Southsea Veterans in Holland – April 7th-9th
Southsea veretans success (runners up) at the last international tournament in Spain, meant hopes were high for the Amsterdam Vets tournament on 7-9 April. Prior to the event, the club’s international goalkeeper Graham Scurr hurt his back, so 17 year old Ashley Redman was drafted in for his first taste of international roller hockey. With other regular players being unavailable, a much depleted team headed for Holland.
Southsea’s first game was against last year’s winners from Spain, Barcino. Tehfirst half was a close affair, with Barcino being 2-1 up at the break. Immediately after the break, Barcino scored a well worked goal, leaving Southsea to chase the game, and their goalkeeper exposed to the Barcino forwards, and a final score line of 7-3. Quote of the tournament came from Southsea’s Glenn Walsh. When asked how he let a Barcino player score the third gaol said, ”The last time I looked he was in the corner”.
The second game was against a new team to the tournament, RSC Cronenbourg from Germany. Southsea had no answer to their speed, strength and fire power, going down 8-4.
These results put Southsea in the play offs for 5th and 6th place against the 3rd team in the other pool.
The other pool was much more closely contested affair, with each team winning one game. Goal difference meant Southsea played Geieg (Spain), the hosts of last years tournament, and winners of the Peter Wimble trophy for the last two years. At he break Geieg were ahead 4-2. Southsea came out, all guns blazing and had 80% of the game. However, shots raining down on the Geieg goalkeeper were not converted into goals, with Geieg scoring 3 breakaway goals to win 7-4.
The final between Barcino(Spain) and Castiglione (Italy) was a fantastic game to watch with the lead changing hand through the game. Barcino moved into the lead 5-4 with 3 minutes to go, and held the ball for that entire period, with the Italians not touching the ball once during that time.
The hospitality and professionalism of the organising committee was second to none, and included a boat trip along the Zandam canal to an area of original buildings and windmills, and a fantastic last night of dinner and trophy presentation.
