HOCKEY'S summer international bonanza moves on to Cannock in the Midlands this weekend with no less than five players from local clubs featuring in a three-match England against Ireland test series (writes SEAN COTTER).
Kingston dentist Ivan Steen, who plays for Surbiton in the English national premier division, has the distinction of being the only non home-based player in the Irish squad, which, like the country's rugby squad, is drawn from both sides of the border.
Facing Steen in the England squad will be three team mates from Surbiton - Brett Garrard, Ben Hawes and James Wallis - plus Teddington goalkeeper Jon Ebsworth.
All four local English players took part in the Great Britain training camp last week that concluded with a 5-5 draw in a second training game against Premiership champions Reading on the new Bisham water-based pitch on Saturday morning.
Garrard and Wallis both played in this amazing game in which GB trailed 4-2 at the interval, but fought back to 5-4 up only to concede at last-second equaliser.
Hawes, together with Wallis, had played in the previous 2-2 draw on Reading's home ground in Sonning Lane the previous Wednesday evening.
May 30, 2003 12:00
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