Lille MHC 2 v 7 HC Bloemendaal

The second game of the day would be an intriguing game, with the French Champions, Lille MHC, paired against the perennially strong HC Bloemendaal, from the Netherlands in Group G of Round One. Lille haven’t played in the EHL since 2009, although last season they won the lesser tournament, the EuroHockey Club Champions Trophy. Bloemendaal won the EHL in 2008/9, although have only reached the Quarter-Finals in the last three seasons. The presence of five players of the Netherlands team that won silver at London 2012 pointed towards a very strong team and would make them the favourites for this encounter.

After a fairly even opening to the game, once the Dutch team took the lead, there was only ever going to be one convincing winner, as they opened up a two goal lead in the first quarter, Rogier Hoffman opening the scoring on 8 minutes, and Roel Bovendeert doubling Bloemendaal's advantage on 14 minutes. Olmer Meijer extended the lead to three on 20 minutes, before Lille pulled a goal back on a minute before half time.

It was after half time when Bloemendaal really took control of the game with some absolutely wonderful hockey, slicing through the Lille defence with almost embarassing ease. Teun de Nooijer scored Bloemendaal's fourth on 43 minutes, Bovendeert scored his second of the game and Bloemendaal's fifth on 49 minutes, before de Nooijer also scored his second and Bloemendaal's sixth goal just a minute later. With four minutes remaining, Ronald Brouwer scored the Dutch side's seventh goal, whilst Lille had the consolation of scoring the final goal with the last hit of the game through Fernando Mondaca. And so a very comfortable victory for Bloemendaal