Browne’s Canterbury hunts play-off spot

England-based T&T men’s hockey team ace Kwandwane Browne and his Canterbury club face two must-win matches in their England Hockey League Premier Division if they are to qualify for the play-offs. 

On Sunday last, Browne was among the goals for Canterbury, but it was not enough to stop his team from going under to East Grindstead, his former club, 3-2.

After a 0-0 first-half, Adam Jordan scored seven minutes into the second half for East Grindstead to lead 1-0, but Browne, who missed T&T’s FIH World Hockey League Second Round Qualifiers in Brazil earlier this month due to club commitments, got his team even seven minutes later. 

Within two minutes of Browne’s goal, Niall Scott restored East Grinstead’s advantage while Andy Piper made it 3-1 in the 59th before some late pressure by Browne and his Canterbury teammates resulted in an own goal by their opponents, who managed to hang on for the win. 

Despite the loss, Canterbury stayed joint fourth on the ten-team table with Cannock on 24 points each and two matches left to play while East Grindstead is a point behind in sixth. 

At the top and already assured of a top-four qualification spot is Beeston, which trounced Southgate 6-0 to improve to 40 points, 14 clear of second-placed Surbiton which spanked third-placed Reading (25 points) 5-2. 

In the two other Premier Division matches played on Sunday, cellar-placed Brooklands MU edged Loughborough Students 3-2 and Hampstead & Westminster pipped Cannock 2-1. 

Going into the final two matches of the 18-match regular season, Canterbury will be aiming to hold onto fourth position with victory over a Southgate side which desperately needs a win to stay clear of bottom of the table Brooklands MU. 

The other key matches on Saturday sees Surbiton vs Hampstead & Westminster, Reading vs Loughborough Students, and Cannock vs East Grindstead.