Cougars mauled by English and Welsh sides in GB league

NEW Scotland men’s under-21 coach Graham Moodie saw his team, playing in the guise of Caledonian Cougars, receive an eight-goal mauling from English side Pennine Pumas on Saturday, then lose 4-1 to Celtic Panthers yesterday in the first weekend of the Great Britain Super League at Lilleshall.

The former Olympian faces a tough task to get his youngsters in shape to face Germany, Belgium and Spain in the pool competition of the European Junior Nations Championships in Den Bosch, Holland, this summer.

On Saturday the Pumas controlled most of the play and the young Scots were restricted to a couple of chances, for Clydesdale’s Peter Baldwin and Fraser Sands, in the first half. After the interval the Scots had only one opportunity, Grange’s Duncan Riddell shotting wide.

Yesterday, Exeter University’s Gareth Davies missed a great early chance for the Cougars and the Panthers took a one-goal lead into the break. The Welsh side scored three more goals in the second half before, with the last hit of the game, Grove Menzieshill’s Craig Falconer finally found the net.

Scotland’s women notched the only victory of the weekend with a 3-0 win over the Welsh Panthers in a rain-affected match yesterday. Play was suspended for several minutes but it failed to distract Glynhill Kelburne’s Stevie McInally who opened the scoring with a direct shot following a cross from the right. In the second half, Grove Menzieshill striker Louise Campbell added a second with a tap in at the far post following a cross by Ali Howie. The third, by Grove’s Hazel Hall, came from a penalty corner in the final minute.

Dave Stott’s charges went down 3-0 to the powerful English side Pennine Pumas on Saturday.

In the second division of the men’s Subway national league Watsonians qualified for a promotion play-off spot with a 2-1 win over AAM Gordonians in Aberdeen, they now play CALA Edinburgh for the right to play in the first division next season.

Meanwhile, Great Britain women lost their three-match series against world No 3 side Germany when they went down 3-0 in the final game at Bisham Abbey yesterday with Hannah Kruger scoring in the first half along with Natasha Keller and Janine Beermann after the interval. The second match had ended in a 2-2 draw on Saturday.