Scots women made to pay for profligacy by Welsh

WHEN a hockey team achieves 80 per cent possession and wins nine penalty corners during the 70 minutes of action, it might be thought that victory would be theirs. But not in Scotland's case yesterday in the opening match of the women's Celtic Cup tournament at Peffermill in Edinburgh.

Somehow, despite creating all the pressure, the Scots lost 2-1 to Wales, and their chances of finishing with a hat-trick of Celtic Cup titles nosedived with the result.

The game was heading for a goalless first half when, completely against the run of play, a long ball found Welsh forward Abi Welsford unmarked in the Scottish circle, and she deftly lobbed keeper Carmin Dow to put Wales ahead at the interval – Dow having not touched the ball at all in the first 35 minutes.

Scottish pressure continued into the second half and, at the seventh Scottish penalty corner, Emily Maguire's initial shot rebounded to Bunce, who needed two attempts to slot it home.

Clark had another opportunity to score, but the ball hit the bar and Wales stole the game ten minutes from time, the shot by Leah Wilkinson being deflected home by Munn's Scottish stick.

In the other women's game, Ireland defeated France 2-1, and, in the first men's game, the Irish were also winners against the French, this time by 3-1.