Hockey: Trolove reinforces Ealing: Kiwi international bolsters three-pronged strike force

EALING'S new signing, the Welsh international Fionnuala Morgan-Rees, will not be registered in time to play in the Premier National League against her old club, Sutton Coldfield, at Hounslow's new Chiswick headquarters on Sunday.

However, another international, New Zealand's Kate Trolove, returns to form a formidable Ealing strike force with Mandy Nicholls and the 18-year-old Bryony Hoskins.

Sutton will be without the injured Lisa Bayliss and Barbara Hambly, who is expecting her second child. Their new signing, Helen Whalley from Olton, is expected to line up at sweeper.

The champions, Ipswich, expect to be at full strength at Chelmsford, who they defeated 4-0 in a pre-season friendly.

The visit of Hightown to Leicester is likely to provide a tight game, while the game between revitalised Slough and the young Clifton side could provide a hatful of goals.

The 17-year-old Charlotte Merrett featured strongly in Clifton's 3-1 win against Chelmsford and her midfield contest with Slough's captain, Karen Brown, could prove decisive.

The Second Division game between Woking and Canterbury at Goldsworth Park will see two former Welsh colleagues in opposition: Woking's Jeanne Harris and Canterbury's Eirian Fox. It is, however, the rising stars of Canterbury - among them the England Under-21 World Cup players Jackie Empson and Jackie Savage - who are likely to seal victory for the visitors.