Reinforced Reading move up

Reading, with Simon Mason, Jon Wyatt and Mark Pearn returning to the side from their enforced rest after the Olympic Games, yesterday edged home against Southgate 3-2 to take over the Premier leadership from Surbiton, in spite of twice being reduced to 10 men following temporary suspensions.

Reading, with Simon Mason, Jon Wyatt and Mark Pearn returning to the side from their enforced rest after the Olympic Games, yesterday edged home against Southgate 3-2 to take over the Premier leadership from Surbiton, in spite of twice being reduced to 10 men following temporary suspensions.

After Gregg Clark had put Southgate ahead in the 23rd minute, Ben Barnes equalised with a superb penalty stroke before Scotland's Graham Joyce put Southgate back in the lead with a fierce shot from a narrow angle. Second-half goals from Jonty Clarke and Jonny Loose ensured the points.

Surbiton, the overnight leaders, were always struggling against Canterbury, losing 4-3 in spite of Greg Nicol scoring a brace. Indeed, trailing 4-1, only the late arrival of James Webber injected some life into the Surbiton side.

Nick Thompson, the former England forward, scored both goals in Old Loughtonians 2-1 win against Cannock and also had an eighth-minute penalty stroke brilliantly saved by Jimi Lewis. Guildford's Great Britain players, Guy Fordham and Danny Hall, scored in their 2-1 win at Teddington as the Surrey club recorded their first win of the season.