HOCKEY:Ireland lost the first two games of their South African tour over the weekend, going down 4-0 to their hosts on Saturday before suffering a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands' under-21 side yesterday.
While Gene Muller insisted the "progress is encouraging" after the Dutch game, the defeats, and the team's continuing struggle to convert chances into goals, will have left the Irish coach under no illusion about how much improvement has to be made ahead of April's Olympic Qualifier.
South Africa, ranked two places above Ireland in 12th, were a goal up after six minutes but goalkeeper Mary Goode helped frustrate their attempts to extend the lead before half-time.
Jennifer Wilson, though, who once played her hockey in Ulster, made it 2-0 in the 41st minute.
Ireland rallied well, as Muller observed:
"We did so many things well, we had the same amount of corners and circle entries as South Africa but the play in both circles let us down," he said
But having lost Róisín Flinn, Shirley McCay and Emma Clarke to injury Ireland conceded twice more in the closing stages, the fourth in the final seconds.
Yesterday's was an improved performance against an under-21 side that would trouble most countries' senior teams, the Dutch going two up after 22 minutes. Claire Parkhill pulled a goal back from a short corner before half-time.
But four minutes from time the Netherlands sealed the win with their third goal.
Ireland play South Africa tomorrow in Cape Town before their second game against the Dutch in Stellenbosch on Wednesday.
The result of the weekend on the home front was produced by UCC, who beat the seemingly invincible and long-time Munster champions Cork Harlequins in the league with a Jean Long goal.
No one could quite recall when Harlequins last suffered a league defeat, the best estimate being seven years ago, but the result should help produce a more competitive contest for the title this year, with Church of Ireland and UCC both threatening Harlequins' dominance.
It's as you were in Leinster, the top four all winning on Saturday, defending champions Loreto indebted to Zara Delany, whose goal decided their game against Genesis.
Pembroke Wanderers stay top after beating Corinthians 3-1 with Railway Union, 2-0 winners over Old Alexandra, a point behind.
In yesterday's Jacqui Potter Cup there were hat-tricks for Hermes's Jenny Burke and Pembroke's Susan Ryan in a round that produced just one upset, Railway II's defeat of first division Genesis.
