Inverleith lose out in 17-goal thriller INVERLEITH were involved in a 17-goal thriller that entranced a full crowd in the opening game of the Richard Docherty invitation indoor tournament at Edinburgh Napier University yesterday, but unfortunately they went down 9-8 to a Dutch HC RGD side that was full of talented internationals. "We had some good passages of play but gave away cheap goals," admitted Stuart Neave, Inverleith's coach. But, if you score eight goals in a game, you would expect to win, even against a side with the skills of the Dutch. Now it's all to play for in our second pool match against Team Alba, we need to win if we're going to reach the semi-finals. After an early chance to Chris Bird, poor defending allowed RGD to take the lead through Geert Jan Derikx. But Inverleith were soon level at a penalty corner, Adam McKenzie switched the ball to Graham Moodie, who accepted the simple chance to score. Bird put the Edinburgh side ahead for the first time when he casually slotted the ball through the goalkeeper's legs. Kenny Bain, a Scottish internationalist now playing in the Netherlands, equalised for RGD with a low shot, but within seconds David Guy scored a carbon copy goal at the other end for 3-2 to the home side. Inverleith went 4-2 ahead midway through the half, Moodie made the opening with a good run up the right and his square pass was fired home by Guy. But back came the Dutch when Laurence Docherty, now a Dutch national whose brother's untimely death two years ago occasioned the origins of this tournament, celebrated his presence with a fierce shot which eluded David Forrester in the Inverleith goal to pull one back for RGD. However, Inverleith's two-goal lead was restored when Guy was left with a simple tap-in following a pass by Ross Jamieson for his own hat-trick. The last seven minutes of the first half was all Dutch pressure, McKenzie was forced into a goal-line save from a penalty corner, and after several missed chances RGD finally made it 5-4 through Derikx. They continued in the second half where they left off and Inverleith were perhaps fortunate to retain their lead. Ironically the Edinburgh side increased their advantage when Tom Cousins stole a loose pass out of defence and beat the goalkeeper with a low shot. Back came the Dutch, and they made it 6-5 through Melchior Looijen. Bird then scooped the ball over the bar and Guy had a couple of chances wide of the target. Almost inevitably Inverleith were punished for their shortcomings and Valentin Verga levelled the scores at 6-6. Further retribution came Inverleith's way when the Dutch went ahead through a simple Bain tap-in. But Inverleith rallied as Moodie scored his second after a penalty corner switch from McKenzie for the equaliser, then McKenzie put his side 8-7 ahead with a fierce direct shot at a set piece. However, almost immediately Bain made it 8-8 to seal his own hat-trick before RGD took the honours with a late winner from a breakaway by Verga. Scottish champions Grove Menzieshill went down 8-6 to a Globetrotters side bristling with Olympic and international talent from both Scotland and Europe while in the women's competition Richard's Belles swamped Inverleith 8-1. English international Becky Herbert grabbed a hat-trick and Helen Walker and Pauline Stott got doubles, with Alex Wilson scoring the other, while Emma McGregor scored Inverleith's consolation.