Scotland Return to the Top/
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| Scotland |
January 25, 2004
sportinglife.com, UK
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Scotland returned to the top flight of European indoor hockey after two victories, coupled with a Poland defeat to Ukraine, secured second place in the Nations Cup Trophy in Padova, Italy.
The Scots were criticised before the tournament for being too old - they had 44-year-old Ali Ramsay making her indoor debut - but entered the final day well placed to snatch second spot in the seven-nation tournament.
Switzerland were beaten 3-2 thanks to goals from Western duo Ali Denholm and Cat Semple and Bonagrass Grove's Nikki Kleppang before victory followed over Slovakia, with Semple, Helen Craig, Lorna Dobbie and Elaine Brierley all scoring.
That put the Scots a point ahead of Poland and Ukraine's 7-5 victory was enough to promote coach David Stott's side to the championship event from which they were relegated two years ago.
"If we had beaten Italy on the first day (it ended 4-4) it would have been in our hands but we had to depend on Ukraine beating Poland and they did," said Stott, who called for more investment to be made in the domestic game in advance of the 2006 Europeans.
"It is essential we learn from the European teams that are competing in these tournaments. The eastern Europeans have all got really young squads - in Scotland young players in indoor hockey are non-existent."
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