The host club, Münchner SC put in a workmanlike performance to ensure they start tomorrow at the top of Pool A , while Club Campo de Madrid showed why they are a side to be reckoned with over the next three days of competition as they showed skill and flair to put five goals past Pegasus in Pool B of the Women’s EuroHockey Club Trophy.
Madrid will find a tougher opponent awaits them as they face Grodno, while Sumchanka will be looking to put today’s loss behind them as they face a confident Munchner side that is further buoyed by an enthusiastic home crowd.
GHC Ritm Grodno vs Grove Menzieshill 3-0
GHC Ritm Grodno from Belarus got their campaign off to a blistering start with a 3-0 win over Scottish team Grove Menziehill in the women’s EuroHockey Club Trophy.
Early goals from Sviatlana Bahushevich in the third and eighth minute rocked the Scots and a well-struck penalty corner in the 10th minute from captain Volha Shyntar effectively ended Menziehill’s hopes of a point from the game.
Menzieshill rallied in the second half of the game, with goalkeeper Catherine Rae particularly effective but the Belarus team proved itself defensively adept.
“We knew it would be a tough game, they have lots of experienced players and we knew coming out here we wanted to get something from the first game,” says Menzieshill’s Louise Carroll. The first quarter wasn’t good but we have a lot go youngsters who haven’t played at this level before. Room for improvement but first game is out of the way, so hopefully we will build on that.”
Club Campo de Madrid vs Pegasus 5-0
Maria Lopez Garcia nabbed herself three goals as the Spanish side beat Pegasus from Ireland in a 5-0 rout. Pegasus goalkeeper Jessica Perry was valiant in defence but, despite her acrobatics, there was a marked difference between the two teams, particularly in the second half of the match.
Club Campo created many more chances and with Lopez proving deadly from penalty corners, the skilful play of the Spanish side meant that Pegasus spent a lot of time defending the ball. The two other goals came from Carmen Cano – from open play – and a fourth penalty corner from Laura Barrios.
Ominously for tomorrow’s opponents, Beatriz Perez, says: “I think we haven’t been focused enough at the beginning of the match but, however, I think we have controlled the game at every moment. Tomorrow we will concentrate more and be more active.”
“We matched them for the first quarter,” says Pegasus captain Alex Speers, “we knew it would be tough, now we have to go forward and look at the next games.”
Day One action from EuroHockey Club trophy 2017. Pic credit: BMF HockeyMSC Sumchanka vs HC Minsk 1-3
The heat played its part in the afternoon as the first Pool A match got underway.
A clearly frustrated Olha Honcharenko spoke after the game: “It was very difficult, it was our first game. The weather was difficult but it was the same for them. They were stronger, I guess.”
Coach Mikalai Sankavets was pleased with his team’s performance: “It was wonderful. The girls worked 150 percent but the weather was tough, it is very hot so it is physically tough.”
After five minutes she was recovered and wanted to get back on the pitch. They are young, there are some 15 and 16 year old players but they are learning.”
On player who really impressed the knowledgeable crowd was young star Elena Sazhina. Speaking of the player’s speed, Sankavets said: “She was only working at 50 per cent today, you wait until you see her working at her maximum.”
Münchner SC vs SG Amiscora ASD 3-0
It was a fantastic start to their 2017 EuroHockey Club trophy campaign for host team Münchner as they enjoyed a comprehensive victory over SG Amiscora ASD of Italy.
Münchner started strongly with three penalty corners in the opening minutes but no breakthrough. In the second quarter both teams acclimatised to the extreme heat and the speed of play, and Amiscora began to make their own chances. The deadlock was not broken until the 27 minute when Alexandra Sandner broke through to slot the ball past Alina Fadieieve in the Italian goal.
Jacqueline Dorner scored Münchner’s second, again from open play and the third and decisive goal came from captain Hannah Kruger after the German team were awarded a penalty stroke. The Die Danas star made no mistake as she slotted home.
Despite the loss, Amiscora’s Arianna Tronci felt her team performed well against a side liberally scattered with international players. “For us we played the host nation in Germany, in front of a very welcoming, warm crowd. We are very proud how we played today. They were a great team but we tried to match them. We didn’t leave anything out today. I hope we will do better in our forthcoming matches.”
Saturday 3 June
Fixtures (local times)
10:00 Menzieshill vs Pegasus (Pool B)
12:15 Campo Madrid vs Grodno (Pool B)
14:30 Amiscora vs Minsk (Pool A)
16:45 Sumchanka vs Münchner (Pool A)
EuroHockey Club Trophy 2017 Women – Munich, Germany – Day 1