It says something about the improved state of women's hockey that this nation of ours can effectively raise two - no, correct that - three quads to play simultaneously in international competition.
The fact that England have managed their second promotion on the bounce in European indoor competition whilst the GB squad is in Argentina is something of an achievement. And I say 'three squads' because there was even something in it for our friends North of the Border. That is not to say that England has found it's last two matches in the European Indoor Champions II in Slagelse easy. The defeat at the hands of France yesterday - a combination of a good French side and England not playing their best hockey - was a serious wobble on the road to promotion, and England looked uncomfortable on occasions against the Swiss in their final match this afternoon.
It was the Swiss who took first blood when Stephanie Walti scored early in the match. But Katie Long, who has had a quite outstanding tournament, was able to redress the balance, and Emma Thomas put England ahead early in the second half. Denise Marston-Smith increased the lead to 3-1 from a penalty corner two minutes later.
From that point the Swiss looked increasingly dangerous, with Maddie Hinch in the England goal having to work hard for her keep. Saskia Muller, the Swiss captain, was rewarded for her side's pressure when she converted a penalty corner to pull the score back to 3-2. We were then treated to 14 minutes of nail biting play, much of it in the England half of the court, but eventually the final hooter sounded and England emerged as the winners.
Where England finished in the final table depended on the outcome of the final match in the promotion pool, between France and Lithuania. Although Lithuania surprisingly won this game, they failed to inflict sufficient damage with their 2-1 win to bite into France's goal difference. As a result France win the Championships II and England are runners-up.
You have to shed a tear for our hosts, Denmark. After an improvement in form yesterday, they found the Slovak Republic too strong for them. The final score, 5-2, means that Denmark is relegated to Championship III in 2014. They will be joined there by Russia, who were beaten today 4-2 by Scotland. Only a day earlier there had been some gloom in the Scot's camp at finding themselves in the Relegation Pool, but they were eventually the only side to take full points from the final pools and they finish in a respectable fifth.
Full results and tables are on our main web site.
