HOCKEY: Europe ahead for double finalists

CANNOCK AND Reading assured themselves places in European competition next season following yesterday's cup semi-final wins and they will contest both the Premiership League final and the EHA Cup final.

In a typically dour cup tie at Cannock Chris Mayer gave the home side a deserved lead in the 16th minute benefiting from an unselfish pass from Bobby Crutchley. Crutchley himself put the tie beyond doubt three minutes from time when he converted only Cannock's second penalty corner of the game.

At Chigwell, two goals from Scott Ashdown paved Reading's way to a comfortable 4-0 victory against Old Loughtonians in a one-sided game in which the visitors never looked in trouble after Ashdown's opening goal in the ninth minute.

The New Zealander Ken Robinson scored their second after good work by Mark Pearn on the interval with Howard Hoskin touching in the third at a well-worked penalty corner. Ashdown completed the scoring with his second.

As a result of Saturday's semi-finals in the Women's Cup Slough will play Fyffes Leicester in the final. Slough were far too strong for Chelmsford Highway, winning 4-0 while Leicester, although dominating their game against Olton Terraquest, only scrambled through 1-0 thanks to a 24th-minute goal from their Welsh international Justine Williams.