Three Rock avoid indoor relegation

Three Rock Rovers produced a stirring 8-1 win over Swansea Bay this morning at EuroHockey Indoor Club Champions Challenge in Cambrai to avoid relegation without having to rely on a further result going their way.

Like Railway two years ago and Pembroke in 2008, victory was imperative in their final game and they got off to a decent start as Neil Lyons opened the scoring early on. Liam Canning added a stroke in the 12th minute before Lucas Piccioli netted the third from a switch left.

Indeed, Piccioli was in top form, described by the French commentator in parts as "le technicien exceptionnel" and "magnifique" at various points in the commentary. His second, and Rovers fourth, before half-time was top drawer, beating two men, exchanging a one-two with Andy McConnell and flicking in.

Neil Lyons neat exchange with Garry Ringwood produced a fifth before Canning's corner in the 26th minute put Rovers within a goal of safety against a hapless Swans, already relegated to the fourth level of European indoor hockey.

However, Rovers found scoring the crucial seventh much tougher with numerous chances going abegging and the control previously exhibited lost its form. Piccioli, though, ket his calm to assist Mitch Darling 175 seconds from the end to make it 7-0. With the pressure off, Andy McConnell netted 20 seconds later before Canning's slip allowed Swansea back in for a consolation goal in the final minute.

It meant Rosco Budapest's result SK Senkvice was immaterial to the Dublin side, as goal difference would fall in Rovers' favour, guaranteeing they would be in the top two of the relegation pool. As it happened, goal difference would not have mattered as Rosco overcame a 2-0 deficit to win 6-4.

Results:

Three Rock Rovers 8 (Neil Lyons 2, Liam Canning 2, Lucas Piccioli 2, Mitch Darling, Andy McConnell) Swansea Bay 1; Rosco Budapest 6 SK Senkvice 4

Group D standings (points/goal diff): 1. Rosco Budapest 9pts (+9) 2. TRR 6pts (+7) 3. SK Senkvice 3pts (+6) 4. Swansea Bay 0pts (-22)

Three Rock Rovers - SK Senkvice Indoor 14.2.2008 from Backcast Live on Vimeo.