Canterbury Ladies kept pace with Investec National Premier Division leaders Reading with a comprehensive 9-0 win at struggling Olton & West Warwicks on Saturday.

Cara Jones put the visitors ahead after just seven minutes and Nikki Lloyd converted a penalty corner to make it 2-0 10 minutes later.

Nikki Kidd opened her account for the day with the third four minutes before the break and player-coach Jen Wilson netted for the second straight game on her comeback from long-term injury to make the points all-but safe on 41 minutes.

The goal served to open the floodgates with Kidd grabbing two in as many minutes to complete her hat-trick on 47 minutes and make it 6-0, before adding her fourth of the day from a penalty corner four minutes later.

There was still time for Lizzie Neal to grab an eighth and US import Kim Young to make it 9-0 in a 60-second blitz late-on.

Reading remain top on goal-difference after coming from 2-0 down at half-time to win 3-2 at home to Leicester, though third-placed Bowdown Hightown lost, meaning Canterbury have a four-point lead over nearest chasers Clifton.

Canterbury’s men completed a successful weekend for the club with a 4-0 cruise against Sheffield Hallam in NOW Pensions National Premier Division on Sunday afternoon.

Andrew Dunn’s penalty corner strike after 21 minutes set the hosts on their way at Polo Farm and Ben Allberry grabbed the crucial second five minutes later.

Mickel Pierre added a third in the dying seconds of the first-half to leave the result in little doubt, and Liam Foster fired a fourth mid-way through the second half to seal the victory.

The win closed the gap on play-off chasing East Grinstead and Reading, who shared a 4-4 draw, and kept Canterbury three points fourth-placed Surbiton.