Jen Wilson is satisfied with the opening portion of Canterbury’s Investec National, Premier Division campaign and has not given up on defending the title they won last season.

The city club ladies go into the winter break sitting third after beating Beeston 4-0 at Polo Farm on Saturday and player-coach Wilson said: “We got the three points and you have to be happy with a 4-0 win.

“We were missing key players in the form of Mel Clewlow and Susannah Townsend so it shows our strength in depth within the squad.”

The win left the city club six points behind leaders Surbiton, with seven games to play once the season resumes in February.

Clifton are three points ahead in second after they won 4-1 at Holcombe, who slipped to sixth.

Wilson said: “I am pretty satisfied with where we sit at Christmas. The top-four places is what a lot of teams are pushing for and we’re in there and in contention for one and two.”

With thoughts now turning to the indoor season and no outdoor action until early February, Wilson added: “It’s not a priority in terms of the season for us but indoor is always important to us.

“It gives us the chance to maintain our fitness levels through until we’re back and these girls always want to win at everything they do."

Midfielder Townsend is likely to line-up for England in their FIH Champions Trophy quarter-final against New Zealand in Mendoza on Thursday night.

England were edged out 2-1 by Australia in their opening game on Saturday before fighting back to draw 1-1 against Germany on Sunday night.

Townsend set up the only goal as England completed their pool stage by losing 4-1 to the host nation on Tuesday night to finish fourth in Pool B.

They play Pool A winners New Zealand in the last eight (9pm GMT - live on Sky Sports 3) with the semis, medal matches and classification matches on Saturday and Sunday.