Scots on the brink of World League last eight

It was just the result Scotland coach Derek Forsyth was looking for, India making short work of their traditional rivals Pakistan 7-1 in the sole pool match of the day at the World League semi-finals in London.

Yesterday’s result means that the Scots remain in fourth place with a growing goal difference gulf over bottom side Pakistan. If that situation remains, Forsyth’s charges would gain a place in the quarter-finals.

So today’s confrontation between Scotland and Pakistan takes on immense importance for Forsyth’s aspirations, especially as this will be the latter’s final pool match and the Scots have Canada to play tomorrow.

Forsyth said: “Now that we should have everybody available, we will be looking to take something from our remaining pool matches.”

The Scotland coach admitted that both striker Alan Forsyth and captain Chris Grassick had been playing on reduced time due to their respective illness and injury, while Gavin Byers played only a small part in the match against the Netherlands following a kidney infection.

The encouraging factor is that the Scots may have lost their opening matches against top seeds India and the Netherlands, but in neither encounter were they overwhelmed.

The task facing the upstart Scots is a victory over Pakistan, but even a draw would suffice assuming Forsyth’s charges did not concede ten goals or more to Canada in their final pool outing. Oban Camanachd and Kyles Athletic will meet in this year’s Artemis Macaulay Cup semi-finals. Oban Camanachd beat derby rivals Oban Celtic 4-0 at Ganavan thanks to Aidan Macintyre, Daniel Macvicar and Matt Rippon’s brace. Meanwhile, Dunkie Kerr’s double meant Kyles Athletic overcame a stuffy Glasgow Mid Argyll side 2-0 at Tighnabruaich.