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Page last updated at 12:31 GMT, Wednesday, 26 January 2011

Reading eye indoor hockey revenge over East Grinstead

Richard Mantell
Mantell has 12 indoor caps for England

Reading's Richard Mantell says his side are hoping to have the chance to avenge last year's National Super Sixes final defeat to East Grinstead this weekend.

Reading face Beeston on Sunday in their semi-final at Wembley Arena, with East Grinstead up against Old Loughtonians.

Mantell told BBC Berkshire: "The atmosphere should be electric and it's great for us to have a go at Beeston.

"If all goes well, we'll have one eye on getting our own back on East Grinstead from last year."

He added: "I think we're in a really good position this year, we've got a stronger squad, a bigger squad.

It's all action and lots of goals which is what people want to see

Richard Mantell

"We came second in the league, but I think we'd look to have a really good go at them in the final, once we've had a good result from Beeston first."

Although the main focus for Mantell and his Reading team-mates is on the outdoor game, the Great Britain international says the indoor tournament has it's own special appeal.

"Domestically we're able to get a slightly higher profile with the indoor game," he said. "We're looking at 5,000 spectators at Wembley Arena on Sunday.

"It's a shorter game, played over 40 minutes, which means it's more bite-size - the Twenty20 version of hockey. It's all action and lots of goals which is what people want to see."

Mantell is one of five Reading players included in England's 12-man squad for the forthcoming Indoor World Cup in Poland.

"It's fantastic for us to have so many players in the squad - taking that into Sunday should be really good for us," Mantell added.



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see also
Barnes excited by indoor finals
25 Jan 11 |  Hockey
Reading geared up for indoor bid
07 Dec 10 |  Hockey
Joyce excited by indoor season
07 Dec 10 |  Hockey
Mantell returns for Commonwealths
24 Aug 10 |  Hockey


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