Ranking match: Saint Germain HC – Royal Leopold HC

Match report

Ranking match: Royal Leopold 7 Saint Germain 1 (2-1)
Kane Russell filled his boots as Royal Leopold beat Saint Germain with plenty to spare in their EHL ranking match in Eindhoven.

Russell scored a drag-flick just 45 seconds into the game before Saint Ger got an immediate response with a classy pitch-length move ending with Martin Genestet finishing off from close range.

Dylan Englebert restored the Leo lead just before the end of the first quarter with a weaving run through the heart of the French side’s defence.

It was a lead they would hold until half-time as Romain Henet made some terriffic stops for the Belgian club.

Englebert guided in his second and Leo’s third seven minutes into the second half and it served to open the floodgates. Russell finished off a delightful move from play from Tom Degroote’s cross.

The New Zealander then completed his hat trick from a corner for 5-1. Gaspard Baumgarten bobbled in the sixth goal before Max Muschs added yet another with eight minutes remaining.

Hat trick scorer Russell said afterwards: “We were a bit disappointed with our game against Polo yesterday, didn’t play how we wanted to and they had some pretty classy players who we let dominate. Pretty pleased to come back and score some goals today to take some momentum into the Belgian league.

“We had a few injuries from yesterday and before so we showed we have some good depth in the team.

“EHL has been awesome. First season in it and I didn’t know what to expect and I have loved every part of it and just gutted I couldn’t go further.”