Canterbury Ladies go into the winter break sat third in Investec National Premier Division after seeing-off Beston at Polo Farm.

The city club went ahead through Sarah Kerly on 10 minutes while Eliza Brett made it 2-0 10 minutes before the break.

Dirkie Chamberlain added a third and completed her brace eight minutes after the break, though her hopes of a hat-trick were ended as Beeston keeper Natalie Robson saved the South African’s penalty stroke.

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, two points outside the play-off places.

Claire Thomas put the Bristol side ahead seven minutes before half-time and added her second just before the hour, by which time Elizabeth Sinton and Els Mansell had netted twice in five minutes to end the game as a contest.

Lucy Wood did pull one back nine minutes from time as Holcs suffered their third defeat in a row.

Canterbury's men suffered a 10th defeat in 11 games in NOW: Pensions National Premier Division on Sunday.

The city club went down 2-0 at home to Beeston thanks to first-half goals from James Gall and Richard Lawrence, meaning rock-bottom Canterbury are effectively eight points adrift of safety with seven games remaining.

Canterbury’s Susannah Townsend and Maddie Hinch, Laura Unsworth and Sam Quek of Holcs were in action as England’s women began their FIH Champions Trophy campaign in Mendoza, Argentina, over the weekend.

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.

They complete their pool stage against the host nation on Tuesday evening.