HOCKEY/European Championships/Netherlands 6 Ireland 0:Ireland felt the full, awesome might of the world's best women's hockey team as they were hit for six by a rampant Netherlands at the European Championships in Manchester yesterday.
The reigning champions went into the game at Bellevue Stadium fresh from their 9-1 roasting of the Italians and they resumed in similar scorching manner, with four goals from Kim Lammers the highlight of their demolition job against Europe's fifth-rated nation.
Lammers - no relation of Dutch coach Marc Lammers - warmed up by collecting her first score on 10 minutes at a well-worked penalty corner, her side's fourth of a day that yielded eight set-pieces. Four minutes later she made space for herself to slam the ball into a goal unguarded as goalkeeper Louisa Healy lay sprawled to one side after dealing with an earlier alarm.
The final leg of the hat-trick from the tall left winger was the product of self-assurance on the ball, as she swivelled and finished with a controlled reverse stick shot on 27 minutes.
Still Lammers' hunger was unsated and she popped up three minutes later on Healy's toes to put the scoring touch on a cross from Eefke Mulder.
By way of variation, Naomi van As was the predator in the circle a few seconds later, earning a huge round of applause for her spectacular drive to the Irish net.
Five-nil down at the break, Ireland coach Gene Muller gave Healy a rest and sent on the more experienced Mary Goode. The Pembroke Wanderers net minder responded with a series of excellent interceptions, the best a full aerial dive to keep Ellen Hoog at bay. Goode was beaten once, when van As once more showed sweet timing with a blazing drive to the net.
Afterwards, coach Lammers suggested his team had eased off after the break, with today's top of Pool A game with England in mind.
However, it is just as plausible to suggest his scintillating side ran into a goalkeeper in form, behind a side that did not summon up a shot, let alone one on target, all match so complete was the difference in class.
The battle to retain Division One status begins for the Irish today with a match against Italy, who bring nothing remotely like the firepower of yesterday's opposition to the Bellevue party, having lost 4-0 to England yesterday.
Muller insisted after the Dutch drubbing that morale was unbruised for today's scrap between the two pointless teams in the pool.
Outfield for Ireland, Jill Orbinson picked off her share of the tackles while teenage midfielder Shirley McCay appeared unawed by the opposition.
IRELAND: L Healy; E Harte, L Caulfield, E Cregan, E Clarke, B McKeever, S McCay, J McDonagh, C O'Brien, J Orbinson, N Symmons. Subs: E Stewart, C McKean, A Speers, J O'Halloran, M Goode.
NETHERLANDS: L de Roever; E Mulder, F Moreira de Melo, M van Geenhuiizen, M Smabers, M Booij, J Schopman, M Paumen, N van As, S Polkamp, M Agliotti. Subs: J Snoeks, N Kremers, W Dijkstra, E Hoog, K Lammers.
Umpires: M Rivera (Spain); A McRae (Scotland).
DAY TWO: Pool B: Spain 2, Azerbaijan 2; Germany 7, Ukraine 0; Standings: 1, Germany 6 pts; 2, Spain 4 pts; 3, Azerbaijan 1 pt; 4, Ukraine 0 pts.
Pool A England 4, Italy 0; Ireland 0, Netherlands 6 (K Lammers 4, N van As); Standings: 1, Netherlands 6 pts; 2, England 6 pts; 3, Ireland 0 pts; 4, Italy 0 pts.
Today's fixtures: Pool A, Ireland v Italy; England v Netherlands; Pool B, Ukraine v Azerbaijan; Germany v Spain.
