Grange had to be satisfied with the silver medal in the European Club Trophy in Cardiff when they were on the wrong end of a 6-3 goal feast against the Russian side Dinamo Elektrostal in yesterday`s final.

The Edinburgh side were hit away by a whirlwind first half performance of attacking hockey by the talented Russians.  It took only four minutes for the Eastern Europeans to take the lead.  Grange had their chances but lacked a clinical finish, Cammie Fraser had a solo run from half way but his reverse stick shot was saved by the keeper, then Nicki Lange fired well over the bar after a mix-up in the Russian defence.

But the sucker punch came midway through the half when David Woodcock in the Grange goal was beaten three times in the space of ten minutes as the Russians went on the rampage.   Just on the interval Adam Walker did create an opening for the Scots but his reverse stick volley went straight at the Russian keeper.

Any potential comeback was immediately stifled when Alexandre Platonov notched his own hat-trick with a shot that went in off Craig Harper on the line.  Harper made amends a few minutes later when his powerful drag flick at a penalty corner was deflected past the Russian keeper.  Harper had another set piece saved on the line but Grange were soon back under the cosh as Dinamo added a sixth to their tally.

After a couple of chances to Nicki Lange and David Knipe, Phil Sully finally pulled one back for Grange when he deflected a shoulder-high cross from the left past the keeper.  Grange finished the contest in positive mode, they had a spate of penalty corners, Robb Barr converted from the spot to make it 6-3, and a rather rustic Dinamo had two players sent to the sin bin.

Colin Clarke, Grange`s coach, said: “We were on the back foot with the clinical finishing of a strong Russian side.   But I was very pleased with the way we came back in the second half with around ten penalty corners which shows the pressure we put on the Russians – that was very encouraging.”