CANTERBURY skipper Stewart Keir is confident his side can secure qualification for the finals of the English Indoor Hockey League at the midway point of the campaign.

The city club played the first four of their eight league fixtures at the Glades Leisure Centre in Kidderminster over the weekend and lie fourth in the table after two wins, a draw and a defeat.

On Saturday they won 5-4 against Old Loughtonians before a thrilling 5-5 draw with Loughborough Students which saw Keir fire a hat-trick to put his side 5-2 up before a storming comeback by the students.

On Sunday Canterbury opened with a comfortable 7-4 victory over Kingston-upon-Hull but finished with a hugely disappointing 8-1 loss against Beeston, who now lie one point behind the city club in fifth in the table.

Keir said: “It went ok, although it didn’t finish well. Our target was nine points and we got seven which is not too bad but the way the results have gone the table is wide open.”

He said: “I think 8-1 flattered them a bit. We just did not have a good day infront of goal. We probably had about 15 chances to score and couldn’t do it.”

Keir paid tribute to right-back Rob Pryce, who had an impressive first indoor tournament.

Canterbury will not have it easy if they want to defend the national title they won last season.

They face first-placed East Grinstead, who have won four out of four, and second placed Bournville, who have won three of four, back in Kidderminster on Saturday January 12.

The following day they face Robinson’s and Reading, who have only one win apiece from their four fixtures.

Keir added: “We will want nine points from the next weekend to get through to the finals.”

Canterbury ladies will have it all to do as they lost three of their four games at the Whitgift School in South Croydon over the weekend

On Saturday they went down 5-1 to old foes Chelmsford before a 4-2 reverse at the hands of Slough.

They began Sunday with a 5-3 win over Sutton Coldfield before a 4-1 defeat against Olton and West Warwicks.

They lie seventh, six points behind fourth-placed Ipswich, but they have already played the top three and will face the Suffolk side and Clifton on January 12 and Bowdon Hightown and struggling Sevenoaks - who have lost all four of their games scoring three goals and conceding 22 - the following day.

The city club are three points above the pointless Sevenoaks and Sutton Coldfield who occupy the division’s relegation places.