Hockey: Busy Canterbury will take some stopping

IN A full weekend of National League and third-round cup matches for the men and women, two double attractions will catch the eye on Sunday.

Current Premier Division leaders, Canterbury men - who should return with the points from Hounslow tomorrow - entertain Cambridge City in the Cup, while the women are at home to Wimbledon in the League and then entertain Worcester Norton from the C Division of the Midland League on Sunday. It should be an all-conquering weekend for the Kent club.

Havant's weekend is likely to be less productive, particularly on Sunday when the men entertain Reading and the women take on the formidable Slough. Win or lose, Havant plan to make it a memorable day as they introduce the Berkshire clubs to their new Desso water-based artificial turf pitch.

Since winning the Cup in 1990 and the first of their three National League titles the following season, Havant have been in the doldrums for the past couple of years. Currently third in Division One under Peter Freer, their new Australian coach, the fightback is on.

Havant's women have long lived in the shadow of their men's team, but now, under coach John Wright - at the men's helm when the club won every domestic trophy before he departed to coach the national sides of Zimbabwe and Greece - are beginning to make their mark.

Sandy Broad, the women's captain, commented: "To draw Slough in the Cup is a fantastic opportunity for all the girls at Havant. I know they will give the game their all and enjoy the occasion and, who knows, anything can happen in the cup."