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Real Harlequins have it in them to go all the way

MENS HOCKEY/European Cup Winners' Cup: Four years ago in Vienna, Cork Harlequins women's team achieved success at European level…

Dermot Ashmore
Fri Mar 25 2005 - 00:00

MENS HOCKEY/European Cup Winners' Cup: Four years ago in Vienna, Cork Harlequins women's team achieved success at European level and this weekend in the Austrian capital the Munster club's men's side - stoutly supported - are aiming to emulate that performance in the B division of the European Cup Winners Cup.

Harlequins can top the table in their pool if they play to their real potential (rather than their uninspired efforts against Instonians in last year's Irish Senior Cup final and in their elimination by Glenanne this season).

They will need to start confidently today against Swiss side Olten and although full points should be taken comfortably tomorrow against Collegians of Gibraltar, tough opposition can be expected from Scottish rivals Kelbourne on Sunday.

Fielding five members of the national squad - Wesley Bateman (if with an injured thumb), Seán Nicholson, Jason Black, Mark Black and David Eakins - and with Ireland coach David Passmore lending technical guidance, it will be disappointing if Harlequins fail to deliver the goods.

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Ultimately the Cork side may well dispute the honours with two of their fellow countrymen, Stephen Butler and Justin Sherriff, kingpins of Antwerp's Royal Dragons, who should dominate the other pool.

The Ulster women's champions elect, Pegasus, face less demanding opposition in their competition, which remarkably, in this day and age, is being staged on a grit pitch. If sobered by being knocked out by Railway Union on the home front this season, Pegasus are thoroughly capable to coping in Vienna with the home side, Akademischer, as well as Viktoria Smolvichi (Belarus) and Lorenzoni (Italy).

With players of the calibre of Arlene Boyles, Katharine Maybin, Karen Humphreys and Claire McMahon, Pegasus will rank second only to Real Club de polo of Spain.

EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS CUP (Vienna) - Men: Pool A - Akademischer (Austria), Antwerp Royal Dragons, Bohemians Prague, Mladost (Croatia); Pool B - Cork Harlequins, Collegians (Gibraltar), Kelbourne (Scotland), Olten (Switzerland). Women: Pool A - Real Club de Polo (Spain), Budejovice (Croatia), Penrith (England) Olten (Switzerland); Pool B - Pegasus, Academischer (Austria), Smolvichi (Belarus), Lorenzoni (Italy).

Programme (Irish times): Today: Harlequins v Olton, 12.0; Pegasus v Akademischer, 2.0; Tomorrow: Harlequins v Collegians, 10.0; Pegasus v Smolvichi, 4.0. Sunday: Harlequins v Kelbourne, 10.0; Pegasus v Lorenzoni, 4.0; Monday: play-offs.