Hockey: Two Scots in pre-Olympic event squad

SCOTS duo Laura Bartlett and Emily Maguire’s chances of an Olympic call-up were boosted when they were included in the Great Britain squad for the VISA International Invitational Tournament in London on 2-6 May.

The opposition – China, Korea and world No 2 Argentina are all Olympic participants but coach Danny Kerry made it clear that the 18 players chosen are not Olympic certainties.

He said: “The final Olympic team will not necessarily come from this squad. Korea and China will both be in our pool for the Games so there will also be an element of keeping back some aspects of our game.”

It is still, however, encouraging for both Bartlett and ex-Glynhill Kelburne defender Maguire, an Olympic novice. Former Milne Craig Western midfielder Bartlett made her Olympic debut in Beijing four years ago. The other Scots in the Olympic training squad, VWS Dundee Wanderers’ Vikki Bunce and Canterbury goalkeeper Abi Walker missed out for now.

Squad: Ashleigh Ball, Nicola White (Slough), Crista Cullen, Rebecca Herbert, Hannah MacLeod, Anne Panter, Chloe Rogers (Leicester), Alex Danson, Helen Richardson, Beth Storry, Kate Walsh (Reading), Susie Gilbert (Birmingham University), Natalie Seymour (EuroCanterbury), Georgie Twigg (Clifton), Laura Unsworth (Loughborough Students). Scotland: Laura Bartlett, Emily Maguire (Reading). Wales – Sarah Thomas (no club).