Hockey: Hassall adds a touch of class

MAIDENHEAD continue to set a hot pace in the A Division of the Peroni South Premier League, winning 3-2 against Blackheath, their first victory over the Kent club for more than 20 years. They stay two points ahead of Hampstead, who returned to form with a 4-1 win over Worthing.

Maidenhead were always in the lead against Blackheath, their winner coming from Mark Hassall, the former Welsh international putting home his second goal 10 minutes from time. Kuljit Dhak had opened the scoring.

Hampstead and Westminster, and Dave Dixon in particular, began splendidly against Worthing with the veteran former Hounslow defender scoring three times in the opening 20 minutes. Graham Hill netted Hampstead's fourth.

High Wycombe, with goals from Rob Cheatle and Darran Carter, won 2-0 away at Anchorians, in spite of finishing with three men under temporary suspension, to keep the pressure on the leaders. With Staines beaten 1-0 by Tulse Hill, Simon Turner scoring with just nine seconds remaining, the top three clubs are now breaking away from the pack.

Gore Court, with an impressive 3-1 win against Oxford University, took over the leadership of the B Division from the students who slip to fourth. Clive Jenkins and Richard Garrard gave the Kent club a

2-0 interval lead and although Mathew Keylock pulled one back for Oxford, Jenkins scored a second to cement the victory.

In the Ernst and Young Leagues, Sheffield have gone nine points clear of Timperley in the North while Edgbaston are five points ahead of Leicester Westleigh in the Midlands. Redbridge and Ilford also lead the Norwich Union East Premier by five points from Crostyx, who have a game in hand.

Olton and West Warwick Ladies became the first Regional League team to qualify for this season's National League play-offs when they beat Loughborough 4-0.