Hockey: Thompson puts Cannock in final

The old guard were prominent as Cannock progressed to the Premiership final against Reading next Sunday following their 5-4 win against Loughborough Students in the second stage of the play-offs. In the women's event Chelmsford needed a penalty stroke contest, which they won 3-2, to get the better of Canterbury after extra time had ended at 1-1.

In a seesawing game at Cannock, it was two former Great Britain forwards who steered the League champions, missing four first-team players, through, Nick Thompson scoring four times, with Chris Mayer adding the fifth.

Canterbury, missing three internationals, did well to hold Chelmsford to a 1-1 draw after extra time, Nicky Dalby equalising a 49th-minute goal from Chelmsford captain Lisa Wooding. Two penalty stroke saves from Katy Roberts gave Chelmsford 3-2 victory in the shootout.