Teenager Jacob Tweedie was the toast of his Grange team-mates after netting on his debut in the EuroHockey League, the Continent’s leading club tournament.
The 17-year-old was one of four teenagers in the Scottish champion’s squad which lost 4-1 to an impressive SV Arminen combine in Barcelona.
And coach David Knipe must lift his squad to face Dutch cracks HC Orange-Root in their second match in the first round in Spain on Saturday. They won the EuroHockey League as Oranje-Zwart in 2015.
On Friday, the Austrian side led 4-0 until Tweedie struck after 40 minutes and Martin Shepherdson, one of Grange’s officials with the squad, admitted that the players did not produce the form they are capable of against the much-decorated European side who have won their national title more times than any other side.
He added: “We’re disappointed as we played well in our warm-up game on Thursday.
“Obviously, playing in this tournament is a real step-up for our guys and Arminen are a useful side.
“However, they scored early and we did not get back into the game as we should have done.”
Grange did not have luck on their side and they hit a post and another effort went inches wide. SV Arminen, however, saw a penalty stroke attempt hit the upright late-on.
Looking at Saturday’s clash with the former EuroHockey champions, Shepherdson said: “It will be a really tough game as they are a really top side.
“The boys will prepare as we do for a normal game and everybody is OK to play.
“We will do the best that we can and being here is a great experience for the boys.
“We’re also taking a long-term view in developing this side and playing leading sides is part of that learning experience.”
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