Rovers bow out of EHL

Three Rock Rovers’ European dream came to an end as they fell to a 2-1 defeat to KHC Leuven in a cagey, nervy performance in Hamburg this afternoon.

For three quarters of the game, Rovers looked a fragile outfit, giving up possession too softly to a high-pressing Belgian outfit.

The fourth, however, was a stirring performance and almost ended with a late equaliser as Gavin Bourke’s sliding effort looked destined for the backboard before Manu Leroy got down to block. Just 48 seconds were on the clock and it would have left the near certainty of extra-time.

It was not to be, though, and Rovers were left to rue not getting up and running sooner.
In saying that, Mitch Darling nearly put the Dubliners in front inside 40 seconds of push-back, Leroy batting away his deflection from Ali Haughton’s long crash ball.

The speed and nous of Pau Quemada – as it had in the group stages in Lille – was causing Rovers all manner of problems, forcing Rovers to defend very deep.

Andy McConnell needed to get a stick in to deny Renaud Pangrazio getting a shot away while Jean Collin, unmarked in the circle, drew Charlie Henderson into the first of a series of saves on the day.

Despite the pressure, Rovers had a second clear-cut chance as Lucas Piccioli ghosted in around the back line but no final presence came to finish.

And Leuven closed out the quarter with the best chance to date when Peter McConnell’s suicide ball left Rovers with two defenders to three attackers. Quemada lifted over Henderson but Neil Lyons got back clear the danger.

Indeed, Rovers would be happy to reach the small break without settling though things were only marginally better in the second quarter as a high error-rate was still in evidence.

Chances were scarcer, though, with just Fabrice Bourdeaud’hui testing Henderson.

Bothwell spent two minutes in the bin for a bad tackle on Quemada before returning only to take one full on the knee within seconds of coming back on – making a near instant return to the sideline.

Turloch O’Siochain brought in Gavin Bourke at centre-midfield for the second half with Andy McConnell moving to right midfield and Ali Haughton into the backline in place of Garry Ringwood as part of a tactical reshuffle to gain more midfield stability.

After 18 seconds it produced the bonus of a green card for Bourdeaud’hui but the negative a few minutes later when Peter McConnell was mugged on the endline, precipitating a corner.

Quemada nailed it for 1-0 and as the stadium announcer called out his name he was almost awarded a second. He dinked the ball past Henderson and a sliding Sebastien Commeyne got a touch before a scrambling Peter McConnell cleared. Umpire Grochal gave a goal but on a television appeal it was chalked off, the ball not making it within 30 centimetres of the line.

Two further corners went a begging for Leuven before Rovers got their first in the 46th minute, Lucas Piccioli’s diving touch not heavy enough to redirect goalwards. Darling had a speedy snap-shot saved, too, as Three Rock belatedly found a bit of mojo.

Indeed, their opening salvo in the fourth quarter was their most fluid move, Mick Maguire shaking off his early malaise to be a driving force.

His run led to a corner and was instrumental in the yellow carding of Hugues de Cooman. Once again, though, Rovers were authors of their own downfall as Bothwell’s clearance went straight to Bourdeaud’hui and he smashed in an aerial for 2-0.
Peter Blakeney pulled one back inside a minute from Maguire’s bash and a third Rovers corner came within a couple of minutes to give real hope of a tie.

As the game stretched out, Leuven also spurned two corner chances while Bothwell covered well behind Henderson after another ball broke past the goalkeeper.

Three Rock, with Andy McConnell flying down the right wing, were producing their best hockey now, perhaps free from inhibition, and almost had their leveller when McConnell burst in from the right. The ball squirmed into Bourke’s path but his solid contact was blocked away and dreams of extra-time remained just that.

Leuven go on to play Reading in Monday's quarter-final. The English side feature recent Irish call-up Chris Cargo who impressed in the recent interprovincial series for Ulster. Meanwhile, Geoff Conn did his chances of being awarded a high profile match on the finals weekend as he produced a top umpiring performance in the Amsterdam game with Waterloo Ducks.

* Pictures courtesy of Frank Uijlenbroek, more will follow on Monday. For John and Emer Keogh's pictures from Hamburg, click here