Scotland Women have been relegated to EuroHockey Championships II after losing their final Pool C game, 1-0 to the Czech Republic on Saturday. Scotland had been given a lifeline after Ireland crashed 7-2 to Spain in the preceding game, with Scotland just needing to win to stay up, but an excellent performance by Barbora Cechakova, the Czech goalkeeper and Scotland’s failure to convert 12 penalty corners saw them join the Czech Republic in the second tier in 2019. Scotland had an early warning of the Czechs’  potential, Klara Hanzlova’s shot rebounding off the outside of the left post in the fourth minute, with former Surbiton goalkeeper, Amy Gibson also needing to make occasional saves. Scotland dominated possession, but a combination of the solid Czech defence and Cechakova’s heroics saw Scotland’s frustration increase. The breakthrough came a minute before half time, another Gibson save this time sending the ball to Teresa Mejzlikova, who unleashed a shot from just inside the edge of the circle and found the backboard to the delight of the lowest ranked team in the tournament. Mejzlikova sported a blue protective mask after breaking her nose earlier in the tournament but forgot about the pain and inconvenience whilst celebrating the goal. Scotland had had another warning a short time before the goal bound attack when Surbiton’s Robyn Collins lost possession in front of the Scottish goal but...

England Men were beaten 3-1 by the Netherlands in the second semi-final of the Rabo EuroHockey Championships in Amsterdam and will take on Germany for the bronze medals at 12.30 pm BST on Sunday. Germany drew 2-2 with Belgium in the first semi-final, but lost out in the shootout 2-0. The Netherlands will be aiming to avenge their pool defeat, Belgium having won 5-0. Against the Netherlands, England began well and took the game to the hosts, Surbiton’s David Goodfield attacking both in the right corner of the 23 and just missing out on getting a final touch in the circle. Ollie Willars forced a save from the top of the circle in the seventh minute and five minutes later, David Condon forced a superb save from Dutch goalkeeper, Pirmin Blaak who moved to his left to deflect the ball away from goal. England goalkeeper, George Pinner had to kick the ball to safety towards the end of the first quarter. The Netherlands, who rotated their goalkeepers by quarter, Sam van der Ven taking over in goal for the second and fourth quarters, took the game by the scruff of the neck midway through the second quarter with two quick goals. First, Surbiton’s Brendan Creed misjudged a pass which was intercepted and resulted in a Dutch breakaway attack culminating in the Dutch forcing their first penalty corner of the...