Hockey
SCOTLAND produced a five-star performance to kick-start their World Cup campaign against South Africa yesterday in Utrecht, Holland.
The girls fought their way to a 3-2 win, and with China and Germany to come over the next couple of days, similar performances will move the Scots up the table.
Their immediate task, though, will be to win through to the play-off for positions 5-8, but if Lady Luck sides with the Scots, there is no telling what position they could yet be playing for in next weekend's classification match.
The quality of Scotland's play was in total contrast to that which they produced against the USA. It caught the imagination of many fine judges in the sport, like Ric Charlesworth, the coach of favourites, Australia. He described Scotland's display as ''an excellent piece of work,'' picking out Susan MacDonald and Val Neil as key performers.
MacDonald was certainly a livewire at the heart of the attack. She scored two goals and also had a hand in their opener after just seven minutes.
MacDonald, who now plays her club hockey for English champions Slough, broke clear on the right. Her cross into the circle was added to by Rhona Simpson, who set up the opening for Susan Gilmour to break the deadlock.
The Scots were so dominant that the South Africans, who had won the World Cup qualifying tournament in Harare last August, never really made any impact in the first half and by the time they did they were 2-0 in arrears.
The Scots' second goal, in the eighteenth minute, came about following a brilliant interception by the team captain, Pauline Robertson. She immediately made ground into the circle and fired in a tremendous drive.
Nicky Du Toit in the South African goal did well to block her effort but MacDonald, who had moved in to support, converted the rebound. Scotland were on overdrive but just before half-time they suffered a blow.
Left back Janet Jack, who was coming out of defence with the ball, suddenly collapsed holding her left ankle. She was immediately taken to hospital for X-rays and the Scots brought on Carrie Corcoran.
After the restart, Scotland suffered yet another setback. South Africa won a penalty corner but while goalkeeper Tracey Robb had shut out Pietie Coetzee in the first half, the South African youngster hit the target this time with a brilliant drag shot.
Fortunately, the spirit in the Scottish side was high and they immediately went back on the offensive and within 60 seconds had regained their two-goal advantage.
Helen Walker made a break on the right and then linked up with Gilmour to set up MacDonald for her second goal of the game.
The South Africans eventually got their act together and started forcing Scotland back on the defensive.
They were rewarded in the forty-eighth minute when they won a penalty. Coetzee made the conversion, upsetting the Scots' rhythm in the process. The defence became panicky and when the forwards did get possession in the closing quarter they became too anxious and opportunities to kill off the Africans were lost.
This victory lifted Scotland to fourth position in the group, behind South Africa on goal difference. Germany remain in second place after struggling to beat China 3-1, while Australia continue to top the group on goal difference following their 6-1 defeat of the USA.
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