It was always going to be a tough ask for Western Wildcats at the EHL in Barcelona, and so it proved to be. In Sunday`s ranking match the Scottish champions went down 5-1 to hosts Real Club de Polo.
There were five goals in the first half and Polo scored the majority. It started in three minutes with a penalty corner conversion by Marc Miralles, closely followed by an open play strike from Nicolas Alvarez. Guillermo Fortuna added a third in the second quarter, but then the Wildcats pulled one back with a penalty corner strike by Iain McFadden. But no comeback ensued as Alvarez made it 4-1 five minutes from half-time.
Wildcats played out a better second half with four penalty corner opportunities but Inaki Zaldua did add a fifth for Polo for a convincing score line.
However, former Great Britain and Scotland striker Alan Forsyth made his mark in Barcelona. On Saturday he notched a hat-trick in Old Georgian`s eleven goal thumping of Olten. Today he was on target twice in the English side`s 2-2 draw with Bloemendaal from Holland, and then sunk a shootout chance for a 3-1 win and a place in the semi-finals.
Domestically Edinburgh University shot into second spot in the men`s Premiership with a comfortable 6-0 win at St Andrews, they are now only two points behind leaders Watsonians.
Once again the main predator was Jamie Golden with a hat-trick while Sam Hunt, Drew Lobb and Keir Robb mopped up the other goals. Meanwhile St Andrews remain rooted at the foot of the table.
