INSTONIANS, who won hockey's Irish Senior Cup for the first time last season, started their European Cup Winners' Cup campaign in encouraging style in the B division tournament in Gibraltar yesterday, beating Cobra Vienna more comfortably than the 1-0 scoreline might suggest.
Ireland defender Neil Cooke, who played an attacking midfield role for Instonians, scored the all important goal from a penalty stroke in the 27th minute. The stroke was awarded when a shot by Mervyn Cooke was kept out of the net by a defender's foot.
While the Austrian side were expected to give Instonians the most difficult game in Pool B, the Belfast club will want to score more goals today against Llanishen. Yesterday, the Welsh representatives drew 2-2 with Torino.
In the women's Cup Winners' Cup (A division) in Rotterdam, Pegasus paid the price for missing a penalty stroke when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Stade Francais in a dour encounter in their opening pool A match.
Jeanette Turner set up the chance in the 23rd minute when she broke through and was cynically chopped. But Claire Samways's poor effort was easily saved.
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