Hockey: Scots ease past hosts in opening U18 clash

SCOTLAND started their bid from promotion with a convincing 3-0 win over hosts Italy in the opening pool match of the European Under-18 Nations Championships in Cernusco.

In a fairly even opening 30 minutes the Scots youngsters had the best of the chances through CALA Edinburgh's David Patterson and Tom Kemsley from AMN Hillhead. However, Jonny Roy finally broke the deadlock just before the interval, scoring with a direct shot from close range after good build-up work from Greaves Clydesdale team-mate Stewart Coghlan.

Not long after the break Coghlan put the Scots two up with a deflection from a penalty corner strike by Ben Peterson.

The result was sealed with a third goal from Corey Hastings, the initial shot being saved by the Italian goalkeeper but the rebound stroked home by the CALA striker.

Austria are Scotland's next opponents today and in their first encounter they beat Ukraine 5-2 to top the pool on the number of goals scored.

Meanwhile, Scotland's national sides may have exceeded expectations in the recent Champions Challenge competitions, but the club sides have regressed in Europe over the last four or five years. In the recent ranking announcement, Scotland have no club side in the elite men's and women's EuroLeague for next season for the first time since its inception.

Scottish men's champions Glynhill Kelburne, the most recent casualty to fall out of the EuroLeague, will compete in the lower Trophy tournament where they are seeded only fourth. With Western Wildcats relegated from last year's Trophy, this year's representative Grange are now consigned to the Challenge, Europe's third division.

The women fare no better, Grove Menzieshill, who finished fourth in last season's Trophy after losing 4-1 to Irish side Railway Union, remain at that level while VWS Dundee Wanderers, in Europe for the first time in the club's history, start out in the Challenge after last year's participant Milne Craig Western had to see off French side CA Montrouge 3-2 in their final game to stave off relegation.

l Surbiton's Richard Alexander and East Grinstead's Mark Pearn have been called into England's squad for this week's London Cup. Old Loughtonians' Harry Martin and Surbiton's Matt Daly have been withdrawn on fitness grounds, meaning recalls for Alexander and Pearn - who were being rested after playing in the recent Rabo Four Nations Cup in the Netherlands.

England start their campaign against Belgium today with matches against South Korea on Thursday and New Zealand on Friday.