Far from a waltz in Vienna for Wanderers
22 February 2012
EUROHOCKEY INDOOR CLUB CUP - VIENNA - FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY TO SUNDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2012
This is VWS Dundee Wanderers second successive year in Europe, but surviving in the elite European Indoor Club Cup in Vienna could be a very tall order for the Taysiders.
Wanderers did well to achieve promotion from the Trophy competition in Abbeyville at their European baptism last year, but competing in a pool competition with the likes of champions Berliner (German), Club de Campo (Spain) and Gintra Strekte (Lithuania) is a daunting prospect, they are all veterans of the European circuit.
But Carmin Dow, Wanderers` international goalkeeper, is far from downcast. "Our main target for the tournament is to remain within Europe`s top eight, after the pool matches it would be a great achievement to be in the leading group."
Dow did admit it had been quite a difficult season, her own injury had an unsettling influence and the league title was lost to city rivals Grove Menzieshill, but Wanderers bounced back to take the knock-out cup with an 8-2 win over CALA Edinburgh in the final.
"There have been ups and downs, but I think these last couple of weeks before the tournament have shown we have been making a lot of progress, and I hope that we can hit the ground running when we arrive in Vienna," said Dow.
There have been some changes in the Dundee ranks since last year`s success in Abbeyville, Wanderers will be without playmaker Vikki Bunce who is concentrating on her Olympic prospects with the Great Britain training squad, and Heather Elder still recovering from injury. In compensation, San Sangster is back and her penalty corner expertise could be crucial, and the squad is further strengthened by the addition of Fiona Plane and Louise Sherriffs.
The strength in our squad has to be the experience at indoor international competitions as well as the talented players we have within the squad," said Dow. In addition to Dow herself, the likes of Becky Ward, Julie Bryce and Amy Rowan have all invaluable international experience.
Wanderers` coach Dave Stott has been working on a more reserved style, based more on a structured defence and hitting the opposition on the counter-attack.
"The tempo of these teams in Europe`s top flight could cause real fatigue, our levels of fitness will be tested and we need to make sure that we have something in the tank to take us into the play-offs," he said. "But we need to get three points early doors, and this will certainly be a key aim."
That means winning Friday`s games against Gintra Strekte, who finished in fourth place last year, and a Club de Campo side full of international players from Spain, Holland and Argentina - Stott does not see the final pool match against Berliner, favourites for the tournament, as a realistic target game.
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