Far from a waltz in Vienna for Wanderers

EUROHOCKEY INDOOR CLUB CUP – VIENNA  –  FRIDAY
24 FEBRUARY TO SUNDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2012 

This is VWS Dundee Wanderers second successive year in
Europe, but surviving in the elite European Indoor Club Cup in
Vienna could be a very tall order for the
Taysiders.  

Wanderers did well to achieve promotion from the Trophy
competition in Abbeyville at their European baptism last year, but
competing in a pool competition with the likes of champions
Berliner (German), Club de Campo (Spain) and Gintra Strekte
(Lithuania) is a daunting prospect, they are all veterans of the
European circuit.

But Carmin Dow, Wanderers` international goalkeeper, is far from
downcast.  “Our main target for the tournament is to remain
within Europe`s top eight, after the pool matches it would be a
great achievement to be in the leading group.”

Dow did admit it had been quite a difficult season, her own
injury had an unsettling influence and the league title was lost to
city rivals Grove Menzieshill, but Wanderers bounced back to take
the knock-out cup with an 8-2 win over CALA Edinburgh in the
final.

“There have been ups and downs, but I think these last couple of
weeks before the tournament have shown we have been making a lot of
progress, and I hope that we can hit the ground running when we
arrive in Vienna,” said Dow.

There have been some changes in the Dundee ranks since last
year`s success in Abbeyville, Wanderers will be without playmaker
Vikki Bunce who is concentrating on her Olympic prospects with the
Great Britain training squad, and Heather Elder still recovering
from injury.  In compensation, San Sangster is back and her
penalty corner expertise could be crucial, and the squad is further
strengthened by the addition of Fiona Plane and Louise
Sherriffs.

The strength in our squad has to be the experience at indoor
international competitions as well as the talented players we have
within the squad,” said Dow.  In addition to Dow herself, the
likes of Becky Ward, Julie Bryce and Amy Rowan have all invaluable
international experience.

Wanderers` coach Dave Stott has been working on a more reserved
style, based more on a structured defence and hitting the
opposition on the counter-attack.  

“The tempo of these teams in Europe`s top flight could cause
real fatigue, our levels of fitness will be tested and we need to
make sure that we have something in the tank to take us into the
play-offs,” he said.  “But we need to get three points early
doors, and this will certainly be a key aim.”

That means winning Friday`s games against Gintra Strekte, who
finished in fourth place last year, and a Club de Campo side full
of international players from Spain, Holland and Argentina – Stott
does not see the final pool match against Berliner, favourites for
the tournament, as a realistic target game.

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