There was no English interest in today's EuroHockey League in Rotterdam after all three English clubs were eliminated yesterday, but there was plenty of action to interest the neutral hockey fan and the chance to benchmark the performances of Beeston, Reading and East Grinstead, yesterday.
The day's first match seemed to have been sewn up by Atletic Terrassa, who had a 4-1 lead until 13 minutes into the second half. Two quick goals from Grunwald Poznan set the game alight, and although both sides had chances, the score became firmly stuck on 4-3.
Terrassa go through to Round 3 on Monday, when they will play Rotterdam, who fought out a battle royal against Club Egara. Rotterdam took the lead in the 3rd minute with a field goal from their captain Willem Hertzberger. Eduard Arbos equalised six minutes later but the whole issue was decided on a penalty stroke in the 19th minute, converted by another of the three Hertsbergers in the side, Jeroen. The game fizzled out a bit after the that, with occasional fireworks, but the match ended at 2-1 in Rotterdam's favour.
Bloemendaal gave Der Club an der Alster a lesson in attacking hockey, with their captain Tuen De Nooijer scoring what might be the goal of the tournament with a long solo run and a strike from the edge of the 'D'. Alster had made a game of it, twice coming from behind to level the scores, but the Dutch were a class above them and four second half goals sank the German's chances of progressing through to Round 3. Final score 6-2 to Bloemendaal.
Bloemendaal's opponents in Round 3 will be UHC Hamburg, who comprehensively beat Waterloo Ducks 6-2. Fittingly, the ducks are a game side and can sometimes spring the odd surprise, and two late second half goals proved this. By this time they were already six goals adrift and the game ended at 6-2.
Tomorrow's line up is:
Amsterdam v Leuven (12:00 local time)
RC Polo Barcelona v Rot Weiss Koln
IN THE WOMEN'S EUROPEAN CLUB CHAMPIONS CUP IN BERLIN Bowdon Hightown suffered a 2-1 defeat in the opening match at the hands of Ata Sport.
