MEN'S EUROHOCKEY CLUB CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE I
8-11 May 2008, Milan (ITA)
Pool A
Cernusco 2000 (ITA)
Whitchurch HC (WAL)
SC Stroitel Brest (BEL)
Orient Lyngby (DEN)
Pool B
TJ Pilsen Litice (CZE)
Olimpic Vinnitsa (UKR)
HAHK Mladost (CRO)
Day 1: Thursday 8 May 2008
| 11.00 | B | Olimpic Vinnitsa | 2 | HAHK Mladost | 1 |
| 14.00 | A | Cernusco 2000 | 5 | Orient Lyngby | 1 |
| 16.30 | A | Whitchurch HC | 3 | SC Stroitel Brest | 3 |
Whitchurch started their Euro campaign with a 3 -3 draw against Stroitel Brest (BLR). Despite going behind to a penalty stroke after just 9', Joe Naughalty came close to equalising with his shot just clearing the bar. Whitchurch conceded a further goal after 20' but it was Naughalty who pulled one back after great work by Tom Fisher. The first 5 minutes of the second half proved to be very entertaining as firstly Stroitel went further ahead from a deflection and Laith El Khatib and then Jon Collis both scoring to level the match. Iwan Williams proved to be Whitchurch's saviour making a number of excellent saves and with no further goals each team took 1 point.
Day 2: Friday 9 May 2008
| 11.00 | B | TJ Pilsen Litice | 2 | HAHK Mladost | 2 |
| 14.30 | A | Cernusco 2000 | 1 | SC Stroitel Brest | 3 |
| 17.00 | A | Whitchurch HC | 5 | Orient Lyngby | 1 |
Whitchurch turned on the style against Orient Lyngby (DEN) in beating them 5-1. Despite going behind after 14', Jon Collis also immediately drew the Welshmen level with a penalty corner. Whitchurch forced a number of saves from the Danish goalkeeper but it wasn't until the second half that the floodgates opened. Joe Naughalty scored his second of the tournament, but it was Collis, with two penalty corners who broke the Danes resistance. Young finished the scoring late in the game to ensure that Whitchurch took all three points and put themselves at the top of the table.
Day 3: Saturday 10 May 2008
| 11.30 | B | TJ Pilsen Litice | 1 | Olimpic Vinnitsa | 4 |
| 15.00 | A | SC Stroitel Brest | 5 | Orient Lyngby | 4 |
| 17.30 | A | Cernusco 2000 | 3 | Whitchurch HC | 2 |
Going into this game knowing that a point would almost certainly mean a chance of a promotion match, Whitchurch conceded two goals in the first 22' and despite forcing a number of penalty corners could not make any inroads to the deficit before half-time. A further three penalty corners early in the second half came to nothing but it was Jon Collis who started the fightback when converting a penalty stroke after 53' and when Naughalty converted another chance after 66' Whitchurch thought they had the point they needed. However the Italians had other ideas and with just 2' on the clock a deflected free hit flew past Williams to win the game for the hosts. With only 3 teams in the other pool this was to be Whitchurch's last match in the tournament leaving them in 5th place.
Day 4: Sunday 11 May 2008
| 11.30 | Orient Lyngby 5-4 aps |
1 | TJ Pilsen Litice | 1 | |
| 14.00 | Cernusco 2000 4-2 aps |
1 | Olimpic Vinnitsa | 1 | |
| 16.30 | SC Stroitel Brest 10-9 aps |
4 | HAHK Mladost | 4 | |
Final positions
=1st: Stroitel Brest
=1st: Cernusco
=3rd: HAHK Mladost
=3rd: Olympic Vinnitsa
=5th: Whitchurch
=5th: Orient Lyngby
7th: PJ Pilsen Litice
