Euro Hockey League Round 1 – being played in Lille, Northern France – drew to an exciting close on Sunday with four terrific matches including one of the biggest shocks in the short history of the Euro Hockey League. Wins for East Grinstead (ENG), HC Rotterdam (NED) and reigning champions Uhlenhorster (GER) may have been expected by many, but no-one could possibly have predicted Belgium’s KHC Leuven defeating the mighty Atletic Terrassa of Spain. The resulted eliminated the European giants from the competition, putting Leuven and Ireland’s Three Rock Rovers into the second round.  

East Grinstead took all five points by defeating Kelburne  by three goals to nil, with Martin Haner, Dom Male and former Great Britain international Danny Hall all getting on the score-sheet. The result sees Grinstead top Pool F, ensuring that they will avoid a pool winner in Round 2. Kelburne`s defeat meant that they were eliminated from the competition, despite a valiant effort from the Scottish champions.

One of the biggest shocks in the short history of the Euro Hockey League was achieved in Pool H by Belgium`s KHC Leuven, who eliminated Atletic Terrassa from the competition with a 3-1 victory. Leuven goalkeeper Manu Leroy was unquestionably the man of the match, but it was goals from Hugues de Cooman, Pau Quemada and a last minute effort from Renaud Pagrazio that sealed a famous win.

H.C. Rotterdam defeated England`s Reading HC in a closely contested match  to confirm themselves as winner of Pool E, with New Zealanders Simon Child and Phillip Burrows the scorers. Reading have also qualified for Round 2, finishing in the pool phase in second place.

In the final match of the day, reigning Euro Hockey League champions UHC Hamburg achieved a 4-2 victory over Lille MHC  to deny the host club a place in the second round. The match was  hugely entertaining and watch by a large crowd who had turned out in the hope of seeing an upset, but the German side proved to be too good in the end. Goals from Patrick Breitenstein (2) and Philip Sunkel ended the chances of a club that offered a warm welcome to the teams and supporters who were present for Round 1b.

Round 1a took place at Amsterdam H&BC in The Netherlands last weekend. For extended match reports, match videos and tournament information please visit the Euro Hockey League website: www.ehlhockey.tv.

 
Schedule & Results – EHL Round 1b – Lille MHC, France
Friday 31 October 2008
Pool F – Waterloo Ducks HC v Kelburne HC: 4-1 (0-1)
Pool H – Atletic Terrassa HC v Three Rock Rovers:  0-0 (0-0)
Pool E – Western Wildcats HC v Reading HC: 0-2 (0-2)
Pool G – RC Polo de Barcelona v Lille MHC 4-1 (1-1)

Saturday 1 November 2008
Pool F – East Grinstead HC v Waterloo Ducks HC 3-2 (1-1)
Pool H – Three Rock Rovers HC v KHC Leuven: 1-1 (0-0)
Pool E – H.C. Rotterdam v Western Wildcats HC: 5-0 (4-0)
Pool G – UHC Hamburg v RC Polo de Barcelona: 1-4 (0-1)

Sunday 2 November 2008
Pool F – Kelburne HC v East Grinstead HC: 0-3 (0-1)
Pool H – KHC Leuven v Atletic Terrassa HC: 3-1 (2-1)
Pool E – Reading HC v H.C. Rotterdam: 1-2 (0-1)
Pool G – Lille MHC v UHC Hamburg: 2-4 (0-2)

Classification
Pool E
1st:  H.C. Rotterdam - Qualified for Round 2
2nd:  Reading HC - Qualified for Round 2
3rd: Western Wildcats

Pool F
1st: East Grinstead - Qualified for Round 2
2nd: Waterloo Ducks - Qualified for Round 2
3rd: Kelburne HC

Pool G
1st: RC de Polo de Barcelona - Qualified for Round 2
2nd: UHC Hamburg - Qualified for Round 2
3rd: Lille MHC

Pool H
1st: KHC Leuven - Qualified for Round 2
2nd: Three Rock Rovers - Qualified for Round 2
3rd: Atletic Terrassa