oxford Hawks. Hanspal has now scored 17 times in his last four games.

In the women's Premier Division, Ipswich kept alive their play-off hopes with a 3-2 win over defending champions, Slough.