MOTORSPORT, HOCKEY

Hockey titles take heavy toll on teams

A CLASH with the Australian under-21 men’s hockey championships in Sydney has thrown Round 13 Premier League results under a blanket of uncertainty.

Derwent meets University at 4.30pm with both sides hoping to consolidate their positions of second and fourth respectively.

The Strikers fell back into old habits as they narrowly edged Canterbury 3-2 this week and hope to be able to replace the loss of Linden McCarthy with a substitute appearance from captain Vaughn Bowen. Last season’s player of the year has been sidelined for eight weeks but could make a return on limited minutes if given the all-clear.

University has been deci- mated with Ben Read, Josh Brooks, Oscar Ince all unavailable and James Dick suspended. Cam Topfer, Elmo McCarthy, Ashby Bingham, Jamie Mitchell and Sam Payne have all been called up to University’s match-day squad.

“It’s a weekend of opportunity for our squad,” University coach Paul Ancher said.

After a spirited performance against Derwent, Canterbury will be eyeing off an upset win against a North-West Graduates side missing six under-21 representatives, at 1.30pm.

Graduates slipped to third on the table after a 6-5 loss to OHA last week.

Old hands Marcus Richardson and Tim Stevens will return to Premier League action to cover Graduates’ depleted