Holland Ladies have established themselves as key challengers for the Ladies European Championship crown, but were fiercely unlucky to walk away from the recent Copenhagen tournament with a second place finish.
The ladies were the team to beat all day with the familiar strike force of Dani McCallion and Maria Murtagh providing the firepower up front.
Whilst Margaux Mansanarez and debutant Claire Kavanagh were dominant in defence and ensured Holland picked up big victories against reigning champions Belgium, and then Scandinavian teams, Copenhagen, and Gothenburg.
However, the ladies suffered from a small panel of players on the day with a number of regulars missing and injured. Heading into the final on the back of 4 straight victories, including a semi final victory over Paris, the team only had the bare 7 starters, with no options of subs. The ladies faced off against familiar foes Belgium, who had a full team and four subs to use throughout the match.
Holland led at half time with some great scores from Rose, Dani, and Maria.
However Belgium began to use their subs at lightning intervals and they began to get a grip on the match. In the dying minutes Belgium drew level and with one of the last kicks of the game, they took the lead, and held on for a one point victory.
It was a tough end for Holland, who had been the dominant team in the Championship throughout the day, but the girls showed great class by congratulating Belgium after the match.
Round 1 goes to them, but Holland have shown their title credentials and only trailing Belgium by 5 points in the overall standings, it's all to play for in Vienna and Maastricht.
Congrats to all, and especially well done to Claire Kavanagh who picked up Ladies Player of the Tournament award in her debut tournament.
Roll on Vienna!
The ladies were the team to beat all day with the familiar strike force of Dani McCallion and Maria Murtagh providing the firepower up front.
Whilst Margaux Mansanarez and debutant Claire Kavanagh were dominant in defence and ensured Holland picked up big victories against reigning champions Belgium, and then Scandinavian teams, Copenhagen, and Gothenburg.
However, the ladies suffered from a small panel of players on the day with a number of regulars missing and injured. Heading into the final on the back of 4 straight victories, including a semi final victory over Paris, the team only had the bare 7 starters, with no options of subs. The ladies faced off against familiar foes Belgium, who had a full team and four subs to use throughout the match.
Holland led at half time with some great scores from Rose, Dani, and Maria.
However Belgium began to use their subs at lightning intervals and they began to get a grip on the match. In the dying minutes Belgium drew level and with one of the last kicks of the game, they took the lead, and held on for a one point victory.
It was a tough end for Holland, who had been the dominant team in the Championship throughout the day, but the girls showed great class by congratulating Belgium after the match.
Round 1 goes to them, but Holland have shown their title credentials and only trailing Belgium by 5 points in the overall standings, it's all to play for in Vienna and Maastricht.
Congrats to all, and especially well done to Claire Kavanagh who picked up Ladies Player of the Tournament award in her debut tournament.
Roll on Vienna!