Pembroke face daunting task

MEN'S HOCKEY:ROTTERDAM IS where the action is this weekend as Ireland's top side Pembroke take a significant step up in levels to mix it with the big boys of European hockey. The Dublin side will face German champions Rot-Weiss Koln today's European Hockey League (EHL) in a win-or-bust match.

A win will take them through to the next phase, where they would meet the winners of the match between Polo Barcelona and English side Reading, while a defeat sends them home. It is the top club competition in Europe and over four days the 16 teams will be reduced to the four semi-finalists

It’s something of an under statement to say the Irish representatives will go into the match as underdogs. Eight of this German club side were part of the national team that won the Olympic gold medal two years ago in Beijing.

The Zeller brothers, Philipp and Christopher, who are perhaps the best-known siblings in world hockey, are also in the team.

Philipp scored the equalising goal for Germany against Holland in the Olympic semi-final, while Christopher netted the gold medal-winning goal in the Olympic final against Spain. The brothers also played a central role when the German national side won the World Cup in 2006.

While Pembroke are heavily armed with Irish players, there remains a gap in standards but part of this trip will doubtlessly be seen as a means of improving the side and ironing out some the weakness that are likely to be exposed at this level.

The German national side is ranked second in the world courtesy of Australia winning the World Cup. The Irish team, as of March 15th are ranked 18th.

“The tempo of this match will be higher certainly,” said Pembroke coach Craig Fulton.

“We have to manage that and then maybe we can back ourselves to get into it. We are in the top 16 in Europe at this stage so it is the pinnacle in terms of European competition and it is a fantastic challenge for us.”

Pembroke took three days off after last weekend’s interprovincial series and travel to Holland injury-free. Eurosport will be covering most of the weekend action with 12 of the matches being broadcast live.

Today – EHL Finals (in Rotterdam):Pembroke v Rot-Weiss Koln, 5pm.