Racing and Rot Weiss Koln to face eachother in the EuroHockey Club Cup Final

17th February 2018: The afternoon started with the all important relegation Pool C games.  The hosts surprised with a spirited performance to beat Armenin who are now in real trouble to stay in the division. A draw between Surbiton and Complutense did neither team any favours as neither are secure in the division for 2019. 

The semi-finals did not disappoint as Racing, just recently promoted into this division now face Rot Weiss Koln in the EuroHockey Club Cup Final. They found their form against a quality Russian side who pushed them from 4-2 down to a sudden death penalty shoot out. The second semi-final was a meeting of giants of indoor hockey and proved to be such a difficult one to split as  immaculate defending and precision passing meant it was a low scoring semi-final. Rot Weiss Koln finally broke the seal and in a fantastic 10 minutes beat the mighty Dutch to earn their place in tomorrow’s final. 

Game 13: HC Rotweiss Wettingen v SV Arminen (Pool C) 2-1 (1-0) 

Game 14: Surbiton HC v C.H. SPV Complutense (Pool C) 1-1 (0-0) 

Complutense pressed hard to get ahead in the early stages of the this Pool C game forcing a decent save from the Surbiton keeper in the 8th minute. A chance for Surbiton in the 16th minute as the won their first pc went a begging as the strike was deemed a foul. Score remained 0-0 at half time. In the 25th minute Forsyth made his presence felt with a flick over the committed Complutense keeper’s head. 1-0. in the 30th minute Prol went on a solo run breaking through the Surbiton defence, passing to Arqués who slotted home to bring the game to a draw 1-1, and so it remained and each team takes 2 points from the game and into the Pool C.

Game 15: Dinamo Elektrostal v Racing Club de Bruxelles (Semi-final) 4 – 4 (2 – 4) (2 – 3 SO)

We caught up with Tom Boon after the game, who was very proud of his team, who had had only one proper training together before the Tournament:

Game 16: AH&BC Amsterdam v Rot-Weiss Koln (Semi-final) 2-3 (0-0) 

Both teams started this game knowing that small errors would be punished, turnovers could lead to goals. The first half proved to be a game of ‘wits’ as man to man marking tested the tactics and fitness of both sides, both passed with flying colours as precision passes and superb defending kept the scoresheet 0-0 at the half.

The second half started much as the first had ended! A pc for Amsterdam in the 30th minute led to a 2nd pc, some brave defending and a 3rd pc was awarded, a fantastic save from RWK keeper Schlich drew a huge applause from the bench and the score remained 0-0.

Finally a reverse flick from Miltkau in the 33rd minute put Koln ahead 0-1. A second from Koln in the 34th minute opened up the game as Tigges flicked home Amsterdam’s first of the game 1-2 in the 35th minute. A 3rd goal from Ruhr was the much needed cushion 1-3 . A ps converted by Tigges brought the score back to 2-3, but it was simply too late as the final hooter went.

We spoke to a smiling and relieved Chris Ruhr after the game:

Tomorrow’s games:

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Use the #EHI2018 

All photographs are courtesy of World Sport pics (c)