As reported yesterday, Canterbury got off to a good start in their European Club Championship campaign with a 2-1 victory over the Scots of Bonagrass Grove, the winning goal scored in the closing minutes by 16 year old Susannah Townsend. Canterbury go joint top of Pool B with Ata Sport, the team from Azerbidschan, who saw off Ritm Grodno from Belarus in an evenly fought contest. Canterbury play Ritm Grodno later today (3/6/06). As expected, Dutch side ‘sHertogenbosch, look set to dominate Pool A. Despite a plucky performance by Pegasus, the Irish representatives, they were seen off by a hat-trick by Maartje Paumen, and goals by Janneke Shopman and captain Mijntje Donners. Final score, 6-0 to the Dutch. The host side Berliner, without their star player Natasha Keller, made hard work against a very lively Spanish team from Deportivo Terrassa. An early goal by Lea Loitsche was soon cancelled out by a penalty corner conversion by the Spanish No 12, Marcela Mosovich. The score remained at 1-1 until Berliner were awarded a penalty corner with three minutes left on the clock. The conversion by Franziska Stern set Berliner up for a potential place in the final when they play ‘sHertogenbosch on Sunday. However, the Dutch side, with players of the quality of Paumen, Donners and Booij, already look like gold medal winners. Off the pitch, former English Hockey League umpire Margaret Hunnaball, who is attending the tournament as a trainee umpire manager, had a mishap as she alighted from the bus on her arrival at the ground. Breaking her wrist in the fall, she later arrived at the ground bandaged, “sore”, but in good spirits. Later today Canterbury play Ritm Grodno is their second Pool B match. The Scots should overcome Ata, and a victory by Canterbury would leave them as the only team in the pool on six points.
Meanwhile, Cannock managed to recover from Thursday's setback in Men's European Club Championship when the host club put fifteen passed Slavia Praha yesterday. Final score 15-2 to Cannock.
