Cup runs may hit ups and downs

Hockey News round-up: Lisnagarvey, Ireland's representatives in the European Cup Winners' Cup B Division, recorded their third win of the tournament yesterday in Vienna.

The 3-0 scoreline against host side AHTC put the Irish team on top of their group. Today they face Dinamo Moscow for a promotion place into the A division next year, a spot which will go to current Irish Cup holders and next year's representatives, Instonians.

Lisnagarvey went 2-0 up by half-time with goals from Tim Cockram through set pieces. He followed up with another short corner strike after 55 minutes to earn himself a hat-trick, his second of the competition and ensure 'Garvey's progress.

The Lisburn team stormed through their opening two matches of Pool A, first hitting eight goals past Croatian champions Jedinstvo. Lisnagarvey led the match 2-0 at the break with goals from Philip Stirling and Mark Raphael, and six more arrived in the second half as their opposition opened up further. Mark Raphael, Jonathon Brown, another from Stirling and three short corners from Cockram put the match well beyond doubt.

The second Pool game was a similar affair, with last year's Irish Cup winners this time hitting five goals past Czech side Bohemians, who replied just once.

In the equivalent women's competition, Loreto will today face a relegation play-off to determine Pegasus's fate in the tournament next season, even though they yesterday claimed their first point of the competition with a scoreless draw against Spanish side Ourense in Laren, Holland.

The Leinster champions will meet Moscow Pravda needing victory to avoid relegating the Ulster side into the B Division after their 2-1 win over Hermes in last Sunday's Irish Senior Cup final at Belfield.

Loreto, who had lost 1-0 to German side Klipper on Saturday, could have won yesterday, Irish international Nikki Symmons missing from the penalty spot in the first half.

EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS' CUP B DIVISION (in Vienna): Pool A: Lisnagarvey 8, Jedinstvo 1; Lisnagarvey 5, Bohemians 1; Lisnagarvey 3, AHTC 0. Today: Lisnagarvey v Dinamo Moscow.