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News 15 April 2014

All the news for Tuesday 15 April 2014


Malaysia let slip three goals to draw China

By Aftar Singh and Eric Samuel


Goalkeeper Mohd Hazrul Faiz Ahmad Sobri let in two late goals in Malaysia's 4-4 draw with China in the second test match in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday. - Filepic

KUALA LUMPUR: China staged a magnificent fightback in the last 12 minutes, coming back from three goals down to hold Malaysia to a 4-4 draw in the second friendly at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

Malaysia, who won the first friendly 2-1 on Saturday, took the lead through Haziq Samsul in the ninth minute off a field goal in Monday’s match.

They doubled the score in the 41st off another field goal by Mohd Shahrul Saabah.

But two minutes later, China reduced the deficit with a penalty corner goal taken by Dong Yang.

Malaysia, who are preparing for the Champions Challenge 1 in Kuantan from April 26-May 4, then scored two more goals through Haziq Samsul (46th) and Mohd Fitri Saari (55th) to make it 4-1.

But China, who finished fourth in the six-nation Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh last month, fought back to score three goals in a 13-minute spell.

Dong Yang scored another penalty corner in the 57th minute and Wang Bouen narrowed the deficit to 4-3 in the 67th.

With a minute to go before full-time, Zhu Xu popped up to score the equaliser from close range.

China team manager Yang Liu was delighted with the fighting spirit shown by his team, who are preparing for the Asian Games in September.

“We played much better today compared to our first match. We hope to play much better in the third match on Wednesday,” said Yang Liu.

National chief coach K. Dharmaraj said they conceded the three late goals due to the inexperience of goalkeeper Mohd Hazrul Faiz Ahmad Sobri.

“We fielded our main goalkeeper S. Kumar in the first 23 minutes and he did not let in a single goal. Roslan (Jamaluddin) played the next 23 minutes and he conceded one. We then put in Mohd Hazrul.

“I have 29 players in the training squad and I am trying out all the players in the friendlies. I will use the friendlies to pick the best 20 players for the Champions Challenge 1,” said Dharmaraj.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah wants Malaysia to finish as champions in the Champions Challenge I.

“I expect the national team to finish first in Kuantan because the winners will be assured of a place in the Champions Trophy in 2016,” said Tengku Abdullah after a cheque presentation ceremony here on Monday.

He also advised the players to avoid picking up injuries during the Champions Challenge I as Malaysia need all their best players for the World Cup in The Hague from May 31-June 15.

“The players should play it smart and not jeopardise our World Cup hopes,” said Tengku Abdullah.

The Star of Malaysia



Swann to return against NZ

Kookaburras matches v New Zealand to be live streamed this week


Photo credit: Grant Treeby / Treebyimages

With World Cup selection looming large, the Kookaburras will face trans-Tasman rivals the New Zealand Black Sticks in two Tests this week, beginning Thursday in Perth.

Kookaburras coach Ric Charlesworth will use the vast majority of his 30 man squad across the two matches - the team’s last fixtures before World Cup selection is made in the final week of April.

The 18 athletes selected for the opening Test have been announced. Following a record making eighth victorious Sultan Azlan Shah Cup campaign in March the Kookaburras welcome back several stars from injury. Mackay-born Queenslander Matthew Swann returns having last stepped out in the green and gold at the World League semi-final tournament in June 2013. Northern Territorian Joel Carroll also returns from injury and is joined in the side by fellow Darwin product Jeremy Hayward, who impressed in his debut tournament at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia.

Also returning to the side are two of the Kookaburras’ more experienced stars, Kieran Govers and Simon Orchard. The New South Wales pair were rested for the Azlan Shah tournament but are included in the squad to face New Zealand on Thursday, as is two-time Olympian Kiel Brown.

Discussing the series, Kookaburras coach Ric Charlesworth said, “This is a really important opportunity for us. New Zealand is a quality opponent and in the absence of going out to Europe in the interim these games will allow us to get a measure of where we’re at.”

With the matches a key final stage of selection ahead of the World Cup, Charlesworth added, “The series is timely and for some it’s a critical period. This is a chance for a whole range of people to prove their fitness and show their form. As is always the case there are some athletes that are likely to be selected so long as they’re fit but there are also a number of others who are still being measured. It’s a good situation to be in but it’s very difficult.”

Three athletes will play no part in the New Zealand series. Matthew Butturini continues his rehabilitation from a long term injury while Jamie Dwyer’s recovery from a hamstring injury sustained in Malaysia rules him out. Victorian Andrew Philpott will also be given further time to recover from a shin injury.

It is expected that the remaining fit members of the national senior squad will play their part in the second Test on Saturday evening, although selection for that match will officially be made following Thursday night’s opening clash. Should he play on Saturday, Victorian forward Russell Ford will make his 150th appearance for Australia. 

The Kookaburras will begin the defence of the World Cup crown they won in 2010 against Malaysia on 31 May in The Hague. Australia’s men will be looking to become only the third team ever to successfully defend a World title. The Kookaburras have won the tournament twice; in 1986 and 2010.

>> Both clashes will be streamed live online via the Hockey Australia website <<

Kookaburras v New Zealand
Perth Hockey Stadium (pitch 2), Perth, Western Australia
Thursday 17 April - 7:00pm AWST (9:00pm AEST)
Saturday 19 April - 7:00pm AWST (9:00pm AEST)

Kookaburras squad for first Test v New Zealand
17 April 2014
Athlete (Hometown, State) caps/goals
Daniel Beale (Brisbane, QLD) 26/7
Kiel Brown (Toowoomba, QLD) 144/4
Joel Carroll (Darwin, NT) 96/2
Andrew Charter (Canberra, ACT) 60/0
Matt Gohdes (Rockhampton, QLD) 85/25
Kieran Govers (Wollongong, NSW) 83/40
Rob Hammond (Townsville, QLD) 245/28
Jeremy Hayward (Darwin, NT) 6/3
Mark Knowles (Rockhampton, QLD) 230/19
Tyler Lovell (Perth, WA) 20/0
Trent Mitton (Perth, WA) 54/17
Simon Orchard (Maitland, NSW) 140/44
Glenn Simpson (Melbourne, VIC) 105/20
Matthew Swann (Mackay, QLD) 97/5
Jake Whetton (Brisbane, QLD) 52/21
Tristan White (Wollongong, NSW) 27/2
Jason Wilson (Kingscliff, QLD) 96/34
Aran Zalewski (Margaret River, WA) 26/3

Remaining Kookaburras national squad members
Athlete (Hometown, State) caps/goals
George Bazeley (Melbourne, VIC) 69/0
Nick Budgeon (Hobart, TAS) 20/11
Chris Ciriello (Melbourne, VIC) 130/76
Liam De Young (Brisbane, QLD) 302/34
Tim Deavin (Launceston, TAS) 82/3
Russell Ford (Melbourne, VIC) 149/72
Fergus Kavanagh (Geraldton, WA) 175/14
Eddie Ockenden (Hobart, TAS) 205/52
Glenn Turner (Goulburn, NSW) 102/75

Injured – unavailable for NZL Tests
Athlete (Hometown, State) caps/goals
Matthew Butturini (Burringbar, NSW) 89/18
Jamie Dwyer (Rockhampton, QLD) 312/203
Andrew Philpott (Melbourne, VIC) 15/1

Australia v New Zealand - live streaming
Live streamed vision of the two Tests will be available online via the Hockey Australia website.

Twitter
Follow and comment on the Kookaburras using @Kookaburras on Twitter.

World Cup selection
The Kookaburras squad will be announced during week commencing Monday 28 April 2014.

World Cup arrangements
19 May - Kookaburras depart for England
24-25 May - Kookaburras v England, two Tests
26 May - Kookaburras arrive in The Hague
28-29 May - Unofficial practice matches v Argentina & Germany
31 May - Opening match v Malaysia, 6:30pm AEST / 4:30pm AWST

Hockey Australia media release



Parnham announces Champions Challenge roster

Team USA looks to showcase strong presence on international stage

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – U.S. Women’s National Team head coach, Craig Parnham, has announced the 18-player roster that will compete at the 2014 Champions Challenge in Glasgow, Scotland April 27-May 4. The U.S. squad comprised of experienced and skilled athletes is eager to challenge the international competition.

"We are looking forward to the first competitive matches of the year,” said U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach Craig Parnham. "The players have worked hard over the past months and are eager to get started in Scotland."

Champions Challenge is the final step of preparation for the squad on the road to the 2014 Rabobank Hockey World Cup in The Hague, Netherlands. Most recently, Team USA took on Canada in a four game test series at the new Home of Hockey, Spooky Nook Sports, in Lancaster, Pa. The squad swept Canada 4-0 in the series.

The U.S. is currently ranked 10th in the world, and is one of the higher ranked teams competing in the 2014 Champions Challenge. Team USA will look to take on Korea, who currently sits 8th in world rankings.

In Champions Challenges of 2011 and 2012, Team USA fell to Japan and Australia, respectively, in the final games to take home silver. More recently, the U.S. also took silver at the 2013 Pan Am Cup after a tightly contested loss to Argentina in the final.

Champions Challenge also marks the first tournament that new U.S. Women’s Assistant Coach, Janneke Schopman, will be adding her extensive experience to the team. Schopman is a two-time Olympic field hockey medalist and a Hockey World Cup medalist for the Dutch National Team.

Follow Team USA in Glasgow on Twitter @USAFieldHockey for live results and the latest updates. Visit the Champions Challenge event page on usafieldhockey.com.

Champions Challenge Roster:

Lauren Crandall (Doylestown, Pa.) Rachel Dawson (Berlin, N.J.), Katelyn Falgowski (Landenburg, Pa.), Stefanie Fee (Virginia Beach, Va.), Melissa Gonzalez (Mohegan Lake, N.Y.), Michelle Kasold (Chapel Hill, N.C.), Jackie Kinzter (Robesonia, Pa.), Kelsey Kolojejchick (Larsville, Pa.), Caroline Nichols (Virginia Beach, Va.), Katie O’Donnell (Blue Bell, Pa.), Julia Reinprecht (Perkasie, Pa.), Katie Reinprecht (Perkasie, Pa.), Paige Selenski (Shavertown, Pa.), Kathleen Sharkey (Moosic, Pa.), Michelle Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.), Alesha Widdall (Whitney Point, N.Y.), Jill Witmer (Lancaster, Pa.), Emily Wold (Freehold, N.J.)

USFHA media release



Men's roster named for upcoming Champions Challenge in Malaysia

Vancouver, BC – The Canadian Men’s National Program has named eighteen elite athletes to a team that will travel to Kuantan, Malaysia to take part in the 8th Men’s Champions Challenge 1 (CC1) tournament April 26 to May 4.

The National Team will return to Malaysia after finishing fifth in the 23rd Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh in March – their best finish ever at that tournament.

“This is a well balanced team,” says head coach Anthony Farry. “We have made a couple of changes from the Azlan Shah Cup squad with some of our overseas players returning to the group and this will add a bit of experience.”

Leading the group of experienced players are defender Scott Tupper (Vancouver, B.C.), who has been capped 177 times and plays professionally in Belgiun, and forward Mark Pearson (Vancouver, B.C.), who is expected to reach his 150th international cap during the tournament.

Also named to the squad is defender Benjamin Martin (Vancouver, B.C.), who will likely reach his 50th cap on the tour.

“Having guys achieve milestones like 150 or 50 caps is significant and shows their quality and commitment to the program and there's no doubt both Mark and Ben contribute a great deal both on and off the pitch,” explains Farry.

“Both these guys embody leadership in different ways and I'm hopeful they will be around the group for some time yet.”

Canada finished sixth at the 2012 Champions Challenge in Argentina, and has since exposed more than twenty new athletes to senior level international hockey. Canada looks to top its 2012 result at this year’s competition in Malaysia, where world ranking points will be on the line.

Roster

Name

Position

Residence

Club Team

Adam Froese

Defender

Abbotsford, BC

India FHC

Antoni Kindler

Goalkeeper

Vancouver, BC

West Vancouver FHC

Ben Martin

Defender

Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Hawks FHC

David Carter

Goalkeeper

Vancouver, BC

India FHC

David Jameson

Defender

Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Hawks FHC

Gabriel Ho-Garcia

Forward

Vancouver, BC

Burnaby Lake FHC

Gordon Johnston

Defender

Vancouver, BC

UBC Thunderbirds

Paul Wharton

Midfield

Vancouver, BC

UBC Thunderbirds

Iain Smythe

Forward

Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Hawks FHC

Richard Hildreth

Forward

Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Hawks FHC

Hudson Stewart

Forward

Vancouver, BC

UBC Thunderbirds

Keegan Pereira

Midfield

Ajax, ON

UBC Thunderbirds

Mark Pearson

Midfield

Tsawassen, BC

West Coast Kings FHC

Matthew Guest

Forward

Melbourne, Aus.

Altona Hockey Club

Philip Wright

Forward

Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Hawks FHC

Scott Tupper

Defender

Vancouver, BC

Racing Club de Bruxelles

Sukhi Panesar

Midfield

Surrey, BC

United Brothers FHC

Taylor Curran

Midfield

Vancouver, BC

UBC Thunderbirds

Staff

Head Coach – Anthony Farry

Assistant Coach – Paul Bundy

Manager – Celia Plottel

Physiotherapist – Josh Ferguson

Performance Analyst – Paul Mounter

Videographer – Geoff Matthews

Canadian Schedule

Saturday, April 26 – vs Korea – 19:00*

Sunday, April 27 – vs France – 19:00*

Tuesday, April 29 – vs Malaysia – 21:00*

Thursday, May 1 – Quarterfinals

Saturday, May 3 – Semi-Finals

Sunday, May 4 – Final

*All times local to Kuantan, Malaysia

Field Hockey Canada media release



Experienced side named for Champions Challenge



Black Sticks Men’s head coach Colin Batch has named a strong side to compete at the 2014 Champions Challenge in Kuantan, Malaysia later this month.

New Zealand is joined at the eight-team tournament by hosts Malaysia, Korea, Ireland, Japan, Canada, France and Poland.

The Champions Challenge doubles as a qualifier for the 2016 Champions Trophy with the winner earning an automatic berth.

The 18-man team includes plenty of experience with 11 players having amassed more than 100 international caps.

Captain Dean Couzins (currently on 298 caps) is set to become just the second Kiwi following Phil Burrows to play 300 tests for New Zealand.

Coach Batch said the team for this tournament has been selected based on two important outcomes.

“We’ve made our selections with the aim to do well at Champions Challenge, but also with an eye towards finding the best combinations for the World Cup,” Batch said.

“We play Ireland first which will be an extremely difficult game. They’ve shown they can provide shocks so that’s a tough game first up.

“Also Japan, who we have played three times recently, are in our pool along with Poland who are a bit of a surprise package."

Each team will play the other three sides in their pool before a sudden death crossover quarter final.

Before Champions Challenge, the Black Sticks play Australia in two tests in Perth. The time zone will be the same as Malaysia which will help the team acclimatise ahead of the tournament.

The Champions Challenge serves as important preparation ahead of the Hockey World Cup which runs from 31 May – 15 June in The Hague, Netherlands.

BLACK STICKS MEN
Champions Challenge, Malaysia
26 April – 4 May

NAME

REGION

POSITION

AGE

CAPS

Phil BURROWS

Capital

Midfielder

33

312

Marcus CHILD

Auckland

Striker

23

52

Simon CHILD

Auckland

Striker

25

192

Dean COUZINS

Auckland

Defender

32

298

Steve EDWARDS

North Harbour

Midfielder

28

168

Nick HAIG

Canterbury

Midfielder

27

132

Andy HAYWARD

Midlands

Defender

28

161

Blair HILTON

Capital

Striker

24

112

Hugo INGLIS

Southern

Striker

23

120

Steve JENNESS

Capital

Striker

23

100

Devon MANCHESTER

Auckland

Goalkeeper

24

26

Shea McALEESE

Central

Midfielder

29

190

Hamish McGREGOR

Southern

Goalkeeper

25

26

Arun PANCHIA

Auckland

Midfielder

24

123

Jared PANCHIA

Auckland

Striker

20

25

Kane RUSSELL

Southern

Defender

21

27

Alex SHAW 

Capital

Defender

24

39

Blair TARRANT

Southern

Defender

23

94

Hockey New Zealand Media release



Successful Affiliates Tournament for Hawke’s Bay


Photo: Mike Hughes

The Festival of Hockey held last week in Hawke’s Bay included the inaugural Affiliate’s Tournament which saw six female teams compete for the Margaret Hiha Trophy and six male teams battle it out for the Dave Craven Trophy.

After a close week of competition at Park Island in Napier, Hawke’s Bay narrowly won against NZ Maori 5-4 in the men’s final and the Margaret Hiha Trophy was won by NZ Maori who beat Australia Country 2-1.

“The tournament has been a resounding success and something we are definitely keen to continue on an annual basis,” said Hockey New Zealand’s general manager of community sport and events, Ian Francis.

Another new trophy called the Derek Wilshire Cup – in recognition of Derek’s work as a Hockey New Zealand life member - was also on the line for the team who performed the best overall. With a total of 24 points, eight wins and four losses, this year it was awarded to Australia Country.

Hockey New Zealand organized the event to give adult players – of both genders and ages - a chance to play in a competitive tournament. It was particularly aimed as an opportunity for those club players aged 22-35 years of age, providing them with another opportunity to play at a high level.

“It was pleasing to see how close the teams were and the good level of competitive hockey that was being played,” said Francis.

The teams competing were NZ Maori, NZ Indians, National Seniors Team, Hawke’s Bay Invitational Team, Australia Country and Masters 35+.

From the tournament, Hockey New Zealand have selected a representative team which will participate at the Oceania Pacific Cup in Fiji, in December. This team will be announced on the Hockey New Zealand website later this week.

Hockey New Zealand Media release



Barry Maister earns Lifetime Achievement Award



Barry Maister has been given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards in Christchurch.

Born into a hockey family, Barry achieved early sporting success as a New Zealand international hockey player. As a member of the New Zealand hockey team he attended three Olympic Games, winning the gold medal at the Montreal Olympic Games in 1976.

In 2001 he took his background in education and leadership to become Secretary General of the New Zealand Olympic Committee.

He brought an innate understanding of the Olympic Movement and understood the power of using sport to enhance the lives of human beings, bringing the best out of them. Since leaving the NZOC in 2010 he continues to provide an influence on New Zealand sport through his work as IOC Member in New Zealand and as an international advisor to Sport NZ.

Barry sits on the boards of several leading organisations including Outward Bound New Zealand, and was inducted as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2012 for services to sport.

Hockey New Zealand Media release



National Hockey Centre will help grow the sport



Sport New Zealand’s seed investment of $2.5 million into redeveloping North Harbour’s Rosedale Park into a National Hockey Centre, is a huge boost for the sport, says Hockey New Zealand’s chief executive Malcolm Harris.

Harris says the benefit of having a National Hockey Centre will be three-fold – a future-proofed community facility, a home for hockey’s high performance programme and a venue that will allow New Zealand to attract more world class hockey events.

“One of the six key priority projects identified in our Whole of Sport Strategy was to develop world class events and facilities – and Sport New Zealand’s investment will help us achieve this,” said Harris.

The proposed redevelopment is relatively modest – it includes a new viewing terrace with 350 covered seats, uncovered embankment seating for 1,200 spectators, improved facilities for community, regional and national teams, and an office base for Hockey New Zealand’s high performance coaching team.

“This isn’t about building a new stadium from scratch that will only be used for the Black Sticks – it’s about upgrading an existing facility to meet the requirements of both a growing hockey community and New Zealand’s high performance teams,” said Harris.

North Harbour Hockey has the country’s largest year-round player base, with over 4,300 registered winter members and close to 3,000 registered summer members competing in their competitions.

“Rosedale Park is a well-used community facility – the turfs are used for over 200 hours per week, and the venue is the base for the region’s 11 hockey clubs. We’ve seen a steady increase in player numbers over recent years, so there is a real need to upgrade the facilities for our players, coaches, umpires and supporters,” said North Harbour Hockey Association chief executive Riki Burgess.

Harris said there was also an increasing need for Hockey New Zealand to permanently base its high performance programme close to the services being offered by High Performance Sport New Zealand at the Millennium Institute of Sport and Health.

“With this only five minutes drive from Rosedale Park, it makes the site at North Harbour a very sensible option,” said Harris.

Hockey New Zealand is working with North Harbour, Counties Manukau and Auckland Hockey associations to put together a 10 year plan for hockey facilities in the Auckland region, and development of a National Hockey Centre is one part of that long term strategy.

Sport New Zealand chief executive Peter Miskimmin said that it is pleasing to see a national sport organisation have a long term facilities strategy and make good use of existing community facilities at a regional level.

“I’m delighted that this redevelopment will provide a home for hockey’s high performance programme and help attract top international events for country. This represents the next step in the Government’s desire to build a network of world class sports facilities for New Zealand,” said Miskimmin.

North Harbour Hockey successfully hosted the 2011 FIH Men’s Champion’s Trophy and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) recently announced that the prestigious 2017 FIH Women’s World League Final will also be hosted at North Harbour.

“It is a real coup to have won the rights for the World League and we will continue to work closely with the FIH to attract more high profile events as well as develop successful events of our own.

“This redevelopment at Rosedale Park means New Zealand will have a purpose built facility in a major centre which is financially viable. When it comes to broadcast, accommodation, and international flights, Auckland is the obvious option both in terms of cost and convenience,” said Harris.

To ensure that community, high performance and major event needs are all met, a formal partnership has been established between Hockey New Zealand, the North Harbour Hockey Association, and the Charitable Trust which owns the facility.

With a total project budget of $9 million, the current focus is to ensure the remaining funding is secured and the resource consent phase is underway. The planned construction start date is April 2015 and completion is estimated to be the end of 2016.

Hockey New Zealand Media release



NZ National Hockey Centre by 2016

North Harbour's Rosedale Park will be redeveloped into a National Hockey Centre, courtesy of a $2.5 million investment from Sport New Zealand.

Hockey New Zealand chief executive Malcolm Harris said the benefit of having a National Hockey Centre would be threefold.

It would offer a future-proofed community facility, a home for hockey's high-performance programme and a venue that would allow New Zealand to attract more world-class hockey events.

The proposed redevelopment is relatively modest. It includes a new viewing terrace with 350 covered seats, uncovered embankment seating for 1200 spectators, improved facilities for community, regional and national teams, and an office base for Hockey New Zealand's high-performance coaching team.

"This isn't about building a new stadium from scratch that will only be used for the Black Sticks - it's about upgrading an existing facility to meet the requirements of both a growing hockey community and New Zealand's high-performance teams," Harris said.

Hockey New Zealand increasingly needed to permanently base its high-performance programme close to the services being offered by High Performance Sport New Zealand at the Millennium Institute of Sport and Health, Harris said.

Sport New Zealand chief executive Peter Miskimmin said it was pleasing to see a national sport organisation have a long-term facilities strategy and make good use of existing community facilities at regional level.

North Harbour Hockey successfully hosted the 2011 men's Champion's Trophy and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) recently announced the prestigious 2017 FIH Women's World League Final would also be hosted at North Harbour.

With a total project budget of $9m, the focus is to ensure the remaining funding is secured and the resource consent phase is under way.

Construction is planned to start in April next year, with completion expected by the end of 2016.

Stuff



Georgie Twigg hails Surbiton team-mates

By Graham Wilson


Georgie Twigg was thrilled after her side's impressive win[GETTY]

GEORGIE TWIGG may not have been as available as the rest of her Surbiton squad because of international commitments, but she knew how to pull with the team as they deposed women’s champions Reading with a stunning 4-1 victory and then extinguished the Canterbury flame 3-0 to take the Investec England title.

The Kent club had finished the season top of the league to ensure European qualification and had earlier beaten Clifton 2-0 in the semi-final of the Investec play-offs at Reading. But Surbiton were in no mood to forgo their chance in Europe in only their second season in the top flight. That they got past two of the game’s best defences was a tribute to the team’s organisation under coach Brett Garrard.

They got off to the best possible start in the final against Canterbury, Emily Atkinson scoring from a second-minute penalty corner after latching on to a rebound from a Chloe Strong shot. Hollie Webb converted another rebound from a corner in the 57th minute and Jenna Woolven clinched the title four minutes later in the last quarter of the game.

Twigg said: "We fought our hearts out against Reading and then put in another good performance against Canterbury. We are all absolutely thrilled.”

And she acknowledged the input from the rest of the team by saying: “There are players that hadn’t been selected for this weekend but have played an integral part in the season, so it has really been a whole squad effort and I’m really proud of all the girls."

A bruised Reading took their revenge out on Clifton 6-0 to take third place in the championship.


Twigg praised her team-mates' performances [GETTY]

Holcombe and Buckingham gained promotion to the English premier division, with Jane Sixsmith’s Sutton Coldfield demoted and Brooklands Poynton missing out.

Twigg will be in action for England this weekend as they play two uncapped matches against South Africa at Bisham Abbey, and later against Korea and Canada in the World Cup build-up.

Captain Barry Middleton sent out a rallying call to the fans after England’s 3-0 win over Ireland in front of a sell-out crowd at Reading last week.

Two goals in two minutes did for Ireland with East Grinstead’s Ashley Jackson twice converting with penalty corners in the 29th and 70th minutes and Beeston’s Harry Martin hitting home a corner in the 31st minute.

With the build-up to next month’s World Cup in The Hague starting in earnest, Middleton added: “We want to get more nights like this with great support. We're trying to go to tournaments win matches and get the results. We’re working hard to get more people interested in hockey and, hopefully, next time we play we can get even more people down to watch. We've also got the Investec London Cup in July and we should get a few thousand in the new legacy stadium on Olympic Park, and that's the sort of thing we want for our sport.”

Middleton leads his men out for a four nations tournament in Glasgow from April 23-28th and then England play the Netherlands in The Hague two days later.

Daily Express



Supreme Surbiton lift women's hockey title in style as Holcombe and Buckingham secure top-flight status

By Rod Gilmour, at Sonning Lane


Triumphant: Surbiton captain Sarah Haycroft lifts the Investec women's title Photo: ADY KERRY

Surbiton 3 Canterbury 0

Surbiton confounded expectations on Sunday evening as the London club became English champions for the first time after only their second season in the top flight.

Strikes from Emily Atkinson, Hollie Webb and Jenna Woolven ensured victory, while the Kent side certainly felt the effects of missing top striker Nikki Kidd to Scotland duty.

Nevertheless, Sarah Haycroft’s side were superb throughout as Canterbury, who had lost just twice in the league, failed to register a shot on goal.

Surbiton’s route to the title can be put down to their second-half performance against Reading on Saturday in the semi-finals. They put four past the defending champions after a peerless display.

Giselle Ansley, the England defender, admitted yesterday that Surbiton “got what we deserved” in the final.

“We planned for beating Reading and they were there for the taking,” said Ansley, who will now focus on England’s preparations for next month’s World Cup.



Moreover, Surbiton’s success can also be attributed to their back-up squad when the likes of Ansley and Georgie Twigg have been missing to England duty.

“We’ve had 15 and 16-year-olds playing and everyone got minutes on the pitch. This is for them and it has been one team effort,” added Ginsley.

After Atkinson’s opener from a penalty corner, Webb then struck at the end of the third quarter from another, just as it looked as if Canterbury might clear from the D. The goal sucked the life from Canterbury and Woolven secured victory with a diving deflection late on.

“We’re all going on a European tour,” sang Surbiton’s boisterous travelling support as the final hooter loomed. Indeed, a deserved prize for a talented outfit.

Moment of the weekend

Holcombe midfielder Megan Fraser put her five goals in 24 hours, which included a crucial hat-trick against Buckingham, down to playing with a “great bunch of girls with hunger”. The 23 year-old played a key part in the Kent side’s promotion while Fraser’s form recently saw her rewarded with the Ireland captaincy. “Our personnel at Holcombe are attacking and we won’t sit back and defend," she added. It bodes well for an exciting season next year.

Picture of the weekend


Holcombe and Buckingham clash in their crucial play-off encounter

Buckingham and Holcome join top flight

Jo Ellis, the Beijing Olympian and sport teacher at Radley College, described it as a “special moment” as Buckingham finally secured Premier Division status for the first time after falling at the final hurdle in the previous four years. Twelve months ago, the team were in tears on Finals day. Yesterday, there was euphoria as Buckingham clinched a 2-0 win over Sutton Coldfield, who became the first top flight team to be relegated from play-off weekend in five years.

Meanwhile, Holcombe, pictured below, were also promoted after an 8-2 win over Buckingham in the four-team play-off. After only one year in the National League, coach Kevin Johnson admitted he was relishing the local derby with Canterbury next season. “They have such heritage and we will respect each other," he said.



Johnson, presiding over a team in only their first year in the National League, added that chairman David South’s financial injection had helped deliver one half of his vision after the men’s side fell short in their promotion bid. “Hockey is his passion and I’m so pleased for him,” said Johnson, who is also England’s under-21 coach.

History beckons for Reading

Reading had to be content with third after outclassing Clifton 6-0. With only the top two teams assured of European places - an England Hockey ruling - Reading’s hopes now hinge on lifting EuroHockey’s Club Champions Cup, while victory would leave Canterbury sidelined - despite finishing a point ahead of Reading in the regular season.

Reading face Uhlenhorster, Germany’s oldest club and current national champions, on Friday in the last eight. Alex Danson, Reading’s forward, said that qualifying for Europe outright was a “massive disappointment”, but lifting hockey’s elite women's competition would be one of the club’s greatest feats. “We have the depth to do this,” she added.

The Telegraph



Big upset as Kelburne lose out on penalties to St Andrews

Scottish Cup Round Up

Men's Scottish Cup

There was a big upset this weekend as League champions Glynhill Kelburne went out after losing 5-4 on penalties to St Andrews University. The full time score had both sides drawing on 3-3, with the students coming from 2-0 down.

Western Wildcats went out to Grove Menzieshill who won by one goal, 4-3. Despite the journey north Grange managed a 2-0 win over Aberdeen Grammar.

Dundee Wanderers had a comfortable win of 6-0 over struggling Harris Academy FP.

Highland men gave division one side AAM Gordonains a bit of a fright as the Aberdeen based side scraped a 3-2 win.

Hillhead had a solid performance with a 5-1 win over Erskine Stewart Melville whilst Inverleith stormed through to the next round with an outstanding 12-0 over Waverley Inveresk Trinity.

Women’s Scottish Plate

University of St Andrews, winners of Division 3 progressed to the next round very comfortably after beating Kelbune 12-0.

Elsewhere there were less goals with Glasgow Accies winning 1-0 over University of Dundee.

Men’s District Cup

A good weekend for East based sides as Inverleith II won 2-1 over Thomsons Cycles Kelburne II whilst Grange II won 5-0 away from home to Dundee Wanderers II.

AMM Gordonians II won 4-0 over Fidra Lions whilst in a Glasgow derby PSL Team Sport Clydesdale II came out on top with a 5-2 win against Western Wildcats II.

Men’s District Plate

Hillhead II won 3-0 over Aberdeen Grammar FP II, whilst CALA Edinburgh II won 5-2 against Dunfermline City.

Watsonians II went on a goal spree beating Borders Fjordhus Reivers 10-3 whereas Perthshire scraped through to the next round with a 4-3 win over University of Strathclyde.

Men’s reserve cup

Great day for Grange as their III won 4-2 over Granite City Wanderers III whilst Grange V won by one goal 4-3 against AAM Gordonians III.

Hillhead III lost to Erskine Stewart Melville FP III 4-1, elsewhere Edinburgh University III put 7 goals past PSL team sport Clydesdale V to get them through to the next round.

Men’s reserve plate

Another local Glasgow derby with Rottenrow Blue Sox II coming out on top beating Kelburne III in a closely fort match ending 4-3.

Dundee Wanderers III got the better of Hillhead V, winning 6-0. In contrast Dundee Wanderers IV lost 5-0 to Aberdeen Grammar FP III.

Women’s District Cup

The teams from the highlands are storming their way through the District cup with Shetland winning 4-1 over AMM Merlins Gordonians II and Orkney beating Hillhead II a close 2-1.

Milne Craig Clydesdale Western IV won 3-2 over George Heriots, elsewhere Erskine Stewart Melville FP II won 5-0 against Edinburgh University IV.

Women’s District Plate

Lingston & West Lothian came away the victors as they beat Glasgow Accies II 2-0. Quasar beat Hiland 1-0, Madras FP also won 1-0 over Aberdeen Grammar FP.

Grange III had a solid 5-0 win over Glasgow University III.

Scottish Hockey Union media release



Meet Team Australia... will three be their magic number?

The Hockeyroos and the Kookaburras have both won the World Cup twice. Can they make it a double treble in the Hague?

Relaxed, aggressive and competitive. All words that can be used to sum up the Australian approach to sport, and all words that characterise why the green and gold of Australia has become synonymous with success at major hockey tournaments. Both the men and women's teams have won the Hockey World Cup twice before, so both will be seeking a third title to add to the Australian haul of Olympic, Commonwealth, and Champion Trophy medals.

The Kookaburra's are the reigning men's World Cup champions, and captain Mark Knowles warned that opposition in the Hague could expect to see more of the diving and harrying on the pitch that has become a mark of the Aussie way. The number 1 ranked team go into the competition on the back of a comprehensive rout of their opponents at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and, with this tournament being coach Ric Charlesworth's last major competition, his team will want to see the iconic coach retire in style.

Madonna Blyth is captain of the Hockeyroos, and she is hoping that the women will be able to emulate the men's performance of four years ago. Currently, the Australian team are ranked 4th in the world, and they will be wanting to finish higher than their fifth place in the last World Cup. And don't be surprised to see the Hockeroos kicking a football around before their matches, Madonna explains that this has now become their traditional warm-up.

FIH site



For this girl hockey is everything

K. N. Murali Sankar


Hockey player U. Varalakshmi from Kakinada.

U. Varalakshmi, a Class VIII student, hails from a fishermen’s family and she depends on her mother Manga’s hard-earned money for a living

Despite several hurdles, this 12-year-old girl from the city is making news in hockey and she will be representing Andhra Pradesh in the national championship.

U. Varalakshmi is a Class VIII student in the Municipal Corporation High School for Girls at Salipeta. She hails from a fishermen’s family and she depends on her mother Manga’s hard-earned money who sells fish after her father Rambabu died during a cyclone three years ago.

Varalakshmi’s day begins at the District Sports Authority Stadium in the morning and after practising for a couple of hours, she returns home to proceed to school. After school she straightaway heads to the stadium to hone her skills under the watchful eyes of her coach.

Her performance in the State-level championship for girls in the sub-junior category in November last at Anantapur made her eligible to represent Andhra Pradesh in national hockey championship to be held at Ranchi in May, 2014. She is going to be trained at the RDT hockey academy in Anantapur from April 25.

“Varalakshmi is a promising player. Her dedication and hardwork are her plus points and she will be a crucial player for the State teams in the years to come,” says V. Ravi Raju, secretary of the Hockey East Godavari.

“She is balancing both her academics and hockey pretty well. What she needs is support from society,” says G. Varalakshmi and S. L. Kumari, both physical education trainers in the Salipeta school.

Incidentally both of them spotted the innate talent in U. Varalakshmi and encouraged her to up take the country’s original national game with gusto.

The Hindu



Lack of pitches will kill hockey


The poorly maintained Pandamaran Stadium.

PETALING JAYA – It’s a surprise how Malaysian hockey has done so well internationally when there are hardly any pitches in the Klang Valley.

Malaysia are No.13 in the International Hockey Federation (FIH) rankings while our football team are at No.142 in the Fifa rankings — yet millions are being spent on football.

There are only six hockey pitches — Education Ministry mini stadium and KL Hockey Stadium in Pantai, Bukit Jalil (two turfs), Kuala Selangor and at International Islamic University Malaysia (UIAM) in Selayang — in Selangor and KL that are fit for competitive use.

However, the turf in Kuala Selangor is only for Permatang Panjang school’s home matches while the one in Selayang is for the university’s home matches.

This means some 11,000 players — in professional and amateur leagues – have access to just four pitches while a handful use the ones in Kuala Selangor and Selayang. The alternatives are the unsafe venues in PJ and Pandamaran.

The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) believes the shortage could hamper the development of the sport and have appealed to the relevant authorities to improve and increase hockey facilities.

“We would like to appeal to the relevant bodies to look into this matter for the sake of development. Hockey requires infrastructure and the lack of it is a hindrance,” said MHC secretary Datuk Johari Abdul Aziz.

“The stadiums are usually fully booked. It would only better when the Tun Razak, PJ and Pandaraman Stadiums are repaired.”

Johari believes that although there are competition friendly pitches in Perak, Kuantan, Perlis, Kedah and Negri Sembilan, Klang Valley is where the sport is concentrated in. The hockey pitches in Penang and Kelantan are also not in tip top condition.

Malay Mail

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