Hockey: Scots women held to draw by Canadians

Scotland’s women were left frustrated as they were held to a 0-0 draw against a physical Canadian side ranked four places below them.

Gordon Shepherd’s charges, gearing up for next month’s European Nations Championships in Belgium, should have won, but were knocked out of their stride by opponents who had five players sin-binned.

The first chance came in ten minutes, but Nikki Kidd put her effort wide of the target before Grove’s Ali Bell squandered another two opportunities.

Canada went close just before the interval, but in the resulting scramble a stick hit Scotland defender Catriona Ralph on the forehead, who had to go off for treatment.

The Scots should have taken the lead after the break when Nikki Lloyd’s sweep shot was illegally saved on the line by a Canadian defender, but Kidd shot wide from the spot.

In the closing exchanges, Ailsa Wyllie had a chance but was crowded out, Amy Gibson made a couple of routine saves, and Marshall received a yellow card, but the game finished in a stalemate.

Scotland’s next game will be against Ireland today, the first of three test matches at Newtownabbey.