VIEW FROM THE NORTH From David Meek

It’s a three-horse race for the play-offs in the Slazenger England Hockey League Conference North with only a point separating the top three teams.

Belper lead the table after beating Sheffield Hallam 4-3 at the weekend, with Brooklands Manchester University and Durham University both just a point behind but with Brooklands lying second on goal difference.

Brooklands sent out a strong message of intent by demolishing Leek 6-1 while Durham won 4-0 against Telford.

The Brooklands performance delighted coach John Bell following the previous week’s impressive 2-0 success against rivals Durham.

"We played well again and are coming strongly at just the right time of the season," he said. "We have come good with a nucleus of four players who are setting the standards for everyone else in the team.

"I know I can rely on the work rate of Russell Anderson, the experience and ability to create of David Seddon, the way Mark Bateman has developed up front and on skipper Andy Howse pulling everything together."

Brooklands got away to a good start at Leek with two goals from Welsh international Ollie Cooper and a penalty corner from Seddon to lead by three goals at the break. Paul Dawson pulled a goal back for Leek but Brooklands stepped up their game again to score through David Flanagan, Bateman and Richard Bond.

The key fixture to decide who goes into the play-offs for the Premier division could well be the final game of the season when Brooklands are at home to Belper.

Brooklands are at home at Georges Road to Sheffield University Bankers on Sunday (2pm).

Durham University, who were top until losing to Brooklands, are in the peculiar position of wanting to win the division but they don’t want promotion.

The students’ coach, Gavin Featherstone, told me: "Our hockey budget from the University would not cover our boys travelling the distances, and overnight stays, involved in the Premier, especially as our girls are also in the running for promotion.

" We are virtually an all-student team with five of them already telling me that they are not available for the play-offs because they sit their finals the following week. We have a problem," he said.