Promising start for Kelburne and Grove

EUROPEAN CLUB CHAMPIONS TROPHY  –  FRIDAY 06
APRIL TO MONDAY 09 APRIL
GLYNHILL KELBURNE (MEN) IN LILLE
GROVE MENZIESHILL (WOMEN) IN BELFAST

GLYNHILL KELBURNE 5  ROMA 1 – MEN

GROVE MENZIESHILL 3  VICTORYA SMOLEVICHI 3 –
WOMEN

A promising start for Scotland`s clubs in the European
Club Champions Trophy, in the men`s event in Lille Glynhill
Kelburne thumped the Italian champions Roma 5-1 in the opening pool
match, while Grove Menzieshill held group favourites Victorya
Smolevichi from Belarus to a thrilling 3-3 draw in the women`s
competition.

The Paisley side made the best of starts, in only six minutes
the mercurial Alan Forsyth won their second penalty corner, Mark
Ralph`s drag flick was blocked by the Italian goalkeeper, but
Willie Marshall followed up to lash the ball into the roof of the
net for the opening goal.   Kelburne continued to
dominate proceedings, yet the defence also had to look lively as
the Italians were dangerous on the break.

In 22 minutes the Scots doubled their lead when a trademark
Ralph drag flick at a penalty corner flew high past the stranded
Italian keeper.  Roma were desperate to get back into the
contest and Mark Fulton did well to block a set piece effort before
the interval.

Forsyth continued to trouble the Roma defence, five minutes into
the second half he had a good shot saved by the keeper, but within
minutes had put Kelburne three up.  The goal was created by a
solo run from the half-way line by Michael Bremner, he drove into
the circle and his pass was forced home from close range by
Forsyth.

Kelburne dominated possession and were 4-0 up with another
penalty corner conversion by Ralph, his second of the game.  A
mix-up at the back  involving Mark Fulton and his defenders
failed to clear the danger and Giulio Benincasa stepped in to notch
a consolation for Roma.  Within a minute the Paisley side had
restored their four goal advantage, Michael Christie set it up and
brother Jonny finished off the move with a fierce half-volley into
the roof of the net.

“It is very important to win the first game in this type of
tournament, it gives the squad confidence for the more difficult
challenges ahead.  Overall this was a very good performance,
we dominated the game and coped very well with the
counter-attacking style of the Italians,” said Harry Coles,
Kelburne`s manager.

Whitchurch are Kelburne`s next pool opponents tomorrow, the
Welsh side lost by a single goal to the Austrian side Arminen in
their first game.

Meanwhile, in the women`s tournament Grove got off to the worst
of starts by finding themselves two down in only 14 minutes. 
But the never-say-die attitude so closely associated with the
Taysiders this season reappeared in Belfast and Linda Clement
pulled one back from a rebound at a penalty corner.  

Early in the second half the Scots were level through a direct
strike by Louise Carroll at another set piece.  Defensive
frailties allowed Smolevichi to restore their lead at 3-2, but the
Dundonians were far from finished, at the third attempt at a
penalty corner Clement equalised again from a clever
deflection.

Charlotte Jones, Grove`s coach, said:  “In spells we played
some of the best hockey we`ve produced all season, we linked
together very well and I`m very happy with the result against such
a strong side.”

Tomorrow Grove have another difficult assignment against another
strong side from Eastern Europe, Ukrainian champions MSC Sumchanka
who beat the Italians Libertas San Saba 4-0 in the other pool
match.

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