Reading take silver: Hockey
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Ipswich and Reading took the silver medals in the European Cup-Winners' Cup competitions yesterday as Ipswich lost 4-1 to Kampong in Utrecht and Reading fell 7-2 to the Germans Gladbacher from Munich. However the England's Under 18s took the gold medal in a Six Nations' Tournament in Cologne following their 3-2 win over Germany.
Before a large crowd at Reading in the Prudential European Cup-Winners Cup final the host team were eventually beaten by a German machine in which Christoph Bechmann, subsequently named player of the final, was the destroyer. Reading, having survived early pressure, not helped by the temporary suspension of Mark Hoskin, opened the scoring in the 19th minute, when their captain, Jon Wyatt, named man of the tournament, burst through the massed German ranks to score a glorious individual goal.
The German response was quick and lethal - three goals in an eight-minute spell before the interval, two from Florian Kunz and the third from Arndt Kueskes. As Reading tried to get back into the game after the interval gaps opened in their defence which the Germans punished with some delightful attacking hockey. Bechmann got their fourth before Michael Hilgers cashed in with a couple and Ulrich Klaus completed the scoring for an outstanding victory - the third successive year a German team has lifted the cup.
The bronze medal was won by Grunwald, from Poland, when they beat Polo Barcelona 4-1 in a game which included 10 suspensions, including a permanent one from each side.
Following defeats of their sides in the morning Ireland and France have been relegated to next year's B Division.
In Utrecht, Kampong took an early lead through Ellen Kuipers and although Tracey Fry equalised six minutes later the home team took over with further goals from Marlies Vossen, Jeanette Lewin and Anouk Verhaegh which ensured the Dutch took the gold.
PRUDENTIAL EUROPEAN CUP-WINNER'S CUP A Division Final: Gladbacher (Ger) 7 Reading 2. 3/4th: Grunwald (Pol) 4 Polo Barcelona (Spn) 1. 5/8th: Amsterdam 4 Avoca (Irl) 3; Ekaterinburg (Rus) 3 Stade Francais (Fr) 3,Ekaterinburg won 5- 4 aps. Ireland and France are relegated to the B Division.
Women's A Division (Utrecht) Final: Ipswich 1 Kampong (Ned) 4; 3/4th: Pegasus (Irl) 1 Russelsheimer (Ger) 5. 5/8th Tekstilschik (Rus) 3 CD Terrassa (Sp) 1. Amiens (Fr) 0 Edinburgh 1(aet). France and Spain are relegated to the B Division.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments