Hockey: Defeat by Austrians condemns Wanderers to European relegation

VWS Dundee Wanderers were finally relegated from the European Indoor Club Cup in Vienna yesterday when they lost 4-2 to Austrian champions SV Arminen in their final match.

Needing to score goals to have any chance of avoiding the drop, Wanderers took the lead through a penalty corner strike by Julie Bryce. But it all fell away after that. Arminen were on level terms by the interval and then raced into a 4-1 in the second half. Sam Sangster pulled one back near the end, then hit the bar twice, but it was all too little too late for the Taysiders.

Wanderers were consigned to the relegation pool when they went down 7-0 to tournament favourites Berliner from Germany in their final group match on Saturday.

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The writing was on the wall when Wanderers then lost 2-1 to MSC Sumchanka from Ukraine. After a goalless first half, Wanderers took the initiative with a quality deflection by Julie Bryce. But within two minutes the Ukrainians were level. Carmin Dow faced two attackers and the ball eventually trundled over the line before Becky Ward could reach it. Although the Taysiders created chances from both open play and penalty corners, it was Sumchanka who took a 2-1 lead on the counter-attack.

In a pulsating Subway National League contest against Western Wildcats at Bellahouston, Grange were cruising at 2-0 up, then the Wildcats clawed their way into a 3-2 lead in a five-minute spell, and finally the Edinburgh side stole a share of the points with a last minute strike. However, the 3-3 draw keeps Grange in second place, three points ahead of Western but with a game more played.

The only highlight in an eminently forgettable first half was a brilliant reverse stick goal by 15-year-old Fettes schoolboy Hamish Imrie following a pass by Duncan Batchelor to give Grange a slim half-time lead.

The Edinburgh side seemed to be heading for all three points when Rob Barr scored from the spot three minutes into the second half following a deliberate foul on Martin Johnstone.

However, a sin-bin rest for Grange captain Barr was the signal for a Wildcats’ comeback. At their fourth penalty corner, Douglas Simpson fired home a low shot to bring the score back to 2-1, then a minute later the Wildcats were on level terms with a fierce shot by Scott McCartney from the top of the circle.

With Grange still reeling in disbelief, Ian Moodie put the Wildcats into a 3-2 lead when his shot went into the net off a defender’s stick.

The equaliser for Grange came in the final minute. Cammie Fraser’s pass eluded two Wildcat defenders and a diving Duncan Batchelor fired the loose ball home.

Inverleith maintained their challenge at the top of the table with a 2-0 win against bottom side VWS Dundee Wanderers in a rather physical encounter.

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After a goalless first half, Chris Duncan opened for the Edinburgh side from a penalty corner. The result was sealed with an open play strike by Ross Jamieson in the closing minutes.

In the women’s league, Milne Craig Western moved into second spot with a comfortable 2-0 win over rivals Giffnock, with goals by Fiona Bruce and Karin Belch.

Grove Menzieshill are still in pole position with a 3-1 home win over Grange, while Edinburgh University maintained their fourth spot with a narrow 4-3 win over bottom side GHK. Sarah Robertson (2), Sam Judge and Camilla Lyttle found the net for the students

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