Scots clubs back in Europe

Scottish clubs are back in European competition now that some degree of normality has returned following disruption from Covid.

Western Wildcats will compete in the men`s EuroHockey Trophy 11 competition (third tier) in Geneva, a tournament that has been reduced to six teams due to the withdrawal of the Polish and Italian sides. The Auchenhowie side will play Slagelse (Denmark) on Friday and OSHVMS HC Feniks Zytomyr Region from the north west part of Ukraine on Sunday with the top side reaching Monday`s final.

The women`s EuroHockey Challenge 11 (also third tier) competition in Alayna (Turkey) is the venue for both Clydesdale Western and Edinburgh University, although they are in different pools. Clydesdale open against SV Arminen on Friday followed by Stade Francais (France) and TSOP Kolos Borispol (Ukraine) while the Edinburgh students take on Rotweiss Wettingen (Switzerland), Gaziantep Polisgucu SK (Turkey) and finally Navax AHTC Wien (Austria). And if successful the Scottish sides could meet each other in the final.

All a little complicated, but we caught up with the respective coaches to get their take on the task ahead.

Although Clydesdale missed out on silverware this season, they are back in Europe next season courtesy of finishing in the runners-up spot in the Premiership.

So this what coach Derek Forsyth had to say:

“Our target is to gain promotion. We were unfortunately relegated last year by the EHF as we had to withdraw from the tournament due to covid restrictions that were in place here.”

On their pool opposition, Derek was a bit sketchier, adding, “I know little of the opposition but we will have the opportunity to see two of the teams play before we meet them in the group stages. Our first game is against the SV Arminen from Austria and the girls have played against them previously at the indoor club trophy so they’ll have some knowledge of them.”

On the Clydesdale line-up Derek remarked, “We have selected the strongest possible squad.”

In contrast, Edinburgh University coach Sam Judge confirmed that Louise Campbell and Ava Smith would not be making the trip.

But Sam followed up to remark: “Otherwise the girls are looking good, they have been doing acclimatisation training in preparation for the heat.”

On the tournament Sam said, “We are really excited about going to the tournament. It’s been three years since our last Euros, so it’s a long time coming for some. Especially the 4th years who have missed two competitions due to COVID. They are excited to go away as a group, play different opposition and enjoy a club Europeans.”

Sam was also a bit vague on the opposition, adding, “We don’t really know much about the teams in our group. In 2017 we played Navax AHTC Wien and beat them, but I don’t know what the Swiss or Turkish team will be like. Looking at the other group it looks strong with Clydesdale Western, the Ukrainians, the French & Arminen from Austria who we only narrowly beat on penalties in 2017.

“We are hoping to gain promotion.”

Western swept all before them in the men’s domestic season, winning both the Premiership and the Scottish Cup without losing a single game, so it is now time to see if the side from Auchenhowie can repeat that sort of form on the European stage.

Coach Vishal Marwaha is not one to get carried away with domestic success since most of the squad will not have played in an outdoor European tournament.

“Our target in the first instance is to win our two group games and hopefully qualify for the final. It`s a little of the unknown as it’s our first outdoor Europeans since 2011. However on the back of our domestic campaign we are going into the tournament confident in our own ability as a squad.”

On the opposition front Vishal remarked: “We know a little about Slagelse and Cardiff (in the other pool) as we played both in Bulgaria when we played indoor Europeans in 2020. Unfortunately we lost both of those games. Obviously outdoor is slightly different however both will be well organised and tough opponents. We have Slagelse in our opening game and know we will need to hit the ground running.”

Success in European competition can be a little unpredictable, especially as much of the opposition is an unknown quantity, but it is to be hoped across the sport that the Scottish sides show the quality they have to come out on top.

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