THE National Hockey League reached its mid-season break with the play-offs likely to occupy the thoughts of both Canterbury’s men and women until the action resumes in May.

For the women, third in the Premier Division, the play-offs offer the chance for another tilt at European glory, but they could end the men’s long stay in the top flight.

The 2-1 defeat at Hampstead was the ninth in 13 outings for Stewart Keir’s side and they remain in the bottom two, only Chelmsford below them.

Should those positions stay the same Canterbury will have to face the Division 1 runners-up in a two-legged relegation play-off, having only survived in a penalty shoot-out last season.

Keir said: "We definitely don’t want to go there again. Ordinarily I would not be in favour of such a long break but this season I’m grateful for it. It will give us an opportunity to regroup with a bit more steel and determination.

"There’s just such a negativity in the camp at the moment, because we’ve scrapped our hearts out only to end up with nothing in so many games.

"There’s no problem with the effort but it’s proved physically and mentally draining. We need to come back and treat the last five games as a new season."

Keir reckons Canterbury need to win three of their remaining five games to avoid the play-offs and they do still have to play Chelmsford, plus Old Loughtonians and Guildford, the two clubs immediately above them.

He said: "Seven points may be enough but nine should do it."

For the women the 3-0 defeat of bottom club Clifton lifted them into the third and final play-off place and like the men they still have to face most of their nearest rivals.

Leicester remain odds-on to fill the top spot but behind them only one point separates five clubs and Clewlow believes the league is the most exciting it has ever been.

She said: "I expect the race to go down to the wire but to a degree our fate is in our hands. We still have to play Olton, Slough and Chelmsford and if we pick up points against them it should be enough."

The reason for the much longer than usual mid-season break is to enable the home countries to prepare for the Commonwealth Games, in March, and next month Clewlow and three of her clubmates will be heading for Argentina for a four-team tournament.

The Canterbury skipper will be joined by Frances Houlsop, Becky Duggan and Cathy Gilliat-Smith for the trip which sees England face Australia, Holland and the host nation.