Western Wildcats men qualify for promotion pool in Lousada

Western Wildcats have qualified for the promotion pool after only two games at the Men’s EuroHockey Indoor Club Challenge 1 tournament in Lousada after two massive wins over Bulgarian and Slovenian champions. The Scots share top spot with Hungarian side Epitok but with a vastly superior goal difference, and the two sides meet tomorrow morning to decide pole position in the pool. A win tomorrow is very important as that result will be carried forward to the promotion pool table.

 

GAME 1 WESTERN 10 FHC SLAVIA 1921 (BULGARIA) 0

Western made a more than positive start to their campaign at the EuroHockey indoor Club Challenge 1 in Lousada with a ten goal thumping of Bulgarian champions Slavia 1921 and leapt to the top of the pool on goal difference from Epitok from Hungary who beat Slovenia`s Triglav Predanovci 6-3.

Western`s coach Vishal Marwaha remarked: “It is important to win your first game particularly if you want to qualify for the promotion pool. However, every game has importance as you carry your results forward to the promotion pool.”

Perhaps a nervy start for the Scottish champions – the first quarter ended goalless.

But Western soon got into their stride with two goals inside the 12th minute by Andrew McConnell and a later strike from Fraser Moran for a three goal cushion at the interval. And the game seemed already won.

However, Western cut loose in the third quarter, it started with another from McConnell for his hat-trick followed by Adam Mackenzie for 5-0. Then came a quick-fire double from Moran to advance the tally to seven. The Bulgarians replied by replacing their keeper with another outfield player but that only resulted in an eighth from Scott Menzies.

The scoring slackened off in the final quarter with the game well won but McConnell added his own fourth and finally captain Rob Harwood`s strike brought up the double figures.

 

GAME 2 WESTERN 12 HK TRIGLAV PREDANOVCI (SLOVENIA) 0

This time Western used the first quarter to stamp their authority on the game against Triglav Predanovci by taking a two goal lead in the opening four minutes through Hamish Galt and Rob Harwood.

Green cards were then issued to Joe McConnell and Callum Duke in quick succession, the latter returned to score Western`s third goal just before the end of the quarter.

The goals continued to flow in the second quarter through Andrew McConnell, Adam Mackenzie, Joe McConnell and finally Fraser Moran for a 7-0 half-time lead – and the game well won already!

The avalanche continued unabated into the third quarter with Andrew Lochrin, Galt and Moran all scoring inside as many minutes to advance the score into double figures for the second time in the day.

In the final quarter there were only two further goals for Western, Scott Menzies became the ninth player to find the net while Fraser Moran completed the scoring in the final two minutes for his second hat-trick of the day.

Another second of the day was the shut-out for keeper Gavin Sommerville.

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