EuroHockey Clubs Challenge I
Braxgata HC vs Gintra Streke Uni HC 6-3
Braxgata HC of Belgium made it three wins from three matches as they beat Gintra Streke University HC of Lithuania by a comprehensive 6-3 scoreline. Despite Braxgata dominating much of the game, the Lithuanians never stopped fighting, scoring two goals late in the final quarter. Braxgata top Pool B and will play the second placed team from Pool A, HC Rotweiss Wettingen, tomorrow (21 May).
CUS Pisa vs Milne Craig Clydesdale Western 0-0
The second game saw Italian side Pisa searching for their first win of the competition. The Scottish side knew they had to at least draw if they were to take second place in Pool B. An intense game ensued but neither side was able to break the deadlock and the game remained goalless.
Swansea City vs HC Metrostroy 3-4
Both teams were seeking a first win but it was the Russian side who prevailed, coming from behind to take the game in the final quarter. Swansea had taken a 3-2 lead but late goals from Viktoria Zelenova and Kristina Imranova gave the Russian side their first win and a third place finish in Pool A.
Edinburgh University vs HC Rotweiss Wettingen 0-0
The final game saw Edinburgh University really pile the pressure on HC Rotweiss Wettingen side. Despite the home side pressing hard for the majority of the game, a strong defensive performance from the Swiss saw the score stay at 0-0. The result means Edinburgh top Pool A on goal difference.
In tomorrow’s matches to decide final placings and promotion prospects, Gintra face Swansea; Metrostor take on Pisa; Braxgata play Wettingen and an all Scottish encounter sees Edinburgh take on Clydesdale.
EuroHockey Clubs Challenge II
Home side Gantoise made sure they were in contention for promotion with a resounding 11-1 win to take the top spot in Pool A.
AZS Politchnika Poznanska vs Douai HC 2-2
Both teams were looking for their first win of the competition and Poznan were just three minutes from taking all the points as they held grimly onto a 2-1 lead. However, the French team kept battling and were rewarded in the 57th minute when Justine Duby scored the equaliser. The result means the two teams are equal on points in third place in Pool B.
SV Arminen and Zuvedra Tauras 3-2
The second game of pool B saw leading duo Arminen and Zuvedra pit their skills against each other. Arminen built up a 3-0 lead but were made to fight to the end as Zuvedra came back strongly with two goals in the final five minutes.
Black Boys HC vs HC 1972 Rakovnik 5-0
In Pool A Black Boys Geneve put in a convincing performance to both beat Rakovnik and to leapfrog them into second place in the pool.
Gantoise HC vs SG Amsicora 11-1
The last game of the day saw home team Gantoise freewheeling and putting double digits on the scoreboard with a 11-1 win against Italian side Amsicora. This cemented their place at the top of the pool. Among the goal scorers was Argentinian striker Maria Granatto who scored two goals and Belgium international Stephanie Vanden Borre who scored a hat-trick.
Tomorrow’s (21 May) matches see Politechnika take on Amiscora; Rakovnik will play Douai, Arminen take on Black Boys and Gantoise play Zuvedra.
EuroHockey Clubs Challenge III
Nacka LHK vs HAHK Mladost 1-2
HAHK Mladost recorded their first win of the competition with a battling 2-1 win over Sweden’s Nacka LHK thanks to Marina Abramovic’s penalty corner two minutes from the end.
Dora Lagancic had the Croatians 1-0 up at the break but Lovisa Thornblom equalised with 10 minutes to go only for the late goal to decide matters. Mladost will play Grupo Desportivo do Viso in their placement match while Nacka go on to meet Copenhagen.
NAVAX AHTC Wien vs Gaziantep Polisgücü SK 2-3
In the highlight of the day, NAVAX AHTC Wien of Austria and Turkish side Gaziantep Polisgücü SK played out a cracking match, tough and tight throughout with both sides fighting for space all over the pitch.
Ruth Wittmann had AHTC in front with the only goal of the first half but two goals in a minute for the Turks from Perihan Kucukkoc and Nurhan Cinar swapped the lead in the third quarter. Kucukkoc’s second should have made the game safe but another Wittmann goal a minute later – with 12 minutes to go – made it a thrilling finish.
Both advance to the promotion matches with Wien facing Cardiff University and Gaziantep against HK Zelina.
Grupo Desportivo do Viso vs Copenhagen HC 1-2
Grupo Desportivo do Viso and Copenhagen HC also played out a very close game with a lucky win for the Danish club thanks to their late goal. Lisa Steller gave them a dream start and they held the lead from the third minute to the 51st minute when Monica Sousa equalised for the Portuguese. Megan Holt, however, won it in the final minutes. The result left the Danes in third place in the group with Viso fourth.
Cardiff University Ladies HC vs HC Zelina 2-0
Cardiff University Ladies HC (WAL) faced HC Zelina (CRO) with top spot on the line between the sides while the Welsh side had the added importance of needing the win to move ahead of Copenhagen.
Both goals came in the final quarter with Isla Lockhart finally breaking the deadlock before Sarah Rawle finished the job.
Cardiff, will now face NAVAX AHTC Wien tomorrow. HC Zlenia will face Gaziantep Polisgücü SK with the winners of each match set to earn promotion.