In the final day’s play in the pool stage of the Women’s European Club Championships here in Berlin yesterday, Scotland’s Bonagrass Grove continued to disappoint in Pool B, drawing 1-1 against the team from Ritm Grodno. As reported yesterday, Canterbury had an outstanding game against Ata Sport from Azerbaidchan, Cathy Gilliat-Smith scoring twice, with a third coming from a penalty corner strike by Mel Clewlow. There were upsets aplenty in Pool A, with the Irish contingent from Belfast drawing 3-3 against Spain’s CD Terrassa, although the Irish left it until the 70 minute to score the equaliser, courtesy of Sarah Wilkinson. The main upset of the day was when favourites Den Bosch went behind to a goal from the Berliner skipper, Birgit Borkman shortly after the re-start from half-time. Until then the Dutch defence had seemed an almost impenetrable wall of yellow and white. This reverse seemed – and not for the first time in the tournament – to spark Den Bosch into action, and three penalty corner strikes from Booije, Vorstenbosch, and Donners killed off any chance of the host club getting into the final. Bonnagrass Grove, Ritm Grodno, Pegasus and Terrassa now go into the relegation stages of this competition, whilst Berliner will play Ata Sports for the bronze medal and Canterbury will meet Den Bosch in the final.
Cannock finished fifth in the men’s version of the competition which finished yesterday (Sunday). They beat Stroitel Brest by a massive 10-0 and there is irony in the fact that Cannock have scored a total of 25 goals in two matches and yet finished playing off in the relegation area.
