Netherlands top pool; Germany to play for 5-8 places

Madrid, Oct 4 (UNI) The Netherlands were held to a goaless draw by Germany but still managed to top Pool 'A' in the Women's World Cup Hockey tournament here today.

Already through to the last four and needing only a draw to emerge clear winner in the pool, the Dutch dominated their rivals throghout the match and were unlucky not to have won their last match and maintained an all win record.

They had won all their earlier four matches and with today's draw they finished their pool matches with 13 points.

On the other hand, Germany had little at stake as they were already out of contention for a semi-final berth. They now play for 5-8 places and see whether they can improve on their seventh place finish in the last edition of the tournament.

The Netherlands earned three penalty corners but Maartje Paumen failed to score each time while Germany also muffed the two penalty corners they got.

Naomi Van As, Kim Lammers and Sylvia Karres were not in their elements in the Dutch forwardline and wasted several opportunities that came their way.

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