Hockey: Cannock lead flood of goals

THERE WERE goals galore in the spring sunshine yesterday. Cannock, defending Premier champions and current leaders, topped the bill with a 13-3 win against East Grinstead, Bob Crutchley scoring four to take his season's total to 32.

Along with Brooklands, Grinstead look doomed to the First Division next season, with Hounslow, seven points adrift of Bournville following their 3-1 defeat at Teddington yesterday, playing off with the First Division champions for the final Premier League place.

The Australian Ashley Grummitt was another with a four-goal haul, in Bournville's 6-2 win against Guildford, which just about ensures the Midland side Premier hockey next season. The England striker, Mark Pearn, also scored four times in Reading's 7-3 win away to Old Loughtonians.

Perhaps the most important four goals came from Surbiton's South African, Greg Nicol, in a 5-3 win at Stourport. Since Doncaster only managed a 2-2 draw with Harleston Magpies, this returned the Surrey side to the top of the First Division, a point ahead of the Yorkshire side.