Photo: Action from today's England Hockey League match between Reading and Cannock (www.HockeyImages.co.uk).There were two matches in the Men's Premier Division of the England Hockey League this afternoon.
TalkHockeyRadio was at Sonning Lane this afternoon to see Reading play Cannock. The comment on everyone's lips was that this was a match which only two seasons ago would have had a top-of-the-table billing, but this morning Reading and Cannock were occupying 9th and 10th place respectively in the table. Reading's problems are short term – the loss of their England internationals and injuries has left them perilously depleted – but Cannock's are somewhat more serious, and it showed this afternoon. Four first half goals from Tom Bertram, Andy Watts, Warren D'Souza and Matt Artitage gave Reading a 4-1 half time lead, and the second half saw Jonty Clarke, David Tyler (2) and Chris Newman double the tally. Cannock were not exactly outclassed but seemed to lack the killer punch where it mattered. Final score 8-3 to Reading, and a sigh of relief from their supporters that they are no longer occupying unfamiliar territory.
Photographs from this match will appear on our sister web site at www.HockeyImages.co.uk sometime tomorrow (Monday).
The other match emphasised the dominance of the top two sides as Hampstead & Westminster went down to visiting East Grinstead. The Grinners and the Bees have opened up a five point gap ahead of the chasing pack, and its only four matches into the season.
ENGLAND WILL MEET INDIA IN THE SEMI FINALS OF THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES, after a tired looking England men's team struggled to overcome South Africa. An outstanding goal in the 8th minute by Ashley Jackson from the narrowest of angles, suggested this was going to be an easy match, but Taine Paton equalised ten minutes into the second half. It was only in the closing minutes that James Tindall slipped the ball over the goalkeeper to give England a 2-1 win.
India overcame Pakistan 7-4 to finish in second place behind Australia. Australia will play New Zealand in the other semi-final.
RESULTS FROM TODAYS ENGLAND HOCKEY LEAGUE MATCHES:
Men's Premier Division |
Hampstead and Westminster |
| (1) |
| 2 | - | 4 |
| (2) |
| East Grinstead |
Stephane Vehrle-Smith 21 - PC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Danny Hall 3 18 - F F | |
| ||||||||||
Reading |
| (4) |
| 8 | - | 3 |
| (1) |
| Cannock |
Tom Bertram 15 - PC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ollie Cooper 24 - F | |
| ||||||||||
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
1 | Beeston | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 6 | 12 | 12 |
2 | East Grinstead | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 5 | 12 | 12 |
3 | Hampstead and Westminster | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 7 |
4 | Surbiton | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 10 | -3 | 6 |
5 | Bowdon | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
6 | Reading | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 4 |
7 | Canterbury | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 13 | -5 | 4 |
8 | Brooklands MU | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 3 |
9 | Loughborough Students | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 15 | -7 | 3 |
10 | Cannock | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 16 | -10 | 1 |
