Hockey: Draw enough to give Dundee European silver

A MEDAL and promotion was the agenda for coach Iain Strachan in VWS Dundee Wanderers' European debut, and that was achieved in dramatic fashion when his charges fought out a 1-1 draw with English champions Leicester in the final match of the women's European Indoor Hockey Club Trophy in Abbeville yesterday to finish second with a silver medal in the promotion pool.

With Wanderers and Leicester on the same points, and the Scots with a crucial two-goal advantage, a draw was all that was required to bring the Dundonians European success at the first time of asking.

It did not look at all promising when Chloe Rogers gave the English side the lead in 13 minutes, and then captain Vikki Bunce uncharacteristically hit the post with a penalty stroke to leave Leicester a goal ahead at the interval. But the mission was accomplished when Amy Rowan scored the equaliser midway through the second half.

"This was a great learning experience, Leicester had nine GB players, but we were not fazed. A draw was enough, but I felt we should have won. However, promotion and a silver medal is perfect as we have qualified again for Europe next year," said a delighted Strachan.

Earlier, Wanderers carried forward three points from the win over Abbeville in the original pool match, but the Taysiders then put themselves under pressure by losing 3-2 to SV Arminen in the second encounter, with goals from Rowan and Vikki Bunce not enough to save the game.