Scotland: Bonagrass debut is full of hope
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| Scotland |
February 28, 2003
The Telegraph
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By Mike Stanger
Bonagrass Grove today make their European indoor debut, against Valhalla of Sweden, hoping for passage into their own hockey paradise.
They are top seeds for this Championship Trophy tournament in Brescia and are predicted to win Pool A against the challenge of Rotweiss Wettingen (Switzerland), Valhalla (Sweden) and host side Cus Brescia, to reach tomorrow's semi-finals.
It is important that they top the pool, to avoid the considerable threat from Bohemians Praha, of the Czech Republic, who are favourites to win the other pool.
Coach Audrey Sime's experienced squad include a defence which gave away only 11 goals in the entire national league campaign. Goalkeeper Debbie McLeod has been in particularly impressive form, while their three Olympians - Sue Fraser, Alison Ramsay and captain Pauline Stott - draw an almost impenetrable veil across the pitch to thwart opposition forwards.
In the striking department, Nikki Kleppang has been the league's top scorer this winter. And Evie Durham, often underrated in such company, can be relied on to contribute to the scoresheet.
The absence in Australia of Cheryl Valentine, Vikki Bunce and Louise Carroll is a bonus for Ailsa Robertson, Louise Sherriffs and Linsey Thomson, who earn their European spurs in Brescia.
And, having won this year's domestic title, the Taysiders know that promotion will give them a first tilt at the elite Club Championship next year.
Nicoline Western, meanwhile, begin the delayed defence of their Spektra National League title with a baptism of fire against Vardy Giffnock at Bellahouston tomorrow. The East Renfrewshire side have made immense strides in the last two years under the driving leadership of player/coach Rhona Simpson and won the Challenge Shield last autumn by two points from Western.
Slough's women, meanwhile, start their European Indoor Club Championship campaign in France today against the Austrians of HC Wiener Neudorf and then Russelsheim, of Germany. Hosts Cambrai are their opponents tomorrow.
Slough's women will be hoping to do better than their male counterparts, from Guildford, who last week Guildford lost all five matches and were relegated to the third tier of the competition after finding their European opponents better versed in the ways of the indoor game.
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