Leicester Ladies' European indoor campaign came to an end on Sunday morning with the Pukkas going down 2-0 to Ritm-Azot Grodno. Their relegation from the top tier was already known following defeat on Saturday afternoon and two goals from the Belarussians - one early in the first half, one late in the second - rounded off a tough weekend back amongst Europe's best.
The outcome means England's representatives next year, 2013 Maxifuel Super Sixes champions Reading, will play in the second tier of the European indoor competition. Dutch club Den Bosch took the title - the first time that a non-German club has won Europe's premier indoor competition.
On Saturday, despite putting in a strong performance against Germany's Rot-Weiss Koln, Leicester lost their final pool match at the EuroHockey Indoor Club Cup 2-0, a result that confirmed the Midlanders' place in Pool C in Vienna.
Pool C sees the bottom two sides in A and B compete to survive the drop to Europe's second tier next season.
And in their first of two games in Pool C, Leicester went down 2-1 to hosts SV Arminen. Katie Long equalised the Austrians half time lead shortly after the break from a penalty corner but their hopes of a share of the spoils were smashed in the dying seconds as Arminen struck from their own set piece.
The opening day of the EuroHockey Indoor Club Cup had seen Leicester lose their first match narrowly by just 1-0 to Spanish side Club de Campo before losing to Ginta Strekta of Lithuania 3-1 in the afternoon.
Despite conceding to the Spanish before the break, the 2012 Maxifuel Super Sixes Champions couldn't find a way past the solid defence.
Against Gintra Strekte, Leciester were behind after seven minutes but it remained 1-0 at the break and the Pukkas were well in with a chance. But midway through the second half they conceded a second and a third soon after. They withdrew goalkeeper Maddie Hinch in an effort to battle back but ultimately went down 3-1; Kerry Williams bagging the late goal for the Pukkas from a penalty corner.
