Railway set for debut in Euro outdoor event

WOMEN'S HOCKEY:RAILWAY UNION host teams from Ukraine, Italy, Belgium, Scotland, Russia and Belarus at Park Avenue over the next four days in what will be the club's debut in European outdoor competition.

Mike McKinnon’s side open their EuroHockey Club Champions Trophy campaign against Ukraine’s MSC Sumchanka at 3pm today, before playing Royal Wellington of Belgium tomorrow and Italian side Libertas San Saba on Sunday. The final placings will be decided on Monday.

There was to be a second club from Ukraine in the line-up but this week the European Hockey Federation announced they had disqualified HC Kolos Borispol “due to the continuing failure of the club to confirm and pay hotel deposits, and their failure to confirm travel details to the hosts, in spite of several reminders”.

Seven clubs, then, will attempt to reach Monday’s final and win promotion for their countries to the top division of European club competition. Loreto finished fifth in the same event last season.

FIXTURES – EuroHockey Club Trophy (at Park Avenue) – Today – Pool A: MSC Sumchanka v Railway Union, 3.0; Libertas San Saba v Royal Wellington, 5.0. Pool B: St Petersburg v Victorya Smolevichi, 1.0. Tomorrow – Pool A: St Petersburg v Grove, 1.0. Pool B: Railway v Royal Wellington, 3.0; Libertas v Sumchanka, 5.0. Sunday – Pool A: Railway v Libertas, 3.0; Sumchanka v Royal Wellington, 5.0. Pool B: Grove v Smolevichi, 1.0.