Hockey – Grange face tough draw in EuroHockey KO16

Grange face Irish cracks Three Rock Rovers from Dublin in the EuroHockey League Knockout 16 (KO16) in Barcelona on October 4 and 5.

The match is in the bottom quarter of the draw and the winners will then square-up to either 2017 EuroHockey winners Rot-Weiss Koln or Belgian newcomers Beerschot.

Surbiton from England, who have several Scots in their line-up including Alan Forsyth, ex-Kelburne, and Chris Grassick, a former Inverleith player, face Spanish kingpins Real Club de Polo who are looking to build on their FINAL4 appearance last season.

Whoever advances from that tie will face either Russian side Dinamo Kazan, who are contesting their 13th season of EuroHockey League participation, or French champions Saint Germain.

Germany’s Uhlenhorst Mulheim, Belgium’s Royal Leopold, the Netherlands HC Bloemendaal and Spain’s Club Egara have all been given byes to the FINAL8 next Easter.

Losing sides will play classification matches on October 5 and 6 in Barcelona.

EuroHockey KO16 draw: Mannheimer HC (GER) v CA Montrouge (FRA); HGC (NED) v Hampstead & Westminster (ENG); Dinamo Kazan (RUS) v Saint Germain (FRA); Surbiton (ENG) v Real Club de Polo (ESP); SV Kampong (NED) v HC Minsk (BLR); Herakles (BEL) v SV Arminen (AUT); Grange (SCO) v Three Rock Rovers (IRL); Rot-Weiss Koln (GER) v Beerschot (BEL). Byes to FINAL8: Uhlenhorst Mulheim (GER), Royal Leopold (BEL), HC Bloemendaal (NED), Club Egara (ESP)