Teddington pass test

Teddington showed tremendous application and great courage in overcoming the skilful, physical host club, Amsicora, 1-0 in their opening game in the European Cup-Winners' Cup here last night.

Teddington weathered a storming opening period when the Italians, driven on by their vociferous local Sardinian support, were denied the lead by two timely interceptions from goalkeeper Garry Meredith, and took the lead in the 20th minute.

Jason Laslett, their outstanding player, drove through the middle and was bundled down to win a penalty corner that Phil McGuire converted with a blistering shot.

The Italians fought back and only splendid defensive play by Tony Colclough and McGuire held them at bay, but the Middlesex side should go into today's game against Poland's MZKS with confidence. Teddington's major obstacle to Monday's final, HDM from the Hague, were coasting 2-0 up against MZKS from Poznan, were shocked by the Poles' fighting recovery and had to settle for the draw.

In the other pool, Polo Barcelona's two English players, Rowan Davis and Russell Garcia, were prominent in their 3-1 win against Scotland's Grange, with Davis scoring a spectacular opening goal after 38 minutes. He deftly scooped the ball in after drawing the goalkeeper, then Garcia scored from a penalty corner. The Spanish side were shaken out of their stride when Donald McFarlane gave the Scots an early lead with a well- taken penalty stroke after six minutes.

In a bruising contest in which four Harvestehuder players received temporary suspensions, the Russians of Ekaterinburg opened the scoring just before the interval with the German equaliser not coming until the 53rd minute.

n In the women's A Division in the Netherlands, Slough were held to a 1-1 draw by the host club, Groningen. After an early goal at their first penalty corner from Sally Eyre they lost their way, allowing the Dutch to equalise through Angela Dejong in the 46th minute. Ian Jennings, Slough's coach, said: "We did not play well and in the end I was relieved to share the points."

EUROPEAN CUP-WINNERS' CUP: Men's A Division (Cagliari, It) Pool A: Polo Barcelona 3 Grange (Sco) 1; Harvestehuder (Ger) 1 Ekaterinburg (Rus) 1. Pool B: HDM (Neth) 2 MZKS (Pol) 2; Teddington 1 Amsicora (It) 0. Women's A Division (Groningen, Neth): Pool A: Russelsheimer (Ger) 3 Lorenzoni (It) 0 Amiens (Fr) 1 Muckross (Irl) 3. Pool B: Tekstilshik (Rus) 5 Herriot Watt University (Sco) 0; Slough 1 Groningen 1.