EAST Grinstead's Glenn Kirkham marked his 100th cap for his country by scoring twice as Great Britain beat Russia 8-0 in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Santiago, Chile.

Kirkham, who joined Grinstead at the start of last season, won his 17th GB cap to add to 83 appearances for England.

Former Lewes player Ben Hawes won his 50th GB cap in the same game.

Kirkham scored his first ever GB goal from a short corner to put his country 2-0 ahead and also added the final goal of the game from open play.

Victory followed an 11-2 drubbing of Mexico in Great Britain's opener on Saturday when another East Grinstead player, Ashley Jackson, scored from open play.

Great Britain currently top the group of six nations who are battling it out for one place at this year's Olympics in Beijing. They play hosts Chile tomorrow before a crunch game with India on Thursday.

Their final group match is against Austria on Saturday before the top two nations play-off on Sunday for the solitary qualification spot.

East Grinstead manager Matt Jones said: "We are really pleased for Glenn and also Ashley. This is a huge week for Great Britain hockey and we hope they make it."

Grinstead maintained their challenge for European qualification with a 1-1 draw away to Loughborough Students on Sunday but Jones has urged his players to keep their feet on the ground.

The draw kept Grinstead eight points clear of the chasing pack with four games to play and it probably ended Loughborough's challenge.

England are expected to have three places again in next year's Champions League-style European Hockey League, although that has still to be confirmed, and Jones says their aim must be second spot in the National premier division.

Cannock, who have now replaced Grinstead in second place, visit Saint Hill on Sunday.

Jones said: "The position we are in is very positive but also a dangerous one.

"Should we not get the points this Sunday and Beeston win against Loughborough, that would cut the deficit to five points and we would still have Beeston to play as well as leaders Reading.

"It is very important not to look at the table. I am the sort of person who likes to know what is going on but once we have assessed that we have to put it to one side.

"There could be a tendency to look at the healthy situation we are in and relax. That would be potentially catastrophic.

"We have got to remember how we got where we are in the first place, which was through gritty, patient, disciplined, professional performances, and continue to produce performances like that."

Dave De Prez fired Grinstead ahead from open play nine minutes into the second half but they were pegged back by a controversial equaliser seven minutes from time after the umpire deemed a chest-high cross from the left was not dangerous.

Danny Hall failed to take a great chance which would have sealed victory in the closing stages.

Jones said: "It was a well won point which maintained our unbeaten record away. It is another point in the bag and one game less for everybody else to play.

"We are still going for second place and need to get as many points as we can to be in with a shout should Reading slip up."

In the Slazenger Women's National South Division, Horsham remain in a relegation play-off position but were buoyed by a 4-3 win at fellow strugglers Firebrands on Saturday.

Victory moved Horsham to within a point of Firebrands but they were unable to bridge that gap in a rearranged game with leaders Staines on Sunday which they lost 5-1.

Fran Crossley scored a hat-trick against Firebrands and was also on target against Staines while Siobhan Aherne was the other goalscorer from the weekend.