HOCKEY: Gilmour misses chances

Scotland 0 France 1

WITH ENGLAND resting after their useful 5-0 victory against the Irish on Thursday, British interest in the Women's European Nations Cup here yesterday centred on Scotland's game against France in which a win, after their deserved opening draw with Russia, should have kept them on course for a semi-final place.

It was not to be. Their hopes were shattered by a sixth-minute goal from Angelique Martin in a game in which many of their senior players under- performed, and the coach, Mike Gilbert, described his team's showing as "below par".

After Martin's goal, which caught their defence unprepared, Scotland created a string of chances but did not really test the French goalkeeper. Scotland's Sue Gilmour, in front of her home supporters - she plays for the Rot Weiss Koln club - twice put the ball over the crossbar when well placed, and she also failed to convert a rebound following up a Val Thompson drive at a last-minute penalty corner.

Germany advanced towards the semi-finals with a 4-1 win against the Ukraine, with Britta Becker scoring a hat-trick from penalty strokes.

n Great Britain have appointed David Whittle as manager of the men's Olympic team for Sydney, with his Havant colleague Chris Pickett assigned to the women, where he will team up again with the coach, Jon Royce.