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Hockey: Teddington's stiff defence halts hosts: Coach's tactical switch puts English cup winners in line for bronze

Bill Colwill,Spain
Sunday 03 April 1994 23:02 BST
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TEDDINGTON reserved their best performance in the European Cup Winners' Cup competition here in the 0-0 draw against Atletic Terrassa before a large crowd and live television. Today they play the Germans, Harvestehouder, for the bronze medal with the host club contesting the final against the holders, HGC from the Hague.

In a disciplined, defensive performance Teddington owed much to their goalkeeper Garry Meredith for a series of brave saves as the Spanish piled on the pressure in the second half.

The excellent result owed much to the tactical thinking of coach Jon Royce, who elected to play Jason Laslett at centre-forward, the veteran Clive Camburn in centre midfield and Stuart Blan in a roving defensive position to disrupt the speedy, quick-passing Spanish midfield.

Laslett's presence up front created a number of problems for the Atletic defence and his quick thinking created a number of chances. Russell Benzies brought a good save from Spanish goalkeeper Santi Grau on the edge of his circle 20 minutes into the second half.

Teddington's best chance of the game came after desperate defending just five minutes from time when Gibbins, latching on to a pass from Laslett, forced Teddington's only penalty corner of the game. Phil McGuire's strike was easily cleared by Grau.

Teddington: G Meredith; P McGuire, J Wallis, S Nicklin, T Moore, A Colclough, J Hauck, C Camburn, S Blan, J Laslett (capt), P Gibbins. Substitutes used: A Billson, R Benzies.

Atletic Terrassa: S Grau; I Escude, X Guerrero, J Malgosa (capt), J Arnau, X Escude, M Bosch, X Arnau, O Cabre-Verdiel, D Freixa, A Bou. Substitutes used: M Ycart, S Centelles.

Umpires: B Disy (Bel) and J Rommel (Ger).

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