EAST GRINSTEAD skipper Stuart Head is prepared to play through the pain barrier to help keep his side in the National Hockey League's premier division.

Head hasn't played since mid-January because of a broken hand and wasn't due to resume training with a stick until next Monday.

But he could play in this weekend's crucial double-header against Beeston and Brooklands with a specially re-inforced glove similar to ones used by batsmen.

Despite Sunday's record 13-3 defeat at leaders Cannock, Grinstead could still climb out of the bottom two automatic relegation positions.

They need two wins from their last three games, the last of which is against Hounslow, the team they have to overhaul to get out of danger, at Saint Hill on April 11.

This weekend they visit mid-table Beeston and then bottom-of-the-table Brooklands.

Head said: "I was going to start stick work again on Monday so a couple of days won't make too much difference.

"Even if I could play for a few minutes in both matches it might help, I'm seeing a specialist about the glove on Friday and I'll decide after that."

Grinstead knew they had little chance of getting anything from the Cannock game so Jamie Brown, Jeff Rosemergy and Peter Bell rested injuries to make sure they were fit for this weekend.

Goalkeeper David Luckes and Richard Payne were both unavailable so a heavy defeat was inevitable, although Cannock produced an awesome display of finishing.

They lead 8-0 at half-time with Bobby Crutchley scoring four goals in the space of 19 minutes. Four more in the last 14 minutes took Cannock into double figures with Richard Gibson (2) and Ed Cabay getting Grinstead's consolations.

Added Head: "It was always a case of damage limitation but the result did flatter them a bit, every shot they had ended up a goal."

LEWES are chasing runners-up spot in Division One with one game to go.

They need to win their last match against Indian Gymkhana and hope Doncaster slip up after a 2-1 victory at Havant despite being without four regulars.

Andy Cook converted Luke Hurle's cross to put them in front, but Havant equalised from a penalty stroke just before half-time.

Lewes won a flurry of short corners in the second half and Jeremy Boyse grabbed the winner in the 57th minute with a shot from the edge of the circle.

Sussex League: Crawley 6 (Parker 3, Bettsworth, Wright, Jones), Southwick 3 (Blake, Smith, Cockerill); Penguin 2 (Martin-Cramp, Matthews), Newhaven 0; Sussex Univ 1 (Hooker), Crowborough 2

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