Hockey: Scots students stunned by Irish

A HAT-TRICK from William Robinson was the catalyst in Northern Ireland's 7-2 whipping of Scotland in the opening match of the British Universities Championships at Peffermill.

Robinson scored from a penalty corner in the early stages. Dane Ward added a second when he coolly slipped the ball past David Forrester in the Scottish goal.

Gradually the Scottish students clawed their way back into the contest and Andrew Campbell fired home a close-range shot.

But Robinson knocked the stuffing out of the Scots at the start of the second half when a powerful drag flick at a penalty corner followed by a fierce reverse stick volley gave the Irish a commanding 4-1 advantage. Gordon Munro pulled one back for the Scots but Ward scored from the spot and Gregg Thomson completed the rout with a brace. The Irish top the pool along with Wales who beat England 3-2.

The women's game between Scotland and Wales ended in a rather dour goalless draw.

And Northern Ireland beat England 4-1.