NEITHER of Canterbury's indoor hockey sides will take part in the finals night to fight for the national title after dismal displays in the second half of the indoor hockey league Premier Divisions.

Canterbury failed to defend the crown they won last year after losing three of their final four games at the tournament in Kidderminster over the weekend.

Having sat fourth - in a finals qualifying position - at the midway stage, Canterbury began with a 11-10 loss to eventual winners East Grinstead before a 4-3 loss to Bournville.

On Sunday, they won 10-3 against Robinson's but they went down 14-1 in their final game against Reading to finish seventh in the nine-team division, one place clear of relegated duo Robinson's and Kingston-upon-Hull.

The ladies fared little better, remaining in the seventh place they occupied at the midway point.

Canterbury lost 4-3 to Clifton and 2-1 to Ipswich on Saturday before winning 1-0 against Sevenoaks but going down 4-3 to Bowdon Hightown.

They avoided relegation as Sutton Coldfield lost all eight of their games while Sevenoaks - who boasted Cathy Gilliat-Smith in their ranks - were three points adrift of Canterbury in eighth.

Meanwhile, Holcombe found the going tough in the Division 2 national Indoor Hockey League at the weekend.

The club were relegated after losing four and drawing one of their fixtures at Cocks Moor Wood, Birmingham.

Holcombe were always going to struggle after sneaking into the Division 2 pool following last week's indoor success at Bristol.

They started the weekend with a 6-4 defeat to Birmingham University and followed that up with an 8-8 draw against Yeovil & Sherborne on Saturday.

Sunday's action saw Holcombe lost 6-1 to Southgate, 8-3 to Bowdon and 8-3 to Team Bath Buccaneers.

More hockey news in this week's Kent Messenger Group newspapers.