Hockey: Edinburgh quintet are Scots' backbone

FIVE Edinburgh club players make up the backbone of Scotland's under-21 side for the EuroHockey Indoor Junior Championships which start in Prague tomorrow.

Inverleith trio Chris Grassick, Callum Duke and Andy Malcolm travel along with Fraser Sands and Scott Sutherland of CALA Edinburgh. And the skipper is Fraser Hirst, a former Edinburgh University player.

It's a tough assignment for the youngsters who are under pressure to retain their top status in indoor hockey.

The 12-strong squad face the hosts Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland in Pool B. Belarus, Poland, Russia and Sweden are in Pool A.

Scotland under 21 men: Thomas O'Kelly, Michael Bremner (Kelburne), Blair Fotheringham (Durham), Callum Duke, Chris Grassick, Andrew Malcolm (Inverleith), Fraser Sands, Scott Sutherland (CALA Edinburgh), Josh Cairns, Oliver James, Craig Falconer (Menzieshill), Fraser Hirst (captain, Clydesdale).