Hockey: Big-day blues for duo.

BOTH Bournville and Olton were beaten at the semi-final stage when indoor hockey held its big day out in Birmingham.

A bumper crowd packed the NIA yesterday for the National Indoor Hockey Championships, but there was little for the locals to shout about.

Olton and West Warwicks went down 5-3 to reigning women's champions Slough, who then captured their 13th title in this competition by beating Bowdon Hightown in the final.

Bournville were sunk 7-3 by pre-tournament favourites East Grinstead in their semi-final.

East Grinstead then lost out to Loughborough Students in a thrilling final.

At one point it looked as though Bournville might cause an upset, pulling the score back to 5-3 thanks to Chris Graham and a couple of David Tyler goals.

But Tom Rowlands then missed a crucial penalty stroke, which would have clawed the score back to 5-4 and East Grinstead broke straight back upfield to make it 6-3.

A remarkable day in the Bodykraft Midlands Premier Division saw all the leading title contenders slip up.

Leaders Harborne had a match to forget against Mansfield as they suffered a 4-2 defeat.

Trailing 4-0 at one stage, Harborne hit back through skipper Howell Morris and James Wright.

Harborne still remain a point clear after closest challengers Chesterfield crashed 5-3 reverse at home to West Bridgnorth.

Third-placed Olton missed a great chance to close the gap when they were held to a 3-3 draw with North Staffs.