Following their
success in the 2018-19 indoor season, Western Wildcats Men’s 1sts qualified for
the 2020 Eurohockey Club Challenge I, marking the first occasion that the men
had ventured to European soil since 2011. The competition was hosted in Varna,
Bulgaria, and saw the men facing a challenging selection of European club sides
in a tightly contested tournament. Although missing a couple of key personnel
in Adam Mackenzie and Andrew McConnell, the Cats sent a strong squad with
realistic hopes to, once again, exceed expectations as they have done so often
on the indoor stage.
Game 1:
Western Wildcats 4 - 3 Soroksari
Their opening
encounter was against Soroksari of Budapest and, with little knowledge of the
level of their opposition, there was an exciting yet nervy atmosphere in the
Western camp. The game was a cagey affair, with neither team able to break the
deadlock, despite strong spells of possession for the Scottish side.
Eventually, Soroksari capitalised on a lapse in Western concentration and went
1-0 up. Undeterred, a leveller came quickly from Joe McConnell after a
characteristically precise exhibit of dribbling by Andrew McAllister. Western
found themselves under the cosh once again after a second Soroksari goal,
however responses from Rob Harwood and Andrew McAllister saw the Cats take the
lead entering the fourth quarter. Western were unable to hold on to their lead
in the final stages of the game, though, and conceded again, leaving the game
at three each. Western persevered and were rewarded for their efforts with a
penalty corner in the dying minutes of the game, dispatched by Hamish Galt with
a straight flick. The game ended 4-3 to the Scots – a terrific start to the
tournament.
Player of the
Match: Hamish Galt
Game 2:
Western Wildcats 2 - 4 Slagelse
Having the
unusual luxury of experience in playing against Slagelse in a friendly
tournament called the Mason Cup in Copenhagen in January, accompanied by
confidence following their opening performance, Western were well-prepared for
their second game. Once again, however, they conceded first and this,
unfortunately, remained the theme for the rest of the match. Open play goals
from Craig Sinclair and Rob Harwood were not enough to subdue some finely crafted
Danish attacks, leaving the final score at 2-4. This knocked the wind out of
Western’s sails somewhat, but they knew that a result in their next group game
against Cardiff & Met would be enough for them to qualify for the promotion
pool.
Player of the
Match: Nikki Homfray
Game 3:
Western Wildcats 3 - 5 Cardiff & Met
At this point in
the tournament, having access to video footage of all the games thanks to
assistant coach James Moran, Western had realistic ambitions to beat Cardiff.
Unfortunately, an ill-disciplined first half performance saw the Cats go 3-0
down. Strong half-time words from Vishal Marwaha, however, saw the team return
to life, with Hamish Galt converting twice from penalty corners and once from
open play, levelling the scores at three-a-piece and guaranteeing Western’s
progression into the promotion pool. The job was not yet done though, and
Cardiff capitalised on a spell of poor Western focus, scoring twice and taking
the spot in the promotion pool for themselves. As far as Western were
concerned, this was an opportunity squandered and the team was rightly
deflated. Despite the loss, Western entered the relegation pool with 5 points
as they carried their victory over relegation rivals Soroksari.
Player of the
Match: Hamish Galt
Game 4:
Western Wildcats 2 - 4 Rakovník
Western were now
in the midst of a serious dogfight to avoid relegation, despite being just
minutes away from pushing for promotion. Their first relegation battle was
against a strong Czech outfit which had been relegated from the division above
only last year. Western knew this would be a challenge but had faith in
Marwaha’s tactics and in their own abilities. Although going 1-0 down in the
first quarter was not part of the plan, a second quarter sacking of the keeper
by Fraser Moran saw the forward scoring into an empty goal with his reverse
stick and the Cats coming into half-time level with the opposition. Western
held on admirably throughout the third quarter but a lapse in concentration led
to two quick fire goals from Rakovník. Heads dropped and the beginning of the
fourth quarter saw yet another Czech goal, putting the Cats three behind and
without the benefit of a losing bonus point. Western dug deep, however, and won
a penalty stroke in the dying minutes. Hamish Galt scored from the spot – rather
unconvincingly but nonetheless converted – and the Cats held on to keep the
deficit at two goals so that they may carry a losing bonus point through to
their next game.
Player of the
Match: Andrew McAllister
Game 5: Western
Wildcats 9 - 0 FHC Slavia
In their final
game, Western faced the Bulgarian hosts and needed either a draw or a win to
avoid relegation, while the opposition needed a win to stay up. Although
tensions were running high as both teams battled for their European status, the
Cats finally clicked and dealt an onslaught of goals, initiated by Scott
Menzies in the first quarter. Further singles from Joe McConnell, Nikki Homfray
and Hamish Galt, and five open-play strikes from Rob Harwood brought the tally
up to nine in a barrage of sublime team goals.
Player of the
Match: Rob Harwood
Western finished
their final game, and indeed the tournament, on a well-deserved high,
preserving Scotland’s status in the Eurohockey Club Challenge I. Although
placing in just sixth place out of eight teams, Western’s performances
throughout the competition were exemplary and could so easily have seen the men
pushing for promotion had their narrow losses been reversed. On the whole, the
men had an overwhelmingly positive experience, with each player and member of
the coaching staff representing Western impeccably. The men now look to the
outdoor season and to qualification for further European pursuits as they chase
Edinburgh’s Grange in the second half of the domestic season.