Euro indoor action from Slovenia and cup matches on this weekend’s menu

Stuart Neave, Inverleith`s indoor coach, takes his charges to Puconci (Slovenia) for the EuroHockey Indoor Club Challenge 1 with high hopes, considerable enthusiasm but a little short of match practice with the domestic indoor season disrupted by Covid restrictions – in fact they played only seven competitive games in total.

Neave said: “We are looking forward to another European adventure, especially given the shortened domestic indoor season. We are able to go with much the same squad we had available during the season, a mix of youth and some experience.”

Following the withdrawal of two sides, the tournament has been reduced to six teams in a round-robin format which Neave understands will have two promotion places on offer and no relegation.

Inverleith start their campaign on Friday with games against HC 1972 Rakovnik (Czech Republic) and then Casa Pia Atletico Clube (Portugal). Saturday sees KPH Raca (Slovakia) and HK Triglav Predanovci (Slovenia) as the opposition. The Scots will finish off their tournament against HC Rotweiss Wettingen (Switzerland) on Sunday. Six games in three days is a gruelling timetable – but then again it is the same for all the competing teams.

Neave is under no illusion about the nature of the task ahead. “There are some experienced teams in the tournament whom we have played in previous seasons, so my expectations are that if we wish to do well then we will need to be at our best.”

However, Inverleith have amassed their own experience in indoor European competition over the last several years – that should stand them in good stead.

Perhaps Inverleith didn’t hit top form in the domestic campaign, they lost to both Grove Menzieshill and eventual new champions Western Wildcats, but they did rally to finish in the runners-up position in the end.

There are also some postponed Scottish Cup ties up for grabs this weekend, and it starts on Friday evening with Clydesdale Western`s third string against Premiership Uddingston at Titwood. While some Clydesdale reserve sides have done some giant killing in the past, the side placed eighth in the Premiership will certainly provide a stern challenge.

The other women`s tie is the all-Premiership clash between Glasgow University and second placed Watsonians. While the students did very well to finish the first part of the campaign in seventh spot, only two points adrift of a top six place, the Edinburgh side will be tough opposition

If for no other reason than the fact they won the league encounter by 7-0, Sarah Jamieson doing most of the damage with a hat-trick.

The men`s all-Premiership clash between leaders Western Wildcats and Dundee Wanderers looks to have a similar destiny, after all it is top versus bottom at Auchenhowie. The sides met on Tayside on league business in an eleven goal avalanche – but it was Western who scored eight of them in a comfortable victory.

However, the Gordonians – Kelburne clash at Countesswells could for some people have a whiff of an upset about it. The Aberdonians are at home and are in mid-table in the second tier while the young Paisley outfit sit in the lower echelons of the Premiership and have the long journey to the North-East – regardless this will surely provide a tasty contest.

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