HOCKEY/European Cup Winners' Cup: Cork Harlequins lost out on a shoot-out after rising to the challenge of Royal Dragons of Antwerp in their play-off for joint top place in their European Cup Winners Cup pool in Vienna yesterday. They more than deserved their 2-2 draw - indeed they had a goal by Richie Gash disallowed on the final hooter - before losing the shoot-out 4-2.
Pegasus also raised their game admirably in their play-off match in the women's competition, yet they too lost out on strokes, 4-1, to Real Polo of Barcelona, after holding the Spaniards scoreless.
So both of Ireland's representatives next year (Lisnagarvey or Instonians and Hermes or Ballymoney) will remain in the B division after noble bids for promotion failed by the narrowest of margins.
With Jason Black and John Hobbs showing the way, Harlequins played with the utmost concentration in the opening half, conceding only a goal to the Dragons captain, Thierry Stumpe, in the 14th minute.
After the interval, the Cork side launched a full offensive in which Paul Lombard set up David Eakins to lash home an equaliser. Then, an inspired Eakins broke clear on the right to deliver a cross for David Egner to make it 2-1.
After Eakins had blazed a shot inches wide which probably would have sealed the issue, the Dragons rallied. Despite several top-class saves by Wesley Bateman (voted goalkeeper of the tournament), they drew level with three minutes to spare through Christophe Yekeler following a short corner.
Ironically in the shoot-out, Irish internationals Stephen Butler and Justin Sherriff were both on the target among the Dragons four successful flicks while two of Harlequins' strokes went wide.
There was some consolation for Eakins in finishing as joint top scorer (7) with Mark Ralph of Kelburne, who gained promotion for Scotland with a 1-0 defeat of the hosts, Akademischer.
Pegasus, though capable of being the second best team in the women's tournament, had to be satisfied with joint third place. Sharing the top honours with Real Polo were the delightful surprise packets, Smolevechi of Belarus, who beat Meteor of the Czech Republic 3-1 in the other major play-off.
Polo were slicker and quicker than Pegasus but the Ulster side played with much resolve and composure. Fiona Ferguson was outstanding at the back while, among several valuable saves, Lisa Blake kept out a penalty stroke from the livewire Polo captain, Luci Lopez.
Claire McMahon's tearaway thrusts once more proved a constant threat as she earned the player of the tournament award. In a flurry of five short corners in the first half she barely failed to snatch a lead which, no doubt, would have flustered the Spaniards.
Three of the Polo players were sinbinned during a second half in which they, admittedly, ought to have scored.
European Cup Winners' Cup
(B division, Vienna)
Play-offs:
Men - for joint first place (and promotion) - Royal Antwerp Belgium 2 Cork Harlequins 2 (Dragons won 4-2 on strokes); Kelburne (Scotland) 1 Akademischer (Austria) 0; for joint fifth place (and avoid relegation) - Olten (Switzerland) 2 Mladost (Croatia) 2 (Olton won 4-3 on strokes); Collegians (Gibraltar) 2 Bohemians (Czech Republic) 1.
Women - for joint first place (and promotion) - Real Polo (Spain) 0 Pegasus 0 (Polo won 4-1 on strokes); Smolevichi (Belarus) 3 Meteor (Czech Republic) 1; for joint 5th place (and avoid relegation) - Olten (Switzerland) 3 Akademischer (Austria) 0; Penarth (Wales) 1 Lorenzoni (Italy) 0.
