Bowdon rules the roost for Leicester bold on two col

There were exciting 4-0 victories for Reading and Fyffes Leicester Ladies in their opening games in the European Cup-Winners' Cup competitions here yesterday.

Leicester, with Helen Richardson and Kirsty Bowdon dominating the midfield, never looked back after Justine Williams had given them the lead in the 23rd minute against Club Campo from Madrid.

Reading, in their encounter against Racing Club of France, survived some sloppy defending in the opening exchanges and were themselves guilty of numerous simple misses before Ben Barnes gave them the lead in the 30th minute when he took advantage of a broken- down penalty corner by the French to establish a 1-0 lead at the interval.

Earlier, a couple of useful saves from Simon Mason and a majestic display at the back from Rob Todd had kept Reading in the game. Goals from Scott Ashdown and Ken Robinson within 10 minutes of the restart put the English club in control.

Some desperate defending was also necessary as the French won five penalty corners in quick succession midway through the second half before a 62nd-minute goal from Mark Pearn cemented thevictory.

Reading's opponents today, Rotweiss Wettingen, surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 4-4 with the Dutch side, Oranjezwart. Earlier in the day, in the second Pool, the German favourites Harvestehuder, with Russell Garcia in their mid field, were beaten 3-2 by the host club, Atletic Terrassa, in another thrilling contest.

Leicester will have formidable opponents this afternoon when they play Amsterdam, who yesterday beat the Belgian side, Uccle, 8-0.