Hockey: Todd returns to lift Reading for tilt at title
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Your support makes all the difference.Tomorrow's meeting at Sonning between the men's Premier leaders Cannock and Reading, last season's champions currently in second place, could rightly be offered as "winner takes all". Both teams are on course for all three domestic titles. The teams play in the Cup final at Canterbury on 13 April and both could take the League and Premiership titles, although Surbiton and Loughborough Students may still think otherwise.
A depleted Reading struggled to beat Students in the Cup semi-final last week but with the exception of Simon Towns, leading New Zealand in the Azlan Shah Tournament in Malaysia, will be at full strength. England's Andy Todd, who has missed most of the season with injury, is expected to make a comeback and will be a bonus. Cannock should be at full strength, although they will be without their two long-term injured Welsh internationals, Simon Organ and Paul Edwards.
The First Division champions, Old Loughtonians, and the Second Division champions, Bowdon, will be looking to maintain their unbeaten records – the only two teams in the 62-strong National League.
Today sees the final round of games in the women's National League. Although nothing sort of two freak results can stop Slough from claiming their ninth championship since they won the inaugural title 14 years ago, there is still much to play for. Indeed, mathematically, any one of five teams could fill the last Premiership play-off place along with Slough, Olton and Canterbury.
Ipswich who came strong last weekend with wins over Slough and Chelmsford, will start favourites when they travel to Hightown. Equal on points with Ipswich but with a much inferior goal difference are Chelmsford and Leicester, who have difficult fixtures against Olton and Canterbury respectively. And there is still an outside chance for Clifton and Hightown.
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