The Wicklow Bay club recently hosted the European Challenge test matches between Ireland and Holland. The Irish team gave a great account of polocrosse across the country with 8 clubs being represented on the 9 player squad. There were a total of 4 test matches in all, 2 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday, with all payers selected from the C or D grade ranks.
The Holland team were riding horses that had been made available from various Irish clubs and in most cases the Dutch had only 1 brief warm up on their new mounts before the test matches began. This had a bearing on the initial encounters as the Irish team were successful in both of the Saturday test matches while the Holland team came to grips with their new horses.
Sunday’s tests were a much tighter affair and while Ireland narrowly won the morning session, the spectacle of the weekend was Sunday afternoon’s test. This was a fantastic game for player & spectator alike and there were never more than 2 goals between the teams at any stage so it was fitting that the main game of the weekend ended as a draw. There were a number of standout players from each side with the best player awards going to Emily from Team Ireland and Florien from Team Holland.
Irish Squad for Holland Test Match
Left to Right
- Jim Cloonan – Birr
- Sarah McDonnell – Limerick
- Clive Nuzem – Wicklow Bay
- Mike Murphy – Cork
- Brian Sullivan – Coach
- Heidi Brabazon – Carrickmines
- Danya Moran – Horetown
- Emily McClean – Tyrella
- Bill Lalor (Capt.) – Tipperary
- Fiona Walsh – Carrickmines
- Andrew Cameron – Coach (Missing from Photo)
we had a great time in Ireland and played great games. thanks again!
check for more photo’s: http://www.polocrosse.nl/2010_ireland_verslag.htm
Hi Fleur
Thanks for the comment, could we post some of them on the IPC site? Do you have a write up about the tournament? Can we in Canada get involved, it sound like our level of play.