Scots women aiming high in Dublin
Chris Duncan, Scotland’s women’s team head coach, continues his build-up to the World Cup qualifiers in Chile in February with a double-header against Belgium and Ireland in Dublin.
And it will be a tough assignment as both are above the Tartan Hearts in the world rankings.
Belgium are third behind top rated The Netherland and Argentina while Ireland are at No 13, two places above Scotland.
The games are on Saturday, December 6 (v Belgium 13.00) and Sunday,m December 7 (v Ireland, 12.30).
West Lothian-based Duncan said: “Following a year of two really pleasing tournament performances in the Nations Cup and EuroHockey Championship, we are excited to be getting back into competitive action, with games against two excellent Pro League teams.
“These games come at a brilliant to give us a benchmark of where we need to apply focus in the run in to an amazing opportunity to qualify for the World Cup in 2026.”
For the record, Scotland earned a fifth place finish at Nations Cup in Chile, and were sixth at the EuroHockey Championship in Monchengladbach.
Looking back, Duncan said recent competitive displays have seen gains and he added: “We are hopeful to see some of those developments in games against Belgium and Ireland, both of whom were in our group in (the EuroHockey Championships) Germany.”
The up-coming games have focused minds for the last two months and he said: “The squad are raring to go.”
Five of the squad are from Edinburgh clubs, two from The University of Edinburgh, and three from Watsonians, and only one member of the travelling party, Heather McEwan, who plays in Belgium, is based outwith the British Isles.
Sarah Robertson, Borders-born and a former The University of Edinburgh player, captains the side with Amy Costello and Sarah Jamieson as vice-captains,.
Scotland: Amber Murray (Olton and West Warwickshire), Amy Costello (Surbiton), Ava Findlay, Katie Birch (Durham University), Bronwyn Shields, Jennifer Eadie, Millie Steiger (Clydesdale Western), Charlotte Watson, Jess Buchanan, Sarah Robertson (Wimbledon), Ellie MacKenzie (Surbiton), Eve Pearson (Hampstead and Westminster), Fiona Burnet, Katherine McLaren, Sarah Jamieson (Watsonians), Heather McEwan (Braxgata, Belgium), Jess Ross, Ruth Blaikie (The University of Edinburgh)
Meanwhile, Scotland's under-21 side jetted to Chile on Wednesday, November 26, for the Junior World Cup in Santiago.
Coach Jimmy Culnane and the squad are the first to have earned qualification for the event since 2005 thanks to a gold medal success at the EuroHockey under-21 event in Konya, Turkey, last year.
In their Pool E matches, Scotland face Spain December 2), Canada (December 4) and Australia (December 6).