Clarke still fully focused on ending season on a high

By Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat

ENGLAND forward Jonty Clarke insists there will be no old pals' act when league champions Reading entertain Surbiton on Sunday.

NO LET UP: Reading may have already won the league but Jonty Clarke insists there will be no let up against Surbiton (Getty Images)

Clarke will be making his first domestic appearance for Reading since helping England to fourth place at the Hockey World Cup in Delhi last week.

Fellow England internationals Nick Brothers and Iain Mackay may also feature for the Berkshire outfit while Richard Alexander, Ben Hawes, Rob Moore and James Tindall - all of whom went to Delhi - will be considered for Surbiton.

Reading have already wrapped up the league title with two matches still to go while Surbiton were their closest challengers, but currently lie second, seven points off the pace.

But despite having already secured the league title, Clarke is adamant he and his Reading troops will be going for the jugular against Surbiton.

"Surbiton were in great form at the start of the season before their internationals went to the World Cup," said Clarke.

"I think they were unbeaten before they left, but they have struggled a little bit since then.

"But I am sure they will be looking forward to the game and we are definitely looking forward to putting in a good performance.

"The focus for Reading has obviously been finishing at the top of the league for the last few weeks but now we have secured that it is important we put in some good performances ahead of the play-offs.

"There is the potential that there will be a few faces playing in the game who were out in India, so it should be a good game.

"Hopefully myself and (the other two lads from Reading who were at the World Cup) can integrate ourselves back into the team this weekend."

Meanwhile, Beeston's Adam Dixon also insists that friendships will be forgotten when the Nottinghamshire team square off against Bowdon on Saturday.

"I have got a few friends in the Bowdon team but that will have to be forgotten at the weekend because we are really looking to try and get a win and seal our spot in the play-offs," added Dixon.

"I am really looking forward to getting back and playing some club games.  Bowdon have been one of our bogey sides in the last few years so we will need to make sure we are playing well but hopefully we can get the win.

"There is a lot of friendship between the two sides and a good rivalry so it should be a good game."