USK’S Abi Welsford last night became her country’s most capped international, as Wales women lost their final EuroHockey Championship II group game in Cardiff.
Welsh skipper Welsford and vice-captain Leah Wilkinson both won their 139th caps, one more than the legandary Anne Ellis, who they had moved level with on Tuesday when Wales beat Poland.
However, Wales couldn't manage a win on Welsford's and Wilkinson's big day, with the team losing 4-2 to Belarus.
Both teams had already secured their places in tomorrow's semi-finals but whoever came out on top would finish first in the pool.
Wilkinson made it 1-1 after Ryta Batura had given Belarus the lead, though Sviatlana Bahushevich hit back straight away to see the Welsh trail again going into half-time.
Eloise Laity levelled the match at 2-2 at the start of the third quarter, only for Yuliya Mikheichyk to restore Belarus' advantage.
And with the Welsh women pushing for a third equaliser late on, a Belarus breakaway resulted in Natallia Shtsin sealing victory.
Wales, who also featured Bassaleg's Sophie Clayton, Cwmbran's Danni Jordan (pictured above with Welsford) and Abergavenny's Rose Thomas, will now play Russia in the last four tomorrow (4.30pm), while Belarus take on Italy in the other semi-final.
A win for Welsford's troops would not only give them a place in the final but give them promotion to the A Division of women's hockey in Europe.
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