LEOPARDS AND PUMAS ARE THE BIG CATS AT CANNOCK

Photos: GB President Richard Leman presents the GB Super League trophies to Sally Walton, captain of Pennine Pumas, and Glenn Kirkham, Captain of Wessex Leopards.
Wessex Leopards carried off the men’s GB Super League trophy in what was effectively a final at Cannock this afternoon. As the luck of the draw would have it, Wessex Leopards and Pennine Pumas headed the table this morning and so the winner of this match would also be the winner of the tournament.

Jonty Clarke set the ball rolling for the Leopards with a 7th minutes penalty stroke, but Simon Egerton equalised for the Pumas just before the half-time hooter. But the final say went to the Leopards when Ian MacKay netted the ball in the 54th minute. Final Score 2-1 to the Leopards.

Caledonian Cougars finished in third place, nine points behind the winners.

In the women’s GBSL the format is slightly different, and we had a genuine final between Pennine Pumas and Saxon Tigers, which the Pumas won 3-0. The scorers were Suzy Gilbert, Rachel Walker and Kerry Williams. The third place was taken by Caledonian Cougars who beat Celtic Panthers 2-1 in the 3rd/4th play-off.

RESULTS OF YESTERDAYS KNOCK OUT CUP FINALS:

Harrod UK Men’s Trophy Final: Guernsey 4 Henley 3
Women’s Trophy Final: Chichester Priory Park 8 Broxbourne 3
Men’s Vase Final: Sunbury 2 Gainborough Rose 2. Sunbury won on penalty strokes after extra time.
Women’s Vase Final: East Grinstead 5 Lewes 3

LEOPARDS AND PUMAS STILL AHEAD IN SUPER LEAGUE

After four matches it’s still neck and neck at the top of the men’s GB Super League. Time Pinnock, Matt Daly (4) and James Tindall (3) were all on target for Wessex Leopards in their 8-4 win over Saxon Tigers, whilst Pennine Pumas overcame Highland Jaguars 3-2 with goals from Simon Egerton, Richard Smith and Mark Gleghorne.

Leopards and Pumas lead the table on 12 points, separated by goal difference. The two sides meet in the final match of the tournament tomorrow. There is an eight point gap between the sides and the third placed team, Celtic Panthers.

In the women’s Super League Pennine Pumas are the only unbeaten side, with three wins out of three. They played Celtic Panthers in a match which they won 4-0. The scorers were Jo Ellis (2), Chloe Strong and Sally Walton. In second place is Saxon Tigers, who won their match against Caledonian Cougars 3-0, with Harriet Pearce, Jess Wood and Jenny Hall the scorers.

The format for the men’s and women’s tournament is slightly different. Both are played on a round-robin basis but the women’s teams play off to decide their final places. The League finishes tomorrow.

EARLY GOALS FAIL TO SAVE CONFERENCE SIDES FROM RELEGATION

The national league bid goodbye this afternoon to Women’s West Conference side Rover Oxford after they failed to win their second match in the relegation play-offs away to Whitley Bay and Tynemouth. Their hopes of survival must have been raised when Emily Court gave them an 11th minute lead but 13 minutes later Liz Perry equalised for the side from the North Conference. Whitley Bay’s Kath Smith then went on to score two from penalty corners in the second half, giving them the 3-1 win.

Whitley Bay now have three points after one game, as have East Conference Sevenoaks, with both sides on a goal difference of +2. They meet next Saturday (2/5//09). The winner of that match will stay in the national league.

There was a similar story further south at Peterborough where City of Peterborough took a 2-0 lead against Firebrands in the men’s relegation play-offs. Both came from penalty corners by Simon Shorter early in the match. Dominic Bowdon scored before the break to reduce the margin to 2-1 and shortly after the restart David Newns equalised. Joe Finding then put the City back in front only to see George Farrant equalise ten minutes later. The winner was scored by Firebrands Tim Lang with 10 minutes left, to give Firebrands a 4-3 win.

Peterborough are now relegated, despite having a game in hand, as Firebrands now head the table with four points. Firebrands play Formby, who have one point, next Saturday. A win by Formby would be enough to allow them to remain in the national league. Anything less would mean their relegation alongside Peterborough

EVENING MATCHES BRINGS NO CHANGE AT TOP OF SUPER LEAGUE

There were three evening matches in the men’s section of the GB Super League last night.
Wessex Leopards continue to the lead the table after an emphatic 7-0 win over Celtic Panthers at Bisham Abbey. James Kellock, James Tindall (2), Tim Pennock, Peter Dobson, Will Naylor and Harry Slater, all found the net for the Leopards. They are separated on goal difference from second place Pennine Pumas, who recorded a 4-2 win over Saxon Tigers at Cannock.

At Edinburgh’s Peffermill there was an all-Scotland affair with Caledonian Cougars playing Highland Jaguars. Cougars emerged as 3-2 winners of that match.

MEN’S GB SUPER LEAGUE TABLE AFTER THREE MATCHES (Subject to confirmation)

1. Wessex Leopards 9 pts (+14), 2. Pennine Pumas 9 pts (+9), 3. Highland Jaguars 3 pts (-3), 4. Caledonian Cougars 3 pts (-5), 5. Saxon Tigers 1 pt (-3), 6. Celtic Panthers 1 pt (-12).

LEOPARDS AND PUMAS LEAD AFTER FIRST WEEKEND OF GB SUPER LEAGUE

After the first weekend of play in the GB Super League, Wessex Leopards and Pennine Pumas have emerged as the leaders in the men’s tournament.

Playing at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Wessex Leopards won their opening match on Saturday by beating Highland Janguars 4-1, goals coming from Leopards’ James Tindall, Matt Daly (2) and Glenn Kirkham. The Jaguars scorer was Cammy Fraser. Daly and Tindall were on the scoresheet again today when they put four passed Caledonian Cougars for no reply, the other scorers being Will Naylor and James Kellock.

Wessex Leopards are separated from Pennine Pumas on goals scored. The Pumas recovered after twice being behind to Caledonian Cougars in their match yesterday, but finally won the game 4-2. Pumas scorers were Mark Cleghorne, Richard Lane, Simon Egerton and Richard Mantell. The scorers for the Pumas were Wel Adams and Christopher Nelson. The Pumas went on to win a high scoring game against Celtic Panthers today, with Martin Jones, Mark Cleghorne, Adam Dixon and Richard Mantell (3) scoring in their 6-1 win. Rick Gay was Panthers scorer.
Wessex Leopards and Pennine Pumas are each on 6 points with a goal difference of +7. Pumas have scored 10 goals as opposed to Leopards 8.

In the women’s league only Pennine Pumas remain unbeaten. Hannah Macleod and Susie Gilbert found the net in the 2-0 win over Saxon Tigers yesterday, and they followed this up with a 6-0 win over Caledonian Cougars today. The scorers were Hannah Macleod (2), Kerry Williams (2), Laura Unsworth and Jo Ellis.

SEVENOAKS MAY BE SPARED RELEGATION

The first matches in the relegation tournament for England Hockey League were played yesterday (Saturday). Whereas the 10th placed team in each of the Conferences is relegated to its appropriate regional league, there is a chance for one of the teams that came 9th to remain playing Conference hockey. Yesterday’s matches involved Sevenoaks from the Women’s East Conference and Rover Oxford from the Women’s West Conference, and Firebrands from the Men’s West Conference and Formby from the Men’s North Conference.

A goal in each half from Fiona Harland gave Sevenoaks a 2-0 win. Things were a little tighter down at Firebrands, where Tim Lang gave the home side an early lead. Lang could have increased Firebrands lead but he had his 11th minute penalty stroke saved. Richard Thompson equalised for Formby as half-time approached, but Lang scored his second minutes later to put Firebrands back into the lead. Firebrands held onto their lead until 20 minutes into the second half, when Joshua Cropper scored for Formby. Final score: 2-2.

WOMEN’S RELEGATION TOURNAMENT: 1. Sevenoaks 3 pts (+2), 2. Rover Oxford 0 pts (-2), 3. Whitley Bay & Tynemouth yet to play.

MEN’S RELEGATION TOURNAMENT: 1. Firebrands 1 pt (+0), Formby 1 pts (+0), 3. City of Peterborough yet to play.

A round-up of results from the GB Super League will appear on this blog later today.

European Hockey Round-up - Final Day

Picture: Action from the Round 3 match between Amsterdam and Rotterdam in the EuroHockey League




PETER COLWILL REPORTS FROM MANCHESTER ON THE EUROHOCKEY CUP WINNERS CUP

Amsterdam won their 18th European Gold medal when they beat Campo Villa de Madrid 2-0 in the final of the EuroHockey Women's Cup Winners Cup competition in Bowdon, scoring 26 times without conceding a goal. Host club Bowdon Hightown were edged out of the Bronze medal when they lost a penalty shoot out 4-2 against Rot Weiss Koln after an exciting 3-3 draw.

The final was a one sided affair with Madrid's goalkeeper Marie Jesus Rosa keeping her side in the match with four fabulous penalty corner saves to deny Fieke Holman. Holman, the leading Dutch League goalscorer, eventually found the net in the third minute of the second half at her seventh attempt. When Madrid made a late rally, a break away by Kitty Van Male set up Ellen Hoog for the second goal.

Bowdon Hightown came back three times from behind with the third goal scored by Charlotte Hartley with the last shot of the game when she turned in Sally Walton's pass at a penalty corner.

Andrea Wicken fired Rot Weiss ahead in the third minute but Tina Cullen equalised just before the interval from a penalty stroke. A stunning run by Christina Schutze set up Nicolette Abel for the German club's second goal before Cullen again equalised, only for Abel to put Rot Weiss back in front with her second goal. In the penalty competition Cullen and Michelle Liptrot scored but Nicky O'Donnel's shot was saved and with Clare Parkhill shooting wide, the Germans secured the Bronze.

Bonagrass Grove ensured a Scottish Club will be playing in this competition next year by beating Alta Borispol 15-0, the biggest score of the tournament. From the moment Louise Carroll drove in a penalty corner after 63 seconds, the only question was going to be how many.

Ali Bell, a first choice striker who had not scored in the tournament, helped herself to their next four goals in an eight minute spell and the fifth before half time. There were four goals for Nikki Kidd, two for Linsey Glass with the rest coming from Jen Wright, Ailsa Robertson and centre-back Kat Cameron who celebrated with an exuberant handstand.

Final Day results:
5/8th Lorenzoni (Ita) 1 Royal Uccle (Bel) 3; Bonagrass Grove (Sco) 15 Alta-Borispol (Ukr) 0.
3/4th Bowdon Hightown 3 Rot Weiss Koln 3. Koln won 4-2aps
FINAL Amsterdam 2 Campo Villa de Madrid 0.
Italy and Ukraine relegated to the 2010 Trophy Competition


PETER SAVAGE REPORTS FROM THE EUROHOCKEY LEAGUE IN HAMBURG.

A peculiarity in the league rules means that we now know the semi-final draws without any draw having actually taken place. Designed to try and avoid a final between two clubs of the same nation, the two Dutch clubs who won their Round 3 matches will play each other in the semi finals.

Yesterday's victors over East Grinstead, Bloemendaal, will meet the winner of the last Round 3 match, which was played this afternoon. The match in question, between Amsterdam and Rotterdam, ended in controversial style, after normal time and two periods of silver goal extra time had failed to decide the issue. A trip by the Amsterdam goalkeeper during the one-on-one shoot-out decider, resulted in a goal being awarded to Rotterdam and they go through to next month's semis, at a location in the Netherlands to be announced.

The other semi-final will be between Leuven and Hamburg (Uhlenhorster).

READING'S EURO CAMPAIGN FIZZLES OUT by Peter Savage in Hamburg

Photo: Leuven players celebrate as the final hooter is sounded.

Reading’s hopes of being the first English club to qualify for the semi-finals of the EuroHockey League evaporated in the sunshine here in Hamburg this afternoon. A single penalty corner conversion by Richard Mantell was all that Reading had to offer against the Belgian’s of Leuven.

To be frank, the English side did not appear to be firing on all cylinders, and although they dominated periods of the match, Leuven’s forwards were able to capitalise on odd lapses in Reading’s defence.

The result could have been far worse. Leuven had a goal disallowed after a video appeal and Nick Brothers had a penalty stroke awarded against him for a trip – a decision that reversed after the umpires conferred.

The final score of 2-1 in Leuven’s favour will be a huge disappointment to Reading. Having won a match in Round Two that the pundits assured us they would lose – the game against Barcelona - they have gone on to be knocked out by one of the teams that have widely been regarded as outsiders. That is not to say that Leuven did not deserve their win. Both they and Waterloo Ducks have demonstrated in this competition that Belgian hockey is a force to be reckoned with.

Round-up of Sunday's European Results from Peter Colwill in Manchester and Peter Savage in Hamburg

Photo: English interest (or, to be precise, Scottish interest) in the Hamburg v Club Egara match was in the form of umpire Andy Mair.


REPORT ON THE EUROHOCKEY WOMEN’S CUP WINNERS CUP IN MANCHESTER from Peter Colwill

Bowdon Hightown will play Rot Weiss Koln in the third place match after losing 4-0 to Amsterdam in their final pool match. Amsterdam will play Campo Villa de Madrid in the final.

Although Bowdon Hightown opened strongly they went behind in the 21st minute. A stunning reverse centre by Ellen Hoog was turned in by Kity Van Male, back after missing the previous match through injury. Four minutes later Amsterdam went further ahead when Elsemieke Groen was left unmarked and slotted in the easiest of chances.

Amsterdam's third goal came 11 minutes into the second half. Defender Marieke Mattheussens stole into the top of the circle and finished with a well placed shot. Despite denying Amsterdam at 8 penalty corners a terrible hit-out gifted Amsterdam their fourth goal scored by Eveline Wisse-Smit.

Bonagrass Grove's chance of reaching the third place match evaporated in 5 dramatic minutes at the start of the second half of their match against Rot Weiss Koln.Ailsa Robertson had given the Dundee side the lead sweeping in Linda Clement's cross shot at a penalty corner but Lena Arnold equalised for Rot Weiss just before half-time.

Rot Weiss came out for the second half several minutes early and just stood in their positions whilst Bonagrass came out and went into a huddle. In less than a minute a dazzling run by Christina Schutze set up Andrea Wicken to give Rot Weiss the lead. Within four minutes Wicken had added another from a penalty corner for 3-1.

A 6-1 win would have given Rot Weiss a place in the final but Bonagrass raised their game denying Rot Weiss further penalty corners and pulling a goal back in the penultimate minute when Robertson followed up Louise Carroll's penalty corner shot.

Campo Villa de Madrid secured their place in the final by beating Lorenzoni 9-1 although they had to wait anxiously for the result of the Bonagrass Grove match against Rot Weiss Koln,

Lorenzoni held the Spanish side to 3-1 at half time but the second half was one way traffic with Lorenzoni reduced to hitting centre restarts off the pitch. Amparo Gil scored 4 for Madrid.

Day 3 Results.
Pool A: Campo Villa de Madrid 9 Lorenzoni (Ita) 1; Rot Weiss Koln 3 Bonagrass Grove (Sco) 2.
Final Pool positions: 1 Campo Villa de Madrid 7pts. 2 Rot Weiss Koln 7pts. 3 Bonagrass Grove 3pts. 4 Lorenzoni 0pts.
Pool B: Alta-Borispol (Ukr) 0 Royal Uccle (Bel) 2; Bowdon Hightown 0 Amsterdam 4.
Final Pool positions: 1 Amsterdam 9pts 2 Bowdon Hightown 6pts 3 Royal Uccle 3pts. 4 Alta-Borispol 0pts

EUROHOCKEY LEAGUE ROUND UP from Peter Savage in Hamburg.

Hats off to East Grinstead for a sterling attempt to get into the semi-finals of this competition, against one of the world’s best club sides. But neutral supporters looking for a white knuckle contest were probably more interested in the earlier match, between the host club Hamburg and the Spanish from Club Egara.

Egara have played some stunningly attractive hockey in the two season that the EuroHockey League has been going and we were expecting something special. The match had its moments but it was never the thrilling game that we all had anticipated. The final score of 4-3 to Hamburg delighted the home crowd but denied the final rounds of one of the most attractive teams in the contest.

All eyes will now be on tomorrow’s meeting between Reading and Leuven of Belgium. On paper Reading should win the match, but Leuven demonstrated yesterday that they are no pushover. If Reading succeed, they will be the first English club to proceed through to the semi-final stage of the EuroHockey League

GRINSTEAD MAINTAIN ENGLISH PRIDE by Peter Savage in Hamburg

Photo: The pain of defeat. East Grinstead's Dave Cressell is comforted by his girlfriend after his side's 3-2 defeat against Bloemendaal.

I doubt whether I have ever seen a English club side perform against the Dutch as well as I did this afternoon in the quarter finals of the EuroHockey League in Hamburg. Not only did East Grinstead match Bloemendaal in all departments but for much of the game they dominated them.

Danny Hall opened the scoring for Grinstead after 11 minutes but when Wouter Jolie equalised from a penalty 12 minutes later, one could not help but feeling that the Dutch were at their most dangerous when wounded and that East Grinstead would be about to face a backlash. But it did not come, or at least not until much later.

Grinstead went back into the lead when Dave Dee Prez struck in the third quarter, but Jolie equalised with his second with thirteen minutes of play left. Right up to the last it was still anyone’s match and it looked a certainty for a one-on-one shoot-out. Unfortunately, for East Grinstead, Nick Meijer had the final say, scoring in the final minutes to give Bloemendaal a 3-2 victory.

Despite losing, EG were impressive, and there will not be many European club sides who will give these giants of Dutch hockey such a close run for their money. It certainly will give the Dutch something to think about next time they play an English club.

Roundup of Saturday's matches from Hamburg and Manchester

Photo: Hopeful Three Rock Rovers fans before the start of their match against Leuven.

WOMEN’S CUP WINNERS CUP IN MANCHESTER from Peter Colwill.

Bowdon Hightown will play their final Pool match against Amsterdam needing a win to reach Monday's final. The target against Alta-Korispol to overtake the Dutch side on goal difference was a 16 goals and the hosts came desperately close winning 13-0.

So dominant were Bowdon Hightown that they played the last 8 minutes without a goalkeeper. They had 19 corners without reply and Borispol suffered 3 yellow cards. Sally Walton scored 5 goals all from corners and Tina Cullen three from open play. Charlotte Hartley, Fay Nash, Nicky O'Donnell, Lindsay French and Annalisa Bishop scored the remainder.

Reaching the final will be a tough task for Bowdon Hightown. Amsterdam who beat Royal Uccle 6-0 have yet to conceed a goal and in Miek Van Greenhuizen they have the outstanding player of the tournament.

Bonagrass Grove will probably go into their final pool match tomorrow against Rot Weiss Koln needing a win to qualify for the Bronze medal match. They were goalless at half time against Lorenzoni but Ailsa Robertson missed two goal chances and there were strong claims for a penalty stroke following a foul on Susan Hamilton. The Dundee side started the second half more successfully. Nikki Kidd swept in a cross from Ali Bell in the third minute and Becky Merchant took advantage of limited pitch time to convert a corner nine minutes later. Further goals followed. Kidd flicked a corner, Linda Clement unleashed a ferocious shot which hit goalkeeper Sara Sorial but crept over the line and Robertson added a fifth in the penultimate minute.

Rot Weiss Koln who drew 2-2 with Campo Villa de Madrid with whom they finished the day level on points, will know the required margin of victory assuming Madrid beat Lorenzoni.

Day Two Results.
Pool A: Rot Weiss Koln 2 Campo Villa de Madrid 2; Bonagrass Grove (Sco)
5 Lorenzoni (Ita) 0.
Pool B: Amsterdam 6 Royal Uccle (Bel) 0; Bowdon Hightown 13 Alta-Borispol (Ukr) 0.


EUROHOCKEY LEAGUE DAY TWO FROM PETER SAVAGE IN HAMBURG

After Reading’s stunning win against Barcelona this morning, proceedings went rather flat. The match between Rotterdam and Grunwald (Poland) seemed unable to raise much enthusiasm from an uncommitted watcher. Having notched up four goals in 44 minutes, courtesy of Jeroen Hertzberger (PS), Sohail Abbas (2) and Johrus Gommers, Rotterdam took the foot off the gas for the last ten minutes and conceded two goals. Final score 4-2.

The third match of the day did provide some entertainment Maxime Luycx opening the scoring for Waterloo Ducks (Belgium) in their match against Amsterdam. It took less than a minute for Taeke Taekema to work his magic from a short corner, slotting in his second four minutes later. But the Ducks showed no signs of surrending easily and John-John Dohmen equalized just before the break. Unfortunately, the Ducks conceded another corner just before the half-time hooter, and Taekema stepped up to score his third. An early second half goal from Amsterdam’s Mico Pruyser was followed by 30 minutes of stalemate, with the final hooter sounding with the score at 4-2 to Amsterdam.

If ever a case was made for allowing a side to keep a video appeal if they won the appeal, it was made in the match between the Irish of Three Rock Rovers and Leuven of Belgium. Three Rock Rovers appealed against a clear umpiring error when they had a goal awarded against them where the ball had not crossed the goal line. Fortunately the error was corrected by the video umpire but that was an appeal used up. The match eventually finished 2-1 to Leuven, with Peter Blakeney scoring Three Rock Rovers only goal. Leuven now play Reading for a semi-final place on Monday.

SECOND ENGLISH SIDE THROUGH TO ROUND THREE by Peter Savage in Hamburg

A push in the back ended Real Club de Polo de Barcelona's chances of a place in the last eight of the EuroHockey League here in Hamburg this morning. Jonty Clarke's resultant penalty stoke for Reading was the only goal in a match that maintained yesterday's standard for exciting hockey.

Barcelona had much the lion's share of possession for most of the match but some dogged defending by Reading and good work by Nick Brothers in the Reading goal kept their opponents at bay.

Reading now progress through to Round 3. Their opponents on Monday will be the winner of the match between Leuven (Belgiun) and Three Rock Rovers (Ireland). This sets up the possibilty of Reading being the first English club to progress through to the semi finals of the EuroHockey League.

THERE WILL BE FURTHER REPORTS FROM HAMBURG AND FROM THE WOMEN'S CUP WINNERS CUP IN MANCHESTER LATER TODAY.

Roundup of Friday's Hockey from Hamburg, Manchester and Dublin

Photos:
1) Cannock's Stuart Gooderham shaddows Dutch star Teun de Nooijer in the match between Cannock and Bloemendaal
2) Hamburg's Ricardo Nevado gets airborn in their match against Dusseldorfer.

PETER COLWILL REPORTS FROM MANCHESTER:

There were no upsets on the opening day of the Women's EuroHockey Cup Winners Cup at Bowdon with the three fancied sides all scoring convincing victories.

Bowdon Hightown had litttle difficulty disposing of the Belgium side Royal Uccle 5-1 with their captain Sally Walton slotting in two goals from penalty corners. Sam Quek was outstanding at centre half and there were goals for Jo Ellis, Julie Hope and Fay Nash.

In the other match in Bowdon Hightown's pool Alta Borispol, who arrived with just eleven players, not only suffered the worst spell of weahter when the heavens opened but also a deluge in their defence which leaked three goals in the first five minutes to an Amsterdam team who went on to win 16-0 with Fieke Holman coverting five penalty corners. Rachel Walsh, a former Hightown player got in on the act claiming a goal which was believed by the umpire but not the announcer.

Scotland's Bongrass Grove lost a close encounter 2-0 to Campo Villa de Madrid. Carla Rebecchi Madrid's Argentinean forward gave them the lead two minutes before half time with a smartly flicked penalty corner shot. With the Dundee side pressing for the equaliser Anna Schwartz was cruelly exposed in the penultimate minute when Amparo Gil set up Monteserrat Cruz for Madrid's second goal.

Rot Weiss Koln had little trouble overcoming Lorenzoni (Italy) in the first match of the day but they had considerable difficulty with their shirt numberrs. All fifteen outfield players were in different numbers from those initially submitted.

Results:
Pool A: Rot Weiss Koln 6 HF Lorenzoni (Ita) 0; Bonagrass Grove (Sco) 0 Campo Villa de Madrid 2.
Pool B: Amsterdam 14 Alta-Boriispol (Ukr) 0; Bowdon Hightown 5 Royal Uccle (Bel) 1.

PETER SAVAGE REPORTS FROM HAMBURG

The EuroHockey League was at its very best today, with four exciting matches today in Hamburg, supported by a good crowd, and all televised on EuroSport.

One of the reasons for the support, apart from the glorious sunshine, may have been that all three German sides were in action. Unfortunately, for the home supporters, that number was down to one by the end of the day. The loss of one was inevitable, by virtue of Hamburg (Uhlenhorster) and Dusseldorfer being pitted against each other. But Spanish club, Club Egara, were too strong for Der Club An Der Alster, with Egara’s star, Guillermo Schickendantz scoring a hat-trick in his side’s 4-2 win over the Germans.

Cannock’s defeat at the hands of Bloemendaal was not without honour. The English side clearly learnt some lessons from their previous meeting in Round 1a. Nick Meijer scored for the Dutch from a penalty corner after 21 minutes, but the match was in its closing stages before Bloemendaal were able to unpick Cannock’s defences, Ronald Brouwer the scorer.

Cannock were never out of the game, but briefly there was a chance that they might actually win it. With ten minutes left to play, Harry Jawanda converted a penalty corner, to close the score to 2-1. Unfortunately, the Dutch had the last say, with their supertstar striker, Teun De Nooijer, scoring from open play. Final score 3-1.

In the last match of the day Hamburg overcame Dusseldorfer 3-2 in a gripping struggle, supported by a capacity crowd.

RESULT FROM DUBLIN

In one other result today, England’s women beat Ireland 1-0 in Dublin, the goal being scored in the 12th minute by Canterbury’s Jenny Hall.

WIN / LOSE SITUATION FOR ENGLISH CLUBS IN ROUND TWO by Peter Savage in Hamburg

Photograph: Mark Pearn celebrates Danny Hall’s 70th minute winner

Some people were writing off East Grinstead’s opponents in their Second Round EuroHockey League match before the game had even started, but those of us had seen St Germain play in the EuroHockey League before knew they would be a tough nut to crack. Despite opening the game with considerable panache, it was four minutes into the second half before East Grinstead could find the French net, Danny Hall the scorer. Julien Thamin in the St Germain goal had done much to thwart East Grinstead’s attempts to take a lead, aided by some effective defensive tackling before the ball reached the French twenty-five.

Despite their early dominance, East Grinstead let the game slip away from them in the third and fourth quarters, with two excellent goals from Martin Genestet and Jean Pauchet. At 2-1 down it looked all up for Grinstead until Martin Haner, playing on his native soil, equalised with six minutes left.

As the minutes ticked away, it looked more and more as if the match would be decided by a EuroHockey speciality – the one-on-one shoot out. Fortunately, in the nick of time, Danny Hall exploited a lapse in the St Germain defence and shot the winner. The final hooter sounded seconds later.

East Grinstead will play Bloemendaal (Netherlands) on Sunday after Cannock went down 3-1 to the Dutch side this afternoon. It was a brave effort from Cannock, who seemed to have learnt lessons from their previous encounter back in Round One. Cannock’s scorer was Harry Jawanda.

Further reports will appear later.

EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS CUP IN MANCHESTER. Preview by Peter Colwill

The stage is set here in Bowden, South Manchester for a gigantic clash on Sunday afternoon in the EuroHockey Cup Winners Cup competition between two clubs with vast experience of European hockey, the hosts Bowdon Hightown and Amsterdam, with the winners almost certain to face the Germans Rot Weiss Koln or Campo Villa de Madrid.

Amsterdam, who will be looking to win their 18th European Gold medal start favourites to win the competition. Loaded with Dutch international players and with English International and former Hightown player Rachel Walsh dominant on the right of their defence they appear to be the team to beat. Amsterdam are currently second in the Dutch National League.

Although Hightown Bowdon can claim only one European Gold, when they beat Berliner in Rotterdam in 1996 to win this competition, they have had a remarkable season. They have already won the National League, the National Indoor title and are favourites to complete the National treble when they face Reading in the Cup Final next month. Former Great Britain and England striker Tina Cullen Hightown’s 39 year old player coach is still slotting in goals finishing once again top goal scorer in the League this season with 24 gaols taking her all time total to a record 324 over 100 ahead of her nearest rival. They have also built a solid defence around Lyndsay French and England international Sally Walton conceding just 12 goals in their 18 National League encounters. However before the vital game against Amterdam they have to face the Belgium club Royal Uccle tomorrow (Friday) and Alta Boriispol from the Ukraine on Saturday.

Dieter Hill, the Bowdon Hightown manager, with half an eye on the practising Spanish team, told me that he was happy to have a fully fit squad who have been back up to their high performance level since their defeat in their final league match at Canterbury. “A real wake up call was not such a bad thing.”

Easter Hockey Coverage

TalkHockeyRadio has coverage on this blog of the two major European events over Easter.

East Grinstead play their Round Two match against St Germain of France at mid-day (local time) tomorrow (Friday) in the EuroHockeyLeague. This is followed at 14:30 by the game between Cannock and the powerful Dutch side from Bloemendaal. The winners of these two matches will meet in Round Three on Sunday.

Reading play their Round 2 match against Real Club Polo de Barcelona on Saturday.

TalkHockeyRadio will have daily reports from Hamburg, together with photographs, of each days proceedings.

Meanwhile, closer to home, the Women's European Cup Winners Cup is being played at Bowdon. Bowdon Hightown open their campaign with a match against Royal Uccle of Belgium. Peter Colwill is a our man on the sport there.

DOUBLE TRIUMPH FOR READING IN CUP SEMIS

Anyone who stayed behind after the Men’s Cup Semi-Final at Sonning Lane were in for a real treat. The men’s semi was a bit of a done deal. No matter how worthy a side Fareham are, they were always up against it facing a team of Reading’s calibre. For a real thriller you had to wait for the Women’s Semi Final that followed it.

I haven’t checked the record books but I would think it must be a first to have both the men’s and women’s team of a club playing in a Cup semi-final on the same ground on the same afternoon. Having just seen their men overcome Fareham 7-1, it was the turn of Reading’s women to make a bid for cup glory in their match against the University of Birmingham. And cup glory seemed very much on the cards as Reading took the lead through a Clare Kerr penalty stroke midway through the first half. But in a terrible spell, lasting no more than five minutes, the students struck three times, the first from Jo Turnbull, the second from Suzi Gilbert and the third from Turnbull again. Vicky Bryant managed to pull one back for Reading just before half time and the match went into the break at 3-2 in the University’s favour.

The second half seemed very much a stalemate until two Beckys got on the scoresheet. Reading’s Becky Odlin equalised with 13 minutes left on the clock, with Becky Dru converting a penalty corner six minutes later, putting Reading in front. But the real drama was left to come. An overtime penalty corner was converted by Tina Evans to put the score at 4-4 during normal time. The first half of extra time went without the matter being decided but Reading’s Emily Maldon provided the golden goal to give her side a place in the final.

Their final place will be – and there is no surprise here – against Bowdon Hightown, who overcame Barnes Hounslow Ealing 6-0.

The other men’s semi final, between Canterbury and Beeston, finished 5-1 in Beeston’s favour.