Reading ready for hockey bonanza

Shakila Barabhuiya • Published 27 Jan 2012 08:29 0 Comments

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Players prepare for Super Sixes tournament

AN exciting weekend of hockey awaits Reading Hockey Club with the possibility of both mens and ladies teams qualifying for Europe in the Maxifuel Super Sixes tournament at Wembley Arena on Sunday.

The Maxifuel Super Sixes is hockey's thrilling, skilful six-a-side indoor version where goals are guaranteed in action-packed, lightning-quick, 20 minute halves.

The men kick off proceedings on Sunday with a tough semi-final against defending champions East Grinstead with the victors playing the winners of Bowdon against Beeston in the final later in the afternoon.

The women, who were runners up last year, will battle it out for the Super Sixes title against Leicester after overcoming defending champions Bowdon Highdown in the semi-final.

The winners will go on to represent England in the EuroHockey Indoor Club Championships and EuroHockey Indoor Club Trophy respectively.

The matches will be screened live on Sky Sports 2 from 3-6pm.

Before that, however, Great Britain's women will be in action in the Champions Trophy, which will be shown live via the BBC Red Button.

The tournament, which begins in Rosario, Argentina, on Saturday, is the last ranking event before the Olympics and therefore significant for several of the eight nations involved.

GB play Japan in their opening pool game on Saturday from 6pm followed by a tough game against the Netherlands on Sunday at 6pm.

On Tuesday they take on China with the finals taking place on Sunday, February 5.

As part of their preparations for the competition, GB beat South Korea 3-1, world champions Argentina 2-0 and New Zealand 2-0 to reach the final of the Four Nations tournament.

However, they had to settle for second place as they went down 3-2 to South Korea in the final.

Goals from Reading duo Kate Walsh and Alex Danson set up the final on Sunday after they beat New Zealand 2-0.

Reading Hockey Club's Beth Storry, Emily Maguire, Helen Richardson and Laura Bartlett were all in the squad.

** READING'S Emma Thomas scored to help England women secure promotion to the top flight of the EuroHockey Indoor Nations Championship when they beat Switzerland 3-2 in their final match in Denmark on Sunday.

England had to draw or win to secure their spot in next year's top division, and after being level at 1-1 at the break, they achieved their aim with a one-goal victory.

Switzerland took the lead after just five minutes with Stephanie Walti scoring from open play, but England were level at 1-1 following a 15th-minute goal from Katie Long.

Thomas put England into the lead on 22 minutes with a full-length dive after good work from Long.

And two minutes later, England put themselves 3-1 ahead with captain Denise Marston-Smith scoring from England's only penalty corner.

Switzerland's captain Saskia Muller pulled back a 25th-minute goal from a penalty corner, but England's defence held firm and didn't conceded further goals. **

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