Tough assignment for Grange Men in Barcelona

EUROLEAGUE (BARCELONA)

Grange have not had much luck in this year`s draw for
the elite EuroLeague, they face Rotterdam and Berliner, respective
champions of Netherlands and Germany, in the three team pool in
Barcelona starting tomorrow.    The Edinburgh side`s
task is simple, they must win at least one of these games to
progress to the knock-out stages of the competition.

Rotterdam are currently fifth in the Dutch top league and have
been regular medal winners in the EuroLeague over the years, while
this is Berliner`s debut in the competition, and they are currently
ninth in this season`s Bundesliga.   Grange fell out of
their only outing in the world`s top club competition at the league
stage in 2007, losing 5-1 to Rotterdam and 3-1 to Spanish side
Atletic Terrassa.

Colin Clarke, Grange`s coach, is positive about the experience
facing his charges.   “I see these games as a great
opportunity.  We are a developing team and our aim this season
is to challenge Kelburne for the league title, so these games will
provide an excellent opportunity to learn and test ourselves
against the best club sides in the world – this doesn`t always
happen for Scottish club teams.”

Grange are very much underdogs in Barcelona, but Clarke
emphasised the youthful nature of his squad – the average age is 22
and it contains six under 21 internationalists – and he believes
they will gain considerably from the experience.

The build-up programme has been extensive with games against top
English sides Loughborough, Bowdon and Brooklands along with a
couple of outings against Kelburne to get close to the standard
required for the EuroLeague.  There was also a confidence
boost last weekend, Grange disposed of AMN Hillhead 6-1 in the
opening league fixture of the season.

Clarke almost has a full squad available, but Andrew Brogdon and
Martin Johnstone are out through injury while the influential Gary
Cameron is also an absentee, waiting on the birth of his first
child.

Rotterdam are first up tomorrow, and anything from this game
would be a real bonus for Clarke`s side.

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