Hockey: No medals, but Scots hold 'A' division status

Scotland's under-21 side missed out on the medals when they went down 3-1 to the Czech Republic in the bronze play-off at Stirling yesterday, but coach David Stott has achieved his main mission of staying in the A Division of the European Nations Hockey Championships.

The Czechs took the lead in seven minutes, and the Scots replied with a series of fruitless chances.

Heavy second-half pressure paid off for Scotland. With five minutes remaining, CALA Edinburgh striker Amy Brodie scored the equaliser with a low shot at a penalty corner.

Any thoughts of a medal vanished when the Czechs went 2-1 ahead with less than two minutes remaining, and they then scored an easy third as the Scotland coach risked all by taking off the keeper and attacking with six outfield players.

On Saturday, Scotland stormed into the semi-final by whipping Portugal 7-0 in their second pool match, but went down 5-1 to Poland in the final pool match.

Later, the young Scots failed to make an impression on Belarus in their semi-final and went down 7-0.

The new under 21 European champions are Belarus, who beat Poland 5-4 in yesterday's final.

Meanwhile, Inverleith are on the threshold of the first Subway national indoor hockey league title in their history after seeing off Western Wildcats, Grange, Glynhill Kelburne and AMN Hillhead, thereby holding on to their three-point lead over Grove Menzieshill.

In Cadiz, Scotland's men lost 6-0 and 4-0 in two test matches against Spain, ranked fifth in the world.