BOWDON GET CONFIDENCE BOOST by Pat Rowley

New Premier League side Bowdon had an enormous confidence boost two weeks before the English League season starts by winning the annual PLUM tournament at Chelmsford, ahead of five other premier clubs. The Cheshire club beat title holders East Grinstead 2-1 in the final after taking a 2-0 lead with goals by Simon Egerton (stroke) and Ali Ghazanfar, their Pakistani international (pictured).

Ghazanfar was no doubt missed by Pakistan who finished sixth, an all-time low, in the Asia Cup at Chennai. Hosts India handed Korea, the 2006 Asian Games champions, a 7-2 hiding in the final.