Medal quest in Dublin

FIH CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE (DUBLIN)

Gordon Shepherd, Scotland women`s coach, has surpassed
the crucial hurdle by beating India in a dramatic penalty shoot-out
at the quarter-finals of the FIH Champions Challenge in
Dublin.

Now the Scots are in the top four of the competition and
 a medal is a very real possibility.   The bottom
line is that relegation is now no longer an issue, Shepherd`s
charges will be in the line-up for the next Champions
Challenge.

“The girls are doing an amazing job, I`m so proud of them. Team
work is the reason that we saw off India, also they are believing
in themselves,” said a jubilant Shepherd.

The Scots now face Australia in tomorrow`s semi-final with
nothing to lose, the Australians are seventh in the world rankings
compared to Scotland`s 19th, so all the pressure is on the
tournament favourites.   The Aussies, fifth in the London
2012 Olympics, are not the force they were and had to rely on a
goal in the closing two minutes to see off South Africa in the
previous round, so to win would be a real feather in Shepherd`s
cap.

Shepherd is optimistic: “I do believe we can beat Australia,
they are good but their style will allow us to play our expansive
game, so we will cause them problems.”

There is only one injury concern, Morag McLellan received a cut
just above the eye from a stick in the India game and Shepherd will
have to wait to see if she is fit to be included in the team for
the Aussie clash.

 

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