Hockey: Alex Danson full of confidence ahead of Germany tie

GREAT Britain striker Alex Danson is ready to renew rivalries with Germany today, believing their performances at the Champions Trophy in Argentina have served as a timely reminder to opponents.

The Reading forward scored twice in Thursday night’s 4-1 win over South Korea to put her side into the semi-finals in Rosario. But it is the manner in which they have played in South America – they finished second in a four-nations warm-up event in Cordoba – which means they have nothing to fear.

Great Britain have beaten Germany twice in their previous two meetings, and Danson said: “We’ve given Germany some really tough games and we are definitely a team others are aware of.”

Tomorrow will be only the third time a British side has reached the last four of the annual tournament for the world’s top nations, initially held in 1987. And being the women’s last major international tournament before the London Olympics it is all valuable pitch time.

“These are the games you play hockey for,” Danson added. “If we play as well as we have done that should get us to the final.”

In the domestic men’s league, Inverleith are making a courageous effort to retain the Subway indoor national league crown they won for the first time last season, but rivals Grove Menzieshill hold most of the aces as the competition reaches its denouement today.

With two matches remaining, the Taysiders are three points in front, meaning Inverleith must win the head-to-head against Menzieshill in the final game to stand any chance of capturing the title.

Menzieshill may be five goals adrift of the Edinburgh side going into today’s proceedings, but the Dundee side’s first match is against second-bottom Greaves Clydesdale where a goal avalanche is a distinct possibility. Meanwhile, Inverleith firstly take on local rivals Grange who lie third in the table, and any dropped points here would be terminal.

Even if Inverleith can see off Grange, they must take the three points from Menzieshill to have any chanceA big blow to their aspirations is the absence of injured Chris Grassick who has been an influential figure in this season`s campaign with goals from both open play and penalty corners.

In the women’s league a single goal separates Grove Menzieshill and VWS Dundee Wanderers. Clydesdale’s shock defeat of Wanderers last week has thrown the contest back into the melting pot, leaving Grove in pole position by the slimmest of margins.

The Tayside rivals meet in a possible league decider tomorrow