The final and promotion for Azets Clydesdale Western in Alanya

CLYDESDALE WESTERN 11 CARDIFF & MET (WALES) 0

Azets Clydesdale Western have achieved part of their agenda at the EuroHockey Club Trophy 11 in Alanya after the pool competition, that is they finished in pole position, they have qualified for tomorrow`s final and they are guaranteed one of the two promotion spots.

Player/coach Fiona Semple declared her aim to win every match, and that has also been achieved so far. And in some style as well with full points, 26 goals in only three games, and only two conceded. The pool competition was concluded today with an eleven goal thumping of Welsh side Cardiff & Met.

And promotion has been achieved, but not for Clydesdale who will play in the elite EHL next season, so it will be Watsonians, runners-up in the European play-off, who will benefit as they will compete in the Trophy 1 competition next season. Prior to the tournament Fiona Semple declared that she wanted Scottish clubs to play in the highest level possible, and so promotion has elevated Watsonians to Europe`s second tier.

There was a feeling that the game had ended as a contest even by the end of the first quarter after Clydesdale had moved into a three goal lead, and Cardiff needing to win the match for a place in the final. It took the Titwood side just six minutes to open their account, and that was an open play strike from Ava Graham. Then Cardiff were hit with a quick-fire double just at the end of the quarter, Emma McGregor notched her first goal of the tournament followed by a penalty corner conversion from Bronwyn Shields.

The goal tally mounted up in the second quarter, it started with a penalty corner goal from Sophie Hinds – two goals from three set piece awards is much better shooting. Then teenager Ailish Dunlop entered the goal scoring act with an open play strike for Clydesdale`s fifth. And still no reply from Cardiff. That is how it stood at half-time.

There followed the half-time entertainment – a brief thunderstorm which suspended play for a short while.

But it failed to dampen Clydesdale`s quest for more goals. And the improvement in the penalty corner set-up was again evident with three set piece conversions inside six minutes through Jenny Eadie, Fran Lonergan and Anna Steele to advance the tally to eight. Remarkably there were eight indivual scorers at that point.

And the goals continued to flow in the final quarter, Jenny Eadie got her second of the game, Jika Nyirenda finally got in on the act and remains leading striker of the tournament, and finally Emma McGregor completed the eleven goal avalanche.

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