Hockey: Reading make strides in both league and cup

Reading extended their lead in the men's Division One on Saturday as they beat Old Loughtonians 3-2 and then yesterday, they moved into the quarter-finals of the cup thanks to a Richard Mantell hat-trick of penalty corners in a 3-0 win at Surbiton.

The only real surprise of the cup games was the 4-2 defeat of Division Two leaders East Grinstead by Division Three leaders Holcombe. The result was never in doubt after the player-coach Greg Nicol and Kevin Johnson had put Holcombe two up within five mintues. Both teams had had comfortable league wins on Saturday - Grinstead 7-2 at home to Doncaster and Holcombe 3-0 away to Oxford Hawks.

Chelmsford held their place at the top of the women's Divison One thanks to two goals from their captain Tracy Wilmore in a 2-1 defeat of Clifton. Yesterday they were indebted to a brace from Lynn Bollington in the 2-1 cup victory over Olton and West Warwick.

The surprise in the women's competition was the defeat of cup holders Bowdon Hightown, who lost 2-1 at Harleston Magpies, thanks to late goals from Angie Banham and Evie Van Poortvliet after the visitors had led 1-0 at the interval through a Sally Walton goal.