Olympic hockey pair return to Scotland colours for Tests

BEIJING Olympians Stephen Dick and goalkeeper Alistair McGregor, recently named Great Britain Hockey Athlete of the Year, return to the international arena with Scotland in a three-match Test series against Ireland in Belfast later this month.

Two other Olympians from Athens are also included in the squad: Western Wildcats playmaker Graham Moodie along with Niall Stott, who now plays for EuroHockey League champions Uhlenhorster from Germany.

But there is no place for seasoned campaigner Mark Ralph and former Grange striker Fergus Dunn, both of whom are required to play for their respective clubs in the Netherlands and Spain. That has allowed Mathias Ahrens, coach to the Scotland squad, the luxury of giving youngsters Gavin Byers (Menzieshill), Chris Grassick (Inverleith) and the Kelburne pair of Iain Scholefield and Gordon McIntyre a further run at senior level.

No fewer than eight of Ahrens' squad of 18 players come from Azzurri Kelburne, a further sign of the Paisley outfit's continuing dominance of the Scottish scene.

Scotland squad (to play Ireland, 21-23 November): A McGregor (Loughborough), R Barr (Grange), G Byers (Menzieshill), J Christie, K Bain, M Christie, G Hall, W Marshall, G McIntyre, I Scholefield, C Nelson (all Kelburne), N Stott (Uhlenhorster), S Dick, C Grassick, D Salmond (all Inverleith), A Dick (Surbiton), G Moodie, J Simpson (both Western Wildcats).