HOCKEY: Reading pay for Scottish slip-up

READING YESTERDAY ended their challenge in the B Division of the European Indoor Club Championship in Prague with a 6-4 win against Partille from Sweden. A second Mark Pearn hat-trick brought the Premier Division club a disappointing fifth place which condemns the English champions, Southgate, to another year in the B Division.

The damage was done on Saturday when Reading surrendered a three-goal lead to lose 5-3 to Scotland's Menzieshill, who went on to win the final 3-2 after a penalty stroke shoot-out following a 1-1 draw with Dynamo Ekaterinburg from Russia.

The Spanish club Atletic Terrassa beat Durkheimer from Germany 9-7 in the A Division final to become the first non-German club to win the European championship.

Bobby Crutchley scored twice as Cannock came from behind against Canterbury to win 4-2 and so extend their lead at the top of the men's Premier Division to five points. The 17-year-old Martin Jones capped a fine display with his first National League goal.

As Reading's chance of promotion to the A Division evaporated on Saturday, Mark Hoskin flew to Manchester to play and score for Guildford in their 4-3 win against Brooklands. The victory keeps alive their chance of making the top four play-off places.

In the Women's National League Jane Smith scored six times for Slough in their 9-1 victory at Doncaster to keep the defending champions in second place.