Grove's miserable indoor run ends in relegation

HOCKEY: Grove were relegated from the European Indoor Club Championships in Ukraine after losing 3-1 to the Lithuanian outfit Gintra Strekte Uni in their final match.

Certainly Audrey Sime's squad was bedeviled by call-offs, but the Taysiders failed to win a game, and more concerning they only found the net six times in five games. Grove finished bottom of their pool after a 11-1 whipping at the hands of German side Der Club an der Alster. The only crumb of comfort here came with a penalty corner strike by Louise Carroll in the closing minutes.

The drop was almost a formality when Grove lost 3-0 to Ritm Grodno (Belarus) in the opening match of the relegation pool, but the Dundonians fate was finally sealed against the Lithuanians, the Taysiders only consolation coming from Lynsey Glass with 11 seconds left.

Elsewhere, CALA Edinburgh's interest in the Arthur McKay Scottish Cup collapsed when they went down 10-2 at home to champions Glynhill Kelburne. In a one-sided contest Mark Ralph notched up five goals from set pieces.

CALA's women also failed to perform in the Subway national league and went down 3-1 to Giffnock.

In the other first division clash Milne Craig Western thumped Porcelanosa Kelburne 5-1.

Edinburgh University beat Watsonians 4-1 in the lower pool of Division One. Dundee Wanderers beat Stepps 3-1 while Aberdeen Asset Management had a 2-1 home victory over WebEnergy Hillhead.