AVOCA's appearance in the division of the European Cup Winners' Cup will not be far away - just a flight to Heathrow, in fact. Reading will be the venue on March 28th-31st when the Dublin side will face powerful opposition in Pool A from the German representatives (yet to be decided), Real Club de Polo de Barcelona and SKA Ekatinburg of Russia. Reading are in Pool B with AH & BC Amsterdam, Stade Francais and Grunwald (Poland).
In the European Champions Cup, the draw for which was also announced yesterday, Instonians will be venturing further afield, to Amsicora, Italy, on May 16th-19th. Their opponents in Pool A will be White Star (Belgium), Grange (Scotland) and Subotica (Yugoslavia). Pool B is made up of Amsicora, Wiener AC, Cannock (England) and Swansea.
On the home front, welcome to yet another season, says the Monkstown club captain and historian Noel McLean. Seven players in the Monkstown panel for their Maunsell Cup charity match against Pembroke Wanderers at Rathdown tomorrow (5.0) are under 20, but Tim Dunwoody, the first XI skipper, will be glad to have some beef back in the attack with the return of Ali Murdoch after missing most of last season through injury. Restored to the premier division of the Leinster League, Monkstown have set a new trend in the appointment of a woman coach, former international Jacqui Potter.
Devin Donnelly, in the Ireland party heading off to the annual training camp in Holland next week, will enjoy his first match as Pembroke captain tomorrow. The game will be umpired by Ray O'Connor, eager to resume activity after the Olympic final in Atlanta, and the loyal Damien MacNally.
