Wildcats men get their claws into the Euros

There`s nothing better than to start a Euro indoor tournament with two wins on the opening day – that is what Western Wildcats did in Slovenia and it provides a solid foundation for the next two days.

And special mention regarding Fraser Moran, he scored a hat-trick in each of the games.

Wildcats finished the day in second spot, equal on points with Danish side Slagelse who are in pole position with a vastly superior goal difference.

Next Wildcats take on the Swedish champions who are the bottom side and then the Italians who are only four points adrift.

 

WESTERN WILDCATS 6   CARDIFF & MET (WALES) 5

Western Wildcats started off their campaign in Puconci with a hard-fought 6-5 win over Welsh champions Cardiff & Met, a side they have frequently struggled against in the past.    Perhaps even more satisfying is that the Wildcats were short of five regulars due to the FIH Nations Cup.  So a really good effort from Vishal Marwaha`s charges.

Cardiff drew first blood when Jonathan Fleck opened with a penalty corner in only five minutes.  But it was not long before Wildcats were back in business, inside a minute Fraser Moran had given his side a 2-1 lead with an open play strike followed quickly by another at a penalty corner. Scores were level with another set piece conversion from Cardiff`s Hari Bhogal but again the Scots were undaunted and Adam Mackenzie gave the Wildcats a 3-2 lead at the interval.

Perhaps the foundation of the victory came in the opening minutes of the second half when Fraser Moran sunk another penalty corner for his hat-trick and brother Cameron added a fifth from open play.

An exchange of goals – Scott Rawlings for Cardiff and Adam Mackenzie again for Wildcats left the score at 6-3 with final quarter to come.

The final ten minutes were a little stressful for Wildcats – they had the chance to sew the game up with a penalty stroke and two penalty corners but nothing was forthcoming.  In contrast William Penrose and Scott Rawlings again scored for Cardiff to bring the score up to a nervy 6-5.   At that point the Welsh coach replaced his keeper with an additional outfield player in an attempt to rescue the game but the gamble came to nothing and Wildcats finished the tussle narrow victors.

Reflecting on the contest, coach Vishal Marwaha simply said: “Good win to start the tournament.  Our corners were good and we closed out the game very well.”

 

WESTERN WILDCATS 8  HK TRIGLAV PREDANOVCI (SLOVENIA) 1

Adam Mackenzie put Wildcats in front after six minutes but the lead was soon cancelled out by Slovenia`s Nejc Potokar.   However, that was the end of the Slovenian resistance as penalty corner conversions by Fraser Moran and Mackenzie again gave the Scots a 3-1 lead at the interval.

The second half witnessed a procession of Wildcats goals, in the third quarter Fraser and Cameron Moran scored twice inside a minute for a 5-1 lead and that was followed by an open play goal from Euan Cowan.

Two more were added in the final quarter through Fraser Moran and Euan Cowan to complete the rout of the hosts.

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