Hockey: Brown the source as Slough stop Spaniards: British men's and women's teams experience mixed fortunes in the European Club Championship

GOOD wins for Slough and Glasgow Western as the A Division of the women's European Club Championship began in Brussels yesterday were balanced by defeats for the women of Cardiff Athletic, and Scotland's Kelburne in the men's event.

Slough owed much to their captain, Karen Brown, in their 1-0 win against the Spanish champions, Campo Madrid. Playing in midfield, Brown was always involved and it was a precision aerial ball from the captain which sent Mandy Pottow away on the right wing to create the opening for the only goal. Pottow's cross was touched home by Jane Parkinson.

Earlier Slough had wasted two golden chances to take the lead. Leslie Hobley created an easy opportunity but Sam Wright shot weakly and then Wright returned the compliment for Hobley to miss. Slough also squandered seven penalty-corner attempts.

Sue McDonald, with an opening goal from Glasgow Western's first penalty corner, a goal from play and a third from a penalty stroke, ensured that the Scottish champions were off to a good start against a very defensive host side, Royal Leopold. With Britain's Olympic bronze medallists Wendy Fraser, Alison Ramsay and Sue Fraser dominating the midfield, Western were always in control.

Cardiff Athletic put up stubborn resistance against the defending champions, Amsterdam, until caught out by a long ball to Elsemiek Bekkers in the 23rd minute. Two second-half goals from Mieketien Wouters gave the Dutch a comfortable 3-0 win.

In a bruising match in which three Spaniards were given temporary suspensions and Kelburne's Stuart McAlpine was sent off, Egara, with a 45th minute penalty corner goal from Juan Dinares, claimed a narrow 1-0 win.