Promotion slips from the Wildcats` paws

As the tournament started the final day`s proceedings it looked as if Danish champions Slagelse and Western Wildcats men were odds on to collect the two promotion places.   But we were in for a shock.

Firstly Wildcats went down 2-1 to Irish side Three Rock Rovers and then Slagelse lost 3-2 to Valchisone from Italy, and suddenly it was all back in the melting pot.    To make matters worse Three Rock inflicted a massive 29-0 thumping on bottom side Mesaicos (Sweden) and consequently jumped ahead of Wildcats on goal difference.

So instead of a meeting of the top two sides already guaranteed promotion, Wildcats were left to secure at least a draw against Slagelse to overtake the Irish – but they fell short.   In the end Western finished in third place, despite the great efforts of the first two days.

 

WESTERN WILDCATS 1 THREE ROCK ROVERS (IRELAND) 2

This morning Wildcats suddenly lost their killer instinct and went down 2-1 to Irish champions Three Rock Rovers and put their promotion aspirations in jeopardy.    That was their first defeat.

However, salvation is still in their own hands, all they have to do is beat Danish side Slagelse in their  final match and they are guaranteed to finish in pole position and promotion.   The Danes were also flying high until this morning when they also lost their unbeaten record to Valchisone, now only four points adrift.     So it`s all to play for in the tournament denouement.

It was not the best of starts for Wildcats, Ross Canning opened the scoring for the Irish and a minute later Euan Cowan had a sin bin visit.  And that was the score at the start of the final quarter.

Three Rock then doubled their lead through Jody Hosking with only five minutes left.  A glimmer of hope emerged with a penalty corner strike from Fraser Moran but unfortunately Wildcats were unable to rescue the match – although they did collect a bonus point from the result.

 

WESTERN WILDCATS   2  SLAGELSE (DENM\ARK)  5

Now needing a draw to secure second place in the pool and promotion, it was the Danes who opened the scoring in the second quarter through Oscar Birch-Hald to put the Scots under pressure.  But Wildcats retaliated just before the interval with a penalty corner conversion from Cameron Moran to restore parity.   The Wildcats had their chances but four penalty corners came to nothing.

The third quarter proved fatal for the Wildcats with further Danish goals from Birch-Hald again, Hector Norgaard and Markus Hansen for a conclusive 4-1 lead.

Norgaard increased Slagelse`s lead even further with a fifth goal, and although Nikki Homfray scored a late penalty corner – it was too little too late.

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