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News 01 August 2014

All the news for Friday 1 August 2014


Semi-final line-ups confirmed at Commonwealth Games

Aussies remain red hot favourites for Gold, but big names still in hunt


Ashley Jackson scored twice to help England men to victory over Canada and into the semi-finals at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. (Photo: England Hockey / Ady Kerry)

The pool phases of the men’s and women’s Hockey competitions at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games have come to an end, and all of the big guns have negotiated a safe passage through to the semi-finals.

On Wednesday (30 July), South Africa’s women overcame a strong challenge from India to set up a semi-final clash against tournament favourites Australia, while goals from Alex Danson and Susannah Townsend gave England a narrow 2-1 triumph over host nations Scotland to book a final four battle against New Zealand. The Australia versus South Africa match will take place on Friday 1st August at 1215 local time (GMT/UTC+1), with the Black Sticks and England going head-to-head at 1430.

The semi-final line-up for the men’s competition was confirmed on Thursday (31 July), with India and England joining Oceania giants Australia and New Zealand in the last four. India battled to a hard-fought but impressive 5-2 win over South Africa, pipping their opponents to a second place finish in Pool A. An Ashley Jackson double helped England to a 3-1 victory over Canada, ensuring that they finished second in Pool B and remain very much in the medal hunt. England face the monumental task of defeating reigning World Champions Australia in the first semi-final, which takes place on Saturday 2nd August at 1000 local time. That match will be followed by India's semi-final match-up against New Zealand’s Black Sticks, which gets underway at 1215.

The men’s semi-finals on Saturday will be followed by the women’s medal matches, with the Bronze up for grabs at 1800 before the fight for Gold begins at 2015. The men’s medal matches take place on Sunday 3rd August, with the battle for Bronze starting at 1000 ahead of the showpiece Gold medal match at 1215.

We will be posting a recap of the tournament early next week, but in the mean time you can keep up to speed on all of the action from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on the official event website - www.glasgow2014.com, with hockey specific info available on www.glasgow2014.com/games/sports/hockey.

XX Commonwealth Games Hockey - Glasgow (SCO)

Semi-final / Medal match schedule

(All times listed are BST (GMT / UST +1))

Friday 1st August

1215 - Women’s Semi-final - Australia v South Africa
1430 - Women’s Semi-final - New Zealand v England

Saturday 2nd August

1000 - Men’s Semi-final: Australia v England
1215 - Men’s Semi-final: New Zealand v India
1800 - Women’s Bronze Medal Match
2015 - Women’s Gold medal Match

Sunday 3rd August

1000 - Men’s Bronze Medal Match
1215 - Men’s Gold Medal Match

FIH site



Brave SA men go down fighting

JONATHAN COOK

The South Africa men’s hockey team, missing the services of key players Jonty Robinson and Andrew Cronje, were beaten 5-2 by favourites India after are trailing 4-0 at half-time in what was effectively a quarter-final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow Thursday evening.

Double Olympian Cronje (concussion after taking a fearful blow in first-wave penalty corner defence against Australia and spending the last two days in hospital) and Olympian Robinson (torn calf) were unable to play - leaving SA down to only three field players on the rolling subs bench compared to India's five, which is a massive disadvantage.

SA post-man at defensive penalty corners, Tim Drummond, was also hit on the head at an Aussie PC and it must have taken enormous courage for the Durbanite to take up his position on the left-hand post against India’s powerful drag-flickers at corner time.

India were at their brilliant best at times but SA didn’t help themselves in the first half with a number of unforced errors, yet the fightback of the South Africans from the desperate position of trailing by four goals to a 4-2 score early in the second half says much for them.

V.R. Raghunath (third minute) and Rupinder Singh (ninth) both nailed down successful penalty corners to put India 2-0 up before Ramandeep Singh (22nd) and S.V. Sunil (26th) scored from field play for the 4-0 half-time score.

In the 12th minute the never-say-die spirit of the South Africans saw Taine Paton smash a stunning shot into the backboard past a helpless keeper but on video referral the chance to pull one back was disallowed after the ball was adjudged to have inadvertently hit the back of Paton’s stick in the immediate build-up to his strike.

Seven minutes into the second half (42nd) SA capitalised on a much-improved start when captain Austin Smith placed a powerful slap pass straight to Paton’s stick, whose deft touch while facing away from goal left the keeper stranded (4-1).

Paton came close soon after but India came back to win a PC which Pieterse saved brilliantly and the result was SA winning a PC at the other end from the breakout, and Smith flashed his drag-flick into the top-left corner of the net for 4-2 after 47 minutes. SA were on their way to winning the second half spoils but the two players shot cost them fresh legs in remaining 23 minutes.

The Indians then hit the post and soon after SA were down to nine men on the pitch and India 10 as the umpires banished players to the sin-bin. In all, six players went this way in a fierce encounter.

Manpreet Singh (57th) gave India a vital three-goal cushion (5-2) with 13 minutes left but SA were not done yet and hit the post not long after.

With nine minutes left both teams were back to the full complement of 11 players on the park. However, with six to go - as if Drummond has not taken enough blows - India captain Sardar Singh was lucky to escape with only a yellow card after an incredibly dangerous sliding tackle on the SA player that saw the midfielder come very close to serious head damage again.

Both teams were down to 10 men in the last five minutes as the game got increasingly ugly. Keeper Rassie Pieterse, who made a number of brilliant saves in the match, was subbed with four minutes left as SA threw down their final card by adding an extra field player in a bid to wrest the dream for a semi-final berth out of the fire.

With one minute left Paton won a PC but India blocked Smith’s low flick and it was game over.

The SA team can feel proud of how they dealt with adversity against near-impossible odds and will play Canada for fifth place (from 10.50am SA time Saturday, live on SHD7 and SS7).

Earlier Thursday, both men’s captain Smith and head coach Fabian Gregory wished the SA women’s team well in their semi-final versus Commonwealth Games hot favourites Australia’s Hockeyroos Friday afternoon, live from 1.05pm SA time on SuperSport 7 and SSHD7.

The second semi-final sees New Zealand versus England from 3.20pm SA time on SS7 and SHD7.

SA Hockey Association media release


 

India Cruise through to the Semis

by Dil Bahra in Glasgow


Akashdeep Singh, Manpreet Singh and Ramandeep Singh celebrate India's goal. Photo: Ady Kerry

A polished performance by India in the first half with four goals ensured a semi – final showdown against New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games.

Two penalty corner goals, one each by Raghunath and Rupinder Singh in the first nine minutes calmed any nerves the team had and put the South Africans on the back foot. Ramandeep Singh added the third goal in the 22nd minute and four minutes later Sunil made it 4 – 0.

South Africa started the second half strongly. Taine Paton scored in the 42nd minute to make it 1 – 4. Five minutes later, Chandanda Nikkin made a good run on the left and forced a penalty corner. South African goalkeeper Erasmus Pieterse saved Rupinder Singh’s shot and the South Africans attacked and forced a penalty corner at the other end. Skipper Austin Smith converted this penalty corner to make it 4 – 2. These two quick goals did not, however, ease the Indians from attacking and in the 58th minute Manpreet Singh dived full length to score from a cross from the left to regain full control of the match after South Africa’s mini comeback.

This was a convincing win by the Indian team but they will need to rectify the  silly mistakes they made when South Africa came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half.

www.sikhsinhockey.com





India trounce South Africa, to meet New Zealand in semis

V Krishnaswamy


India’s Rupinderpal Singh celebrates his goal against South Africa in Glasgow on Wednesday

India overcame some uncertainty in the middle of the second half before finishing off South Africa 5-2 and pick up the second place in Group A and make the semifinals of the hockey competition at the Commonwealth Games on Thursday.

Australia topped the pool with maximum 12 points, while India had nine from three wins and a loss against Australia. From Group B, New Zealand, topped the pool ahead of England. The Kiwis had an all-win record, which included a 2-1 win over England.

In their last league match on Thursday, New Zealand thrashed Malaysia 6-1.

In the cross-over semifinal matches, the 2010 silver medallists India will take on New Zealand, while four-time defending champions Australia meet England. The semifinals are scheduled for Saturday.

India began with a purpose and earned their first penalty corner within two minutes and VR Raghunath duly converted to put India on the board at 1-0. However, three minutes later, his second penalty corner shot was saved by South African goalkeeper, Erasmus Pieterse.

The Indian coach began to roll his substitutions within five minutes to keep the players fresh and it paid off as the Indian kept piling on the pressure.

Rupinder, who has been India's top scorer struck with the third penalty corner in the ninth minute and India were 2-0 up. India seemed to be running away with the match as Gurwinder Chandi had a shy in the 16th minute but Pieterse saved it. Four minutes later Ramandeep's attempt was again saved by the goalkeeper, but for whom the South Africans would have been way down.

But Ramandeep was not to be denied as he did strike two minutes later to put India 3-0 up. Four minutes later SV Sunil slammed another field goal making it 4-0 as India were outplaying the South Africans.

Indians went into the break at 4-0.

The South Africans put up a good fight in the second half and in fact gave the Indians a lot of food for thought. Six minutes into the second half, Taine Patton scored the first goal for South Africa to make 1-4.

The Indians stung the reverse went on the offensive and earned a penalty corner, which they wasted. Then in 44th minute, Ramandeep's shot came close to increasing the lead, but it was again saved by Pieterse.

In the very next minute, South Africa got their second goal from Austin Smith to make it 2-4 and the Indians must have felt uncomfortable as their lead was cut by half.

Sunil, once, and then Akashdeep Singh twice, had further attempts, till Manpreet Singh made it 5-2 for India.

Chandi and Sardar Singh, who had also been warned before today's match for improper physical conduct against Eddie Ockenden in the match against Australia two days ago, got themselves a yellow card and also served five minute suspensions.

DNA



Indian men in hockey semifinals

India breezed past South Africa 5-2 and qualified for the semifinals of the men’s hockey competition on Thursday. India will now take on New Zealand in the last four while Australia will meet England.

V.R. Raghunath and Rupinderpal Singh were on target for India in the fourth and eighth minute respectively. Ramandeep Singh made it 3-0 in the 22nd and it became 4-0 thanks to S.V. Sunil’s goal in the 26th. Manpreet Singh rounded off the tally in the 58th minute.

Taine Patton deflected one in the 42nd minute while Austin Smith was on target in the 46th for the loser.

Indian women lose

The Indian women went down 3-2 to South Africa.

The results: Men: India 5 (V.R. Raghunath, Rupinderpal Singh, Ramandeep Singh, S.V. Sunil, Manpreet Singh) bt South Africa 2 (Taine Patton, Austin Smith).

Women: South Africa 3 (Tarry Bright, Dirkie Chamberlain, Illse Davids) bt India 2 (Jaspreet Kaur, Rani Rampal).

The Hindu



India beat SA 5-2, make semis


India played without any inhibition to beat South Africa 5-2 in the crucial tie to book a berth in the semifinals.PTI

Glasgow - The Indian men's hockey team won their fourth and final Pool A game 5-2 against South Africa on Thursday to qualify for the semifinals. For a place in the final, they will take on New Zealand on Saturday. India needed at least draw to have any chance of qualifying for the last four.

India got down to business right at the start, earning first penalty corner in the third minute. Drag-flicker V.R. Raghunath made no mistake in converting the opportunity to open the account for the 2010 silver medallists. India kept the pressure on and in the ninth minute Rupinder Pal Singh was successful in converting another penalty corner to make it 2-0.

Ramandeep Singh then extended the lead to 3-0 in the 22nd minute by scoring a field goal. Four minutes later, India scored another through forward S.V. Sunil. South Africa came out in a different gear in the second half and scored two quick goals. But India ddn’t allow them any more goals. Manpreet Singh completed the tally by scoring fifth goal in 58th minute.

The Tribune



Australia men top Pool A

A 5-0 win over hosts seals Pool A top spot at Commonwealth Games



Australia’s men’s hockey team confirmed their status as Pool A winners at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a 5-0 victory over host nation Scotland to set up a semi-final clash with England on Saturday.

Two goals in as many first half minutes from Matt Gohdes helped the Australian men to victory as he added quickly to Chris Ciriello’s opener. An early second half strike from Kieran Govers and Jake Whetton’s deflected goal soon after completed the five goal haul in a match in which Scotland goalkeeper Jamie Cachia had to be at his sharpest to repel a series of Australian strikes.

While the result maintains Australia’s 100% record in Glasgow, Australian co-coach Paul Gaudoin said afterwards he believes his side needs to perform better in the final four showdown.

“We’re happy we’re in the semi-finals,” he said, before admitting, “We’ve got some work to do. Our skill execution today was below par, I think. We’re going to need to be better in the semi-final against England.”

It took until midway through the first half for Victorian Chris Ciriello to breach the resolute Scottish defence with a low flick from the first penalty corner of the match, but two more goals in the six minutes that followed effectively put the result beyond doubt by half time.

Australia’s second came from the stick of Queenslander Matt Gohdes who stole in from the right hand side to receive Jake Whetton’s defence splitting pass before sending a tomahawk strike low into the Scottish goal. And two minutes later Gohdes was in the right place at the right time when Kieran Govers’ penalty corner flick came back off the goalkeeper’s glove and into his path. Showing quick reactions Gohdes followed up to put the rebound into the roof of the net for 3-0.

On the stroke of half time, following a Scottish foray upfield, Govers was denied by Cachia. And the 26 year-old Wollongong-born forward was in the thick of the action after the restart, watching as the goalkeeper got down low to save his penalty corner attempt in the opening minutes of the second half.

But Govers was not to be denied. Moments later, a classy passing move down the left hand side saw Daniel Beale lay the ball through to Govers and he finished calmly for 4-0.

Jake Whetton received the credit for Australia’s fifth goal, although the final touch came off the leg of Scotland defender William Marshall following good work along the back line by the 22 year-old Australian forward. Played in by Trent Mitton after he intercepted the ball at the top of the circle, Whetton’s cut-back was inadvertently directed into the goal by the unfortunate Marshall. Whetton came close again less than five minutes later as his back post deflection flew wide.

Despite creating a number of chances to extend their lead, Mitton, Ciriello and Govers were all thwarted from adding to Australia’s tally by goalkeeper Cachia.  

Double goal scorer Gohdes said afterwards, “It’s always good to jag a few goals up front but as long as the team plays well I don’t care if I score or not. To come away with the win was a pretty good result.

“I think we can always get better. There was a couple of nice passages of play but we’ll have a look at that game, do our homework and see where we can improve.”

When asked about semi-final opponents England, Gohdes added, “I think they’re playing very well. The team’s not too dissimilar to the one that was at the World Cup so they obviously know themselves very well. We’ll go and watch as much video as we can in the next couple of days and we’ll give them a red-hot crack in two days’ time.”

Kiel Brown will make his 150th appearance for Australia in the semi-final.

Australia's women will play their semi-final against South Africa on Friday, 1 August, at 12:15pm BST (9:15pm AEST).

Men's Commonwealth Games semi-finals
Saturday 2 August
Semi-final 2: Australia v England - 10:00am BST / 7:00pm AEST / 5:00pm AWST
Semi-final 1: India v New Zealand - 12:15pm BST / 9:15pm AEST / 7:15pm AWST

Men's Commonwealth Games medal matches
Sunday 3 August
Bronze medal: 10:00am BST / 7:00pm AEST / 5:00pm AWST
Gold medal: 12:15pm BST / 9:15pm AEST / 7:15pm AWST

Australia (m) v Scotland
Pool A
Commonwealth Games, Glasgow

AUSTRALIA: 5 (3)
Chris Ciriello 19 (PC)
Matt Gohdes 23, 25 (FG, PC)
Kieran Govers 38 (FG)
Jake Whetton 43 (FG)

SCOTLAND: 0 (0)
-

Australia v Scotland
Name (Hometown) Caps/Goals
Starting XI
Daniel Beale (Brisbane, QLD) 32/7
Kiel Brown (Toowoomba, WA) 149/4
Andrew Charter (GK) (Canberra, ACT) 74/0
Matt Gohdes (Rockhampton, QLD) 98/30
Kieran Govers (Wollongong, NSW) 97/52
Mark Knowles (Rockhampton, QLD) 243/20
Eddie Ockenden (Hobart, TAS) 219/54
Simon Orchard (Maitland, NSW) 154/48
Andrew Philpott (Melbourne, VIC) 19/1
Matthew Swann (Mackay, QLD) 111/5
Aran Zalewski (Margaret River, WA) 41/4

Used Substitutes
Chris Ciriello (Melbourne, VIC) 144/90
Fergus Kavanagh (Geraldton, WA) 189/14
Trent Mitton (Perth, WA) 60/19
Jake Whetton (Brisbane, QLD) 66/30
Tristan White (Wollongong, NSW) 33/2

Hockey Australia media release



Australia show their class against Scotland


Australia's Trent Mitton advances on the Scottish goal. Photo Credit: Ady Kerry

Scotland rounded off their Pool A campaign in the Men’s Hockey competition today, performing admirably in a 5-0 defeat to World Champions and Gold Medal favourites Australia.

Two goals from Matt Gohdes, together with strikes from Chris Ciriello, Kieran Govers and Jacob Whetton ensured a comfortable win for the Aussies, who have qualified for the semi-finals with a 100% win record.

Scotland goalkeeper Jamie Cachia was the home side’s star performer, making a number of crucial saves.

Following the match, Scotland Head Coach Derek Forsyth said, “The boys did as well as expected, you are talking about the top team, and we caused them a few problems.

“They took us on a bit more towards the end, it's hard enough playing the world champions with 16 players let alone 14 at the end of that game, which is pretty tough on the lads. But the important thing now is we recover well and prepare for tomorrow's game.

“We played Malaysia in a warm up match and had a good result against them but this time it will be a totally different game tomorrow night. They may feel like they have had a disappointing tournament but we need to make sure we get out there and finish seventh.”

Scotland striker Kenny Bain added, “It's amazing to play against these guys. To be honest we are just as capable to play hockey with them but they are ruthless in everything they do and taught us a lesson.

“We gave it a go today and worked our socks off to get a result against them and the team will be pretty happy how we performed against them.

“It’s all about performance, not results, especially in these sort of games. Go out have fun and enjoy that crowd which we did. We can't fault them as they have been the 12th man again and really pushed us on.

“It is such a great experience, playing in my second Commonwealth Games and a home one too, it's unbelievable seeing my pals from Holland who have travelled over. It was so good to see them screaming us on today.

“Glasgow 2014 has been fantastic, our bodies are starting to kill now as we lost a few boys in that match [to injury] but we just need to prepare and get ready for tomorrow and play our hearts out for that crowd.

“Everyone the crowd was backing us, I am so proud to play in front of them, and I hope I gave them a good show. The tempo was a lot higher today and hope that once we look back at the video footage we can see where we need to improve and get a few goals tomorrow against Malaysia."

The home side were under pressure early in proceedings, Jamie Cachia called upon to make an important save from Eddie Ockenden’s shot after good Australian build-up play on the right flank.

Simon Ochard was allowed to run three quarters of the length of the pitch, his clever ball penetrating the Scottish defence, but Cachia was alert to the presence of danger, smothering the ball wide to safety.

After excellent attacking play from both Keil Brown and Jocab Whetton, Scotland midfielder Nick Parkes made a timely block with his stick to prevent Matt Gohdes’ low drive reaching the target.

Despite a dogged defensive display from the Scots, Australia eventually broke the deadlock in the 18th minute. A penalty corner was awarded for dangerous play and Chris Ciriello took full advantage of the opportunity, dispatching a shot into the bottom right corner of the goal to make it 1-0.

Four minutes later, the World Champions doubled their lead, Parkes being robbed by Whetton to play in Gohdes, who cut inside to send a reverse stick shot past Cachia.

The game was wrapped up by the Aussies shortly after; Fergus Kavanagh’s fierce drag-flick was well blocked by Cachia but Gohdes was first to react, beating home the resulting rebound to extend the lead to 3-0.

Kieran Govers had a penalty corner attempt saved by Cachia right on the half-time hooter.

Three minutes after the re-start, Scotland found themselves four goals down, Govers making it count with a lofted shot after receiving a pass from Aran Zalewski.

The Aussies rounded off the scoring in the 43rd minute, Whetto driving to the baseline and his cut-back being deflected off William Marshall into the goal for 5-0.

Cachia denied further goal-scoring efforts from Orchard and two Cirello penalty corner drag-flicks in quick succession, before Alan Forsyth fashioned the home side’s clearest goal-scoring opportunity in the 51st minute, edging himself along the baseline but no-one could get on the end of his cross.

Cachia again saved Scotland to deny Govers and Trent Mitton before the full-time whistle.

The Scots now advance to the 7th/8th classification match against Malaysia tomorrow evening (20.15), when a win would ensure Derek Forsyth’s side reach their pre-Games target.

Team Scotland: Jamie Cachia, Gareth Hall, David Forsyth, Nick Parkes, Michael Bremner, Dan Coultas, Alan Forysth, Chris Grassick (c), Ian Moodie, Gordon McIntyre, Ross Stott, Chris Nelson, Kenny Bain, William Marshall, Iain Scholefield, Niall Stott.

Scottish Hockey Union media release



Jackson leads England to semis; India see off SA

England and India completed the men's Commonwealth Games semi-final line-up - along with already qualified Australia and New Zealand - following big wins over Canada and South Africa, respectively, in Glasgow.

East Grinstead star Ashley Jackson scored twice while Barry Middleton was also on the mark in their 3-1 win over the Canadians whose goalscorer was Racing Club de Bruxelles man Scott Tupper two minutes from the end.

Brace-scoring midfielder Ashley Jackson said after the game that his side is keen to beat Australia in the semis after a number of recent losses in the Olympics and World Cup at the last four stage: “Canada are a physical side and the tighter they kept it for longer the better it suited them. A couple of early goals would have made it much easier for us but we were in control the whole time."

“The next step for this group of players is to make a final, we are ranked fourth in the world and have been very much playing to that ranking, unable to make that next step to get the right result in semi-finals. It doesn't matter who we face, we're confident going into the Australia game, we have lost a few times but we've also already beaten them.”

For their part, Australia have been in imperious form despite making a couple of changes from their World Cup winning panel, scoring 22 goals in their four games to head Pool A.

England qualified for the playoffs from Pool B behind a New Zealand side that won all of their group games and will play India after they blitzed South Africa in the first half of the final preliminary match. Corner goals from Rupinder Pal Singh and VR Raghunath combined with goals from SV Sunil and Ramandeep Singh built a 4-0 lead.

The African champions fought back with a delightful goal from Royal Beerschot's Taine Paton and Den Bosch's Austin Smith before Manpreet Singh's diving finish took the steam out of South Africa's comeback. India ultimately won out 5-2. The semi-finals will be played on Saturday afternoon.

On the women's side, South Africa will play Australia on Friday in the first semi-final before New Zealand take on England on the other side of the draw.

Euro Hockey League media release



England cruise to victory over Canada


England's Ashley Jackson challenges Canada's Gordon Johnston for the ball during their pool game at the XX Commonwealth Games, Glasgow, 31st July 2014. - photo by Ady Kerry

England secured a place in the Commonwealth Games Semi Finals this morning with a comfortable 3-1 win over Canada on Thursday.

Barring a seven-goal defeat, England were always going to qualify for the final four but they made light work of seeing off the Canadians in their final group game. Ashley Jackson opened the scoring before the break, cleverly diverting in Barry Middleton’s driven cross and skipper Middleton then added a second immediately after half-time in the 36th minute.

Jackson added his second and England’s third halfway through the second period to take his tally for the tournament to seven and move him three goals clear at the top of the goal scorer table [see attached PDF for more information – please note this is current information]. England goalkeeper George Pinner saw his clean-sheet ruined at the death however as Scott Tupper bagged a consolation for the Canadians from a penalty corner.

Victory for England sets up a probable semi-final clash with Australia, the no.1 ranked side in the world and defending Commonwealth champions. England will be looking to improve on their last encounter with the Kookaburras who put five past them without reply in the group stages at the World Cup back in June

Brace-scoring midfielder Ashley Jackson said after the game: “Canada are a physical side and the tighter they kept it for longer the better it suited them. A couple of early goals would have made it much easier for us but we were in control the whole time.

“The next step for this group of players is to make a final, we are ranked fourth in the world and have been very much playing to that ranking, unable to make that next step to get the right result in semi-finals. It doesn't matter who we face, we're confident going into the Australia game, we have lost a few times but we've also already beaten them.”

England Captain Barry Middleton added: “It felt like it was comfortable the whole way through and we just kept on playing our game. We wanted to put out a performance that took our momentum into the semi-finals.

"It should be fun (playing against Australia), that’s who you want to play in big tournaments. We've set our stall out over the last few years that we want to be in the big games and be in semi-finals.

"We are consistently making semi-finals with this group of players but we will go out there, give as good as we get and we have belief in the team that we can beat anyone on our day."

ENGLAND 3 (1)
Ashley Jackson 25, 54 (FG, PC)
Barry Middleton 36 (FG)

CANADA 1 (0)
Scott Tupper 68 (PC)

England Hockey Board Media release



Semi-final place for England men

By Mike Haymonds

ASHLEY JACKSON bagged a double as England men secured their semi-final place with a comfortable 3-1 win over Canada.

Jackson opened the scoring in the 25th minute, deflecting in skipper Barry Middleton's cross, and Middleton added a second, immediately after the break, following a slick build-up by Alastair Brogdon and David Condon.

Jackson scored his second with a fierce drag flick at England's seventh penalty corner of nine midway through the second half, taking his tally for the tournament to seven.

Canada won their first two corners two minutes from time with the second fired home by their captain Scott Tupper. 

England face the recent World Cup winners and defending Commonwealth champions Australia in tomorrow's semi-final.

Jackson said: “Canada are a physical side and the tighter they kept it for longer the better it suited them.

“A couple of early goals would have made it much easier for us but we were in control the whole time.

“You treat this game for what it is, the last group game, but at the same time it basically did not matter.”

Middleton said: “We are very happy with that. We did what we had to do which was control the game.

“It felt like it was comfortable the whole way through and we just kept playing our game. We wanted to put out a performance that took our momentum into the semi-finals.

“I think a big part of elite sport is getting the culture right, giving people the best chance to perform to the best of their ability.

“The team environment is good, everyone is pretty casual and chilled but ready to switch on at the right time.

“It’s nice to be going into games feeling that it is not luck if you play well. It’s just what you do every game.”

Fieldhockey.com



Ashley Jackson’s double books a key date with Australia

ASHLEY JACKSON scored twice as the England men's hockey team beat Canada 3-1 yesterday in their final pool group to secure a semi-final against world champions Australia.

By Mike Haymonds


England's Ashley Jackson battles for the ball with Canada's Philip Wright [PA]

The East Grinstead playmaker, the leading scorer for the men's competition with seven goals, opened the scoring in the 25th minute to give England the early advantage. Captain Barry Middleton added his name to score-sheet and then Jackson completed his brace at the Glasgow Hockey Centre.

The men's team have never reached the final in the 16-year history of the competition and they face the hardest task imaginable now: the defending champions Australia have won Commonwealth gold four times in a row.

"We know we can beat them," said Jackson. "It will be a great game for the neutral."

Daily Express



England men aim to break down 'fallible' Australia as world champions rebuild

A 3-1 victory against Canada sets up a semi-final against reigning champions Australia for England, though Ashley Jackson and pals will not be overawed

By Rod Gilmour


On target: Ashley Jackson fires in England's third goal against Canada on Thursday Photo: PA

England men can overcome a “fallible” Australian side, according to midfielder Nick Catlin, as the old rivals – two of the tournament’s top scorers – set up a Commonwealth Games semi-final showdown on Saturday.

The English secured a meeting against the world champions after a comfortable 3-1 win over Canada in their last Pool B match at Glasgow Green. The encounter perhaps summed up their pool campaign: a first half of penetrating possession yielded just one goal, through Ashley Jackson, before captain Barry Middleton, and a second from England’s standout playmaker, added gloss after the break.

Attention immediately turned to Saturday, with England aiming – surprisingly – to reach their first Commonwealth Games final. Standing in the way is a side who have won gold in each of the past four Games since hockey was introduced in 1998.

“Australia are not quite as strong a team as they were at the World Cup,” claimed Catlin. “We competed against them twice in the warm-ups although we lost narrowly twice. We also beat a similar Australia team in the third-place play-off at the World League in January.”

Ric Charlesworth’s decision to retire as Australia men’s coach after hammering Holland in the World Cup final – thus bringing to an end one of the great tenures in Australian sport over a 20-year span – as well as the decision to leave several key players out of their squad, has given England a real chance to make Sunday's final.

England had to make sure of a draw or better against Canada on Thursday morning, a match in which they consistently bore down on the opposition goal from the off. The midfield looked in menacing mood as runners advanced into the Canada circle almost at will. Catlin and David Condon were particularly lively. Middleton was a vocal presence as ever.

England had five chances in the opening quarter but failed to convert until Dan Fox, at the top of the D, fired low across goal. Jackson stuck out his stick and the deflection looped into the net past David Carter. In those situations, these goals look like a fluke, but there is acute skill in finding the angle and a way into the net.

The chances came thick and fast thereafter. Jackson, twice, and Mark Gleghorne both missed from penalty corner strikes, before Alastair Brogdon’s weave into the circle saw Middleton score from the ensuing traffic melee.

“This will be their first test but we are in really good shape,” added Catlin of Saturday’s clash. “There’s not the strength in depth here as at a World Cup but it’s about making the semi-finals. And if we want to win a medal then we have to beat Australia at some point.”

The Kookaburras, jointly-coached by Paul Gaudoin and Graham Reid before a head coach is announced in September, produced routine wins in the pool stages, with only India offering any resistance.

However, as Catlin alluded to, it is readying themselves for the business end matches that count and Charlesworth’s wealth of experience at the helm of both women’s, then men’s sides could prove telling.

Australia will aim to reach a fifth final without the services of Jamie Dwyer, the 321-cap stalwart who was told of his exclusion by email. Liam de Young and Glenn Turner were also left out, meaning that Australia travelled to Glasgow lacking nearly 1,000 caps of international experience.

Mark Knowles, the Australia captain, said that there had been disagreements between the joint coaches, but with an outcome of finding “better answers”.

“I don’t see it as an issue,” he said. “We have such a strong drive as a group, but we will miss Ric’s presence.”

Meanwhile, Bobby Crutchley, the England men’s coach, was in relaxed mood after the Canada win. No injuries, 18 pool goals (the second best of the pool stages) and a player, Jackson, in unforgiving mood.

Moreover, Australia may have won the World Cup in sizzling style, 6-1 against the Dutch, but Crutchley believes “that doesn’t make them invincible.”

”They’ve left some players at home and it’s not all to do with Ric,” said Crutchley, who admitted that the technical area would be a “quieter” place without Charlesworth.

“Even when they had those players we had close games before the World Cup. Graham and Paul will have them set up and they will be a tough opposition but I’m confident we can take the game to them.”

And what of Jackson? The East Grinstead playmaker – he isn’t enamoured by being referred to as a drag flick specialist – has been in sublime form here after being hampered by a shoulder injury during the World Cup.

He has mixed penalty corner strikes with giving England a sense of rhythm and purpose in midfield. Crutchley, though, is at pains to highlight that England's path has been made easier by six other team-mates finding the net.

“Even if Ashley is off full fitness he is still a handful,” said Crutchley. “There are still areas of his game which can improve but the best thing about Ash is his drive to improve. He has great skills and the combinations make for a top hockey player.

“We are really lucky to have his work ethic but we also score from elsewhere on the pitch. We can’t rely on Ashley for everything."

The Telegraph



Canadian men close out preliminary round with loss to England

There have been a lot of close calls for the Canadian Men's National Field Hockey Team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and Thursday's final preliminary match versus England was no exception.

Despite the 3-1 loss to the tournament's second ranked team, England, the Candians showed well and once again likely leave the pitch feeling they deserved better.

The match started with several early chances by World No.5, England, but Canada was able to weather the storm and keep the scoreline even. It wasn't until the twenty-fifth minute when the game's first goal was scored, as Ashley Jackson beat Canadian keeper David Carter to give the English a 1-0 lead.

Carter was forced to make a handful more saves before the half was out to keep the game tied at one.

Heading into the second half, Canada was confident it had a chance to draw even and possibly win, however, early in the second half, England made that task considerably more difficult.

In the first minute of play, Barry Middleton beat Carter to give England its second goal of the game and a two goal-lead.

It stayed that way until Jackson added his second of the game in the fifty-forth minute to put England up three, and the game seemingly out of reach.

The Canadians, however, as they have all tournament, kept battling hard and were rewarded in the sixty-eighth minute when captain Scott Tupper converted on his second of back-to-back penalty corners to put Canada on the board.

Unfotunately, time was not on Canada's side as they would not be able to add any more goals and would lose 3-1.

While dependent on results of other matches, Canada will likely faceoff in the 5th place classfication match on Saturday, August 1st at 2amPST/5amEST vs South Africa. Stay tuned to fieldhockey.ca for confirmation.

Field Hockey Canada media release



NZ Men win 6-1 against Malaysia to finish top



The victories keep rolling in for New Zealand’s hockey teams at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with the men winning 6-1 against Malaysia and cementing their top of the pool position.

The Kiwis will now face ninth ranked India in their semi-final at 11.15pm on Saturday night, while England will play-off against world number one Australia.

In the game overnight, world-class drag flicker Andy Hayward got the side off the mark with a penalty corner conversion inside the first five minutes. Although the Kiwis dominated the game, it took 20 minutes to double their advantage when Bradley Shaw drove into the circle to smack it past the Malaysian goalkeeper giving the Kiwis a 2-0 lead at half time.

New Zealand pulled away in the second half, scoring back to back goals through Nick Haig, scoring on his 150th appearance, and Hugo Inglis who capitalised on a poor clearance from Malaysia. Another Hayward drag flick extended the lead to five goals before Shea McAleese added another after some clever play from Simon Child along the baseline. Malaysia managed a late consolation goal through captain Muhammed Razie Bin Abd Rahim, with the full time score 6-1.

Malaysia had won the previous three encounters against the Kiwis, and Captain Dean Couzins said it was pleasing to get an important win today and remain unbeaten.

“Coming into the tournament, we wanted to win all our pool games and finish top of the table. So really happy with today, it’s often games like this when you know that you’re in the semis, that you let little things slide a bit, but our attitude and attention to detail I thought was really good,” said Couzins.

“It’s very exciting, it’s been a long year, it’s been a really busy year and now I think with the next two games coming up we have got the chance to earn something really good and that’s an exciting challenge for us,” said Couzins.

“It hasn’t been an easy year, we have been through some challenges, some disappointment at different times like Champions Challenge and I think that during the World Cup we learnt a lot. It’s pleasing that we have won the crunch game so far in the tournament, but we have another one coming up with a big game in the semi-final, so hopefully we can keep those lessons in the front of our minds.”

A presentation was made before the match to Canterbury’s Nick Haig on reaching his 150th international test cap.

The NZ Women play in the semi-final against England at 1.30am tomorrow (Saturday NZT, Sky Sport 7) in their final pool play game. The NZ Men will play India in their semi-final at 11.15pm on Saturday night (NZT, Sky Sport 7).

Caption: Brad Shaw celebrates his goal during game against Malaysia. Credit www.photosport.co.nz

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RESULT
Full time: 6-1
Half time: 2-0
NZ goal scorers: Andy Hayward x2, Brad Shaw, Nick Haig, Hugo Inglis, Shea McAleese
Malaysia goal scorer: Muhammed Razie Bin Abd Rahim

Hockey New Zealand Media release



Hockey men top group

By David Leggat in Glasgow


Bradley Shaw of New Zealand is challenged by Meor Hasan of Malaysia. Photo / Getty Images

They're scoring goals, defending resolutely; the men's Black Sticks are in good shape heading for medals weekend at the Commonwealth Games.

First they beat England this week, 2-1, with a performance based on smart, determined first half defence, when the English threw plenty of offence at them.

Then today they rattled in six goals in a 6-1 win over Malaysia. So both ends of the field are working well. Even though Malaysia, at No 13 in the world, six seven spots behind New Zealand, goals matter to teams.

It engenders a good feeling that opportunities are being created and put away.

They'll expect far sterner defence from India in Saturday's semifinal and another few notches up again if they progress to Sunday's final against, almost certainly, world No 1 Australia.

"We're in that good space where we're doing the majority of our base game really well," captain and defender Dean Couzins said today.

"It's about topping that up, adding small details, being a little bit better in certain moments - how we outlet the ball, defend on our left side (for example) but it's nice to be rolling along."

There were a couple of goals at the key penalty corner set piece from Andy Hayward, while Nick Haig, Shea McAleese, Hugo Inglis and Bradley Shaw got one apiece.

"It's ideal preparation for us," coach Colin Batch said.

While it's very much first things first, Batch ventured a thought on what he'd seen of the Australians.

"They're a vastly different team to the World Cup (at The Hague last month). It's a team they want to build for the future. There's a lot of good qualities about their game but they're not at World Cup level, so that gives everyone a chance," former Australian international Bath said.

Couzins feels New Zealand are moving on nicely from the World Cup. Being a defender he has a special interest ink how that aspect is performing.

"You need the ability to defend with heart and desire but also the structure and quality of our play. Our one on one defending was very good against England.

"And what really pleased was scoring more goals, linking up and creating more, so we're in good shape."

New Zealand 6: Andy Hayward 2, Brad Shaw, Nick Haig, Hugo Inglis, Shea McAleese
Malaysia 1: Muhammed Razie Bin Abd Rahim

The New Zealand Herald



Black Sticks men surge into semis in Glasgow

MATT RICHENS IN GLASGOW


WICKED SHOT: Andy Hayward kicks up water from the turf as he takes a shot during the Black Sticks' 6-1 victory over Malaysia. LAWRENCE SMITH/Fairfax NZ

The New Zealand men's hockey team topped their pool with a 6-1 thumping of an out of sorts Malaysia.

The Black Sticks will now meet the winner of the South Africa-India match - played overnight - in their Commonwealth Games semifinal match and are guaranteed to at least play-off for a medal.

The unbeaten men's team started well with an early goal at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre, but were unable to break the Malaysians down for much of the rest of the first half.

They had a lot of possession and passed well, but only turned that into domination on the scoreboard after the break.

Andy Hayward scored the Kiwis' opener with a typically bullish drag-flick from the side's only penalty corner of the first half while Brad Shaw scored the second.

Shaw, who did not make the squad for the World Cup in the Netherlands last month, but was brought in to boost the side's defence, picked up the ball in the middle of the turf and ran strongly in traffic.

Even with three Malaysians trying to relieve him off possession Shaw continued before a space at the top of the circle opened up and the Canterbury defender was able to get away a shot which skimmed wide of Malaysian goal keeper Hafizuddin Othman.

That gave New Zealand a 2-0 halftime lead in the Scottish drizzle, but the floodgates opened in the second spell including a seven minute period where New Zealand found the back of Othman's net four times.

While the Commonwealth Games are motivation enough, the men's team had another motivator tonight in Glasgow.

The last time they met Malaysia, they were embarrassed by the world No 13 in the Champions Challenge in Malaysia.

New Zealand had won their pool and met Malaysia, the other pool's fourth ranked team, in the knock-out crossover.

The Malaysians humbled Colin Batch's side, racing out to a 4-1 lead. The Kiwis were able to pull it back to 4-4 only to lose in a shoot-out.

"We were all disappointed walking off the pitch," Couzins wrote in a column for Fairfax Media before the tournament. "We had a bad 15-minute period against them last time and those things sting and stay with you for a bit so we'll be desperate to put it right this time."

And they did in the second half.

They passed well, ran strongly and with purpose on and off the ball and created plenty of opportunities.

Malaysia scored a consolation goal in the second half which would have irked Batch and the defenders, but the job was well and truly done by then.

The winner of the India-South Africa match will prove much tougher, but winning well not only exorcised a number of the side's demons and sent the message they're keen and ready to improve on the bronze medal won in Delhi.

New Zealand 6 (Andy Hayward 2, Brad Shaw, Nick Haig, Hugo Inglis, Shea McAleese) Malaysia 1 (Razie Bin Abd Rahim) HT 2-0

Stuff



New Zealand thrash Malaysia 6-1


Malaysia’s Mohd Hassan (right) dribbles past New Zealand defenders during the Commonwealth Games hockey match at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre on Thursday. — AFP
   
GLASGOW: National coach K. Dharmaraj has come out fighting on a day his men surrendered meekly – again – by going down 6-1 to New Zealand as they wrapped up their disastrous hockey campaign in the Commonwealth Games at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

The Malaysians, who began their Group B campaign on a winning note – beating Canada 2-0 – have lost their last three matches.

First, they were whipped 8-1 by England, and then – in the mother of all shocks – lost 4-2 to the unheralded Trinidad and Tobago team. And on Thursday, they capitulated again – to the Kiwis.

But it is the unexpected and embarrassing loss to Trinidad that rankles the most as almost everyone back home took a swipe at the team – and Dharmaraj, in particular.

After vowing to stay mum in the aftermath of the Trinidad defeat, Dharmaraj on Thursday decided to answer his critics.

And he came out with guns blazing.

“Trinidad and Tobago are not a ‘chicken’ team. We were down 3-0 and the boys chased hard to come back,” he said on Thursday.

“They have a world class ‘drag flicker’ in the team. Trinidad and Tobago even forced six penalty corners against Canada, who were made to struggle.

“The people must understand that we have come with a mixed set of players – 10 boys from the Junior World Cup squad. They have to be realistic. I could have taken the easy way out and brought all my seniors.

“But the seniors have played in two back-to-back tournaments and are burnt out.

“It is sad to be slammed like this when I’m just trying to help build the national team for the future.

“This is my first tournament. No ordinary man can handle this type of pressure and I’m on the verge of cracking and falling into depression.”

Asked if there was disharmony in the team, Dharmaraj replied that “we are one big family”.

He also reminded the critics that Malaysian hockey standard is “not where you think it is”.

“We have not made it, yet. Let’s not give people this false hope – we are not good enough, yet,” said Dharmaraj.

“Yes, we finished fourth in the Junior World Cup and, after 12 years, were back in the World Cup. But where was Malaysian hockey all this while?

“We all tend to assume that Malaysia are a great team when, in actual fact, we are not.”

Asked if he was prepared to be replaced for the Asian Games in Incheon in September, Dharmaraj said: “It is not an issue with me”.

“It is up to them (the National Sports Council) to decide. I was brought in to help the national team. I will do so even if I am asked to assist a new coach or even go back down to the development programmes,” he said.

Those are brave words indeed for someone who is probably living on borrowed time, especially after another heavy defeat to New Zealand.

The Kiwis started the rout as early as in the fourth minute through Andy Hayward.

Their others goals were scored by Bradley Shaw (29th), Nick Haig (42nd), Hugo Inglis (45th), Hayward (48th) and Shea McAleese (49th).

Mohd Razie Abdul Rahim scored Malaysia’s consolation goal in the 59th minute.

Canada, Malaysia and Trinidad all finished with three points. But Canada ended up third and Malaysia fourth on goal difference.

New Zealand (12 points) and England (nine points) go through to the semi-finals.

Malaysia will play in the classification matches for the seventh-eighth placing against Scotland on Friday.

The Star of Malaysia



Preview: women’s semi-final

Looking ahead to Australia v South Africa, Commonwealth Games semi-final



Australia’s women will face South Africa on Friday afternoon for a place in the final of the Commonwealth Games (12:15pm BST / 9:15pm AEST / 7:15pm AWST).

The Aussie girls qualified for the semi-finals with a flawless 100% record in the preliminary phase, winning all four games while scoring 25 goals and conceding none.

South Africa reached the final four after finishing as runner-up to New Zealand in Pool A, beating India 3-2 in a winner-takes-all final pool fixture on Wednesday.

In Jodie Kenny Australia has the tournament’s top goal scorer (nine goals in four matches) but hot on the Queenslander’s heels is South African Dirkie Chamberlain. The 27 year-old, who plays her club hockey for Canterbury in England, has netted seven times so far including both of her team’s goals in a 2-0 win over Canada and a hat-trick against Trinidad and Tobago.

South Africa’s progress came as the result of a storming 16-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago, a 2-0 win over Canada and a 3-2 victory over India. Their only loss was a narrow 2-1 defeat to pool victors New Zealand.

South African Captain Marsha Cox said of the semi-final clash, “Australia are a top team and they are professional athletes whereas we are part-time with some of our key players having to do written exams. However, the semi-final is huge and we will give our guts, heart and determination to Australia and we will throw the kitchen sink at them."

Four years ago in Delhi South Africa lost out in the semi-finals to New Zealand before going down to England in the bronze medal match. Despite that, the fourth place finish was their best placing at a Commonwealth Games.

Australian coach Adam Commens was full of praise for his side after the qualified for the last four. Speaking after victory over England on Monday, he said, "This team is young but already very strong and skilful. We will be a strong contender at the next Olympic Games but I would say even better as a team in four or six years' time.

"They are certainly the best players in this tournament. Everything comes from very hard work. They are the strongest, leanest and quickest players on the field."

Australia and South Africa last met in January when Australia toured to Cape Town. Then, the Aussie women narrowly took the series on goal difference as both sides won one match each after an initial 3-3 draw. Jodie Kenny was on target in a 4-1 Australian win on the final day, with further goals from Kellie White, Georgia Nanscawen and youngster Mariah Williams. The two nations have only once met at the Commonwealth Games, in 2010, when they played out a 1-1 draw – one of only two draws the Australian women have ever recorded at the Commonwealth Games.

The winner of Saturday’s contest is guaranteed to leave Glasgow as a medal winner while the loser will have to pick themselves up again quickly and reset for Saturday’s bronze medal playoff against the loser of New Zealand’s semi-final with England.

Friday, 1 August
Women’s 5th v 6th: India v Scotland - 10am BST / 7pm AEST / 5pm AWST
Women’s semi 1: South Africa v Australia – 12:15pm BST / 9:15pm AEST / 7:15pm AWST
Women’s semi 2: New Zealand v England – 2:30pm BST / 11:30pm AEST / 9:30pm AWST

Saturday 2 August
Women’s bronze: 6pm BST / 3am AEST (3 Aug) / 1am AWST (3 Aug)
Women’s final: 8:15pm BST / 5:15am AEST (3 Aug) / 3:15am AWST (3 Aug)

Hockey Australia media release



Michelsen hopes to reach goals in Glasgow



Star player Stacey Michelsen was out of the NZ Women’s hockey team for most of 2013 with a serious knee injury and it’s thanks to surgery and an extensive rehabilitation programme that she will play her 150th test cap in the Commonwealth Games semi-final.

For the 2011 FIH Young Player of the Year, it is her third tournament back following the Hawke’s Bay Six Nations (April) and the FIH World Cup (June) and she is loving being on the turf again.

“When I first got the injury and I heard that it was quite a severe one, obviously there was quite a lot of concern that I may not be able to do the things in the future that I had hoped to do. But once I had the surgery and got into rehab, I had always hoped and thought that World Cup and Commonwealth Games was possible,” said Michelsen.

The Kiwis will face third ranked Commonwealth nation England in the semi-final and although it will be an extra special game for the Northlander, she says putting milestones aside it is special for the whole team and one they want to win.

“I think obviously the most important thing is that it’s a semi-final, so that definitely is the highlight of the game not that it’s my 150th. But yes, I am certainly looking forward to the cap, it’s a real honour - particularly having missed out on quite a few games last year it’s nice to be back in involved.”

Michelsen is one of coach Mark Hager’s key players due to her ability to play in positions all over the field. She is one of the world’s most dynamic defensive midfielders - she’s athletic, fast, and can tear an opponent to shreds one-on-one.

“I think my fitness is back to normal following my injury, but maybe my speed isn’t quite where I was. I haven’t had a period of time where I can just focus on getting faster again. And I’m looking forward to playing a lot more hockey over the next few months just to get my touch back up to the level it was.”

Michelsen said she is very lucky that during World Cup and the Commonwealth Games her injury hasn’t recurred and is looking forward to completing some unfinished business over the weekend.

“Definitely really enjoying being back involved, World Cup didn’t turn out how we hoped it would go which was quite frustrating, but definitely good to be back and I hope during this tournament we can achieve our goal because we feel we have fallen just short in previous years.

“I think the positive thing is we have been playing well through pool play but we were definitely tested against South Africa. The true test will be the semi-final and if we do progress, the final game. It’s nice to have come through pool play only conceding one goal but it’s going to get harder from here and we have to continue to improve.”

The semi-final against England is scheduled for 1.30am NZ time Saturday morning and Michelsen noted that although there may not be the same level of rivalry as there is against Australia, it will be a close contest, especially with the recent memory of Great Britain winning 3-1 at the London Olympics and claiming bronze.

“I think England is a team that we have been very close to over the last few years, it is usually quite close. So hopefully we come out and play and just build on what we have been doing.”

Hockey New Zealand Media release



Kiwi hockey player Rutherford a real keeper

MATT RICHENS IN GLASGOW


SHOT BLOCKER: Sally Rutherford has been a standout performer for the women's Black Sticks at the Glasgow Games. ANDY JACKSON/Fairfax NZ

It's very rarely New Zealand hockey player and double international Sally Rutherford is quiet, but it's been a good thing at the Commonwealth Games.

The Black Sticks women's goal keeper has conceded just one goal in Glasgow, a record she's quite keen to keep up when her side takes on England in tonight's semifinal.

Rutherford, 33, is not just a full-time hockey player, though.

She's just finished and submitted her PhD in Physiology and Bioengineering, is a part-time teacher and a member of the New Zealand women's lacrosse team.

A goal keeper in hockey, Rutherford started life in lacrosse as a forward and has slowly moved her way back to defender.

She's New Zealand's no 1 hockey goalie, but is a 12-year veteran of lacrosse and been to three world championships.

"All the fitness and the hand-eye are the same, though the tactics are obviously quite different," she said.

"I've been a bit lucky with the lacrosse coaches understanding my position and Mark [New Zealand hockey coach Mark Hager] allowing me to carry on too.

"I enjoy being busy and balancing it all. Everything I've done has helped the other aspects of my life, I would have gone mad if I was just doing Uni work."

Lacrosse was an outlet after Rutherford missed out on the New Zealand women's goal keeping spot for the London Olympics to Bianca Russell.

Rutherford's overtaken Russell in the pecking order now and it's working for the New Zealand set-up.

The Black Sticks are defending well as a unit and Rutherford is now considered one of the best in the world.

She and New Zealand goal keeping coach, former Indian men's representative  Jude Menezes, said it's a team effort, though Menezes was also full of praise for Rutherford.

"Because there are two very good [keepers] in Sally and Bianca, they push each other hard and that makes them better," he said.

"But Sally works very hard too. She's right up there now, but she's always trying to be better and work harder."

Rutherford hopes she and the Kiwi defenders can keep their near blemish-free record intact tonight against England in the Games' semifinal and set up a final date with either Australia or South Africa.

She said confidence levels were high and their hard-fought 2-1 win over South Africa earlier in the tournament had been just the workout they needed.

New Zealand won silver in women's hockey in 2010 and winning tonight would see them through to their second final and playing off for their third Commonwealth Games medal.

The women's semifinal is on at 1.30am tomorrow morning (NZT).

Stuff



India eye 5th place finish in CWG women's hockey

GLASGOW: After failing to qualify for the semifinals, the Indian women's hockey team will take on hosts Scotland in the 5-6 position playoff at the Commonwealth Games on Friday.

The teams last met during the Champions Challenge 1 here when India lost 3-4. The sides had also met in the 2006 edition of the Games in Melbourne where India triumphed 5-0 but in 2010 Delhi, the match had ended in a 1-1 draw.

Scotland is a well balanced side with half of the squad playing at their second Commonwealth Games. But the Indian eves have experience on their side and have emerged a strong contender.

India, however, will have to look out for Scottish midfielder Nikki Kidd and forward Linda Clement, who have been in top form during the tournament at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

On the positive side, the 2002 edition champions will be expecting India forward Rani to score more goals after she proved to be a key asset for the team by sneaking in skilful field goals, totalling five so far.

Defender Jaspreet Kaur's penalty corner conversion rate is also right at the top with six goals and could give a tough fight to the Scots.

"This game will be a test to see how far we have improved since Champions Challenge 1 where we lost to Scotland," India chief coach Neil Hawgood said.

Both the teams finished third of out five teams in their respective pools, hence qualifying for the 5-6 position playoff.

The Times of India



Sardar Singh reprimanded for "inappropriate physical conduct"

GLASGOW: Indian men's hockey captain Sardar Singh was officially reprimanded for inappropriate physical conduct against an opposition player during his side's group match against Australia here.

The incident happened on Tuesday when Eddie Ockenden was hit on the face. India lost the match 2-4.

After video evidence was played, the appeal jury at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre found that Sardar had no intention to cause the injury to Ockenden but had behaved inappropriately, the organisers said in a statement on 'myGamesInfo 2014' website.

The official reprimand has no immediate consequences.

The Times of India



Dharmaraj leaves it to MHC

By Vijesh Rai



GLASGOW: K. Dharmaraj has left his fate as national hockey coach in the Malaysian Hockey Confederation's (MHC) hands after the national team ended their Commonwealth Games group stage campaign with a 6-1 defeat to New Zealand today.

The loss consigned Malaysia to the seventh-eighth playoff against Canada and Dharmaraj said the MHC was free to decide on what to do next.

"We came here with a mixed team of seniors and juniors, with development the main focus. The results have not gone our way and I now await the MHC's decision," said Dharmaraj at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

The 6-1 defeat to the Kiwis meant Malaysia lost three of their four group matches with the 4-2 loss to Trinidad & Tobago coming as a huge shock. England had thrashed Malaysia 8-1 while their only win was a 2-0 triumph over Canada.

New Straits Times



Sacrificing for the future

By K. DHARMARAJ

I WILL be slaughtered but the day will come when what we have done in the Commonwealth Games will be appreciated.

Yes, we shouldn't have lost to Trinidad & Tobago but it was not because we didn't try but because they are not as weak as people seem to think.

They have a drag flicker who is world class and he scored a hat-trick against us but this is not about Trinidad but about Malaysia.

When I decided to bring a mixed squad here, it was because most of the players were exhausted after a really tough calendar.

We played in the Azlan Shah Cup, Champions Challenge 1 and then the World Cup. Some of the players just couldn't play anymore and I recommended to the Malaysian Hockey Confederation that we send a squad consisting of players who were either making comebacks to the national team or were from last year's Junior World Cup.

My recommendation was supported but unfortunately, results have not gone our way here but the fact that we are here with 10 players from the Junior World Cup squad can only benefit Malaysia in the long run.

Australia, England and New Zealand are all in Glasgow with their best and if I was worried only about results, I would have brought our first team here.

But I wasn't as I had to think about the welfare of all the players - the seniors as well as juniors. The seniors had played too much hockey while the juniors had not played enough hockey and the Commonwealth Games was the perfect avenue to expose the young players.

I admit that the criticism after the World Cup hurt me and the players, especially as people seemed to forget just how we qualified.

We only went through because Pakistan didn't understand the qualification process but once through, expectations soared.

Some began to think that Malaysian hockey was right up there with the best but it isn't. If it was, we would have played in the last three World Cups.

Unfortunately, many have forgotten and have made huge demands on the players, which have severely affected them and me. Some are even thinking about whether they should continue playing, such is the situation. I am bordering on depression and so are some players.

As for allegations that there are players who are unhappy with me, all I can say is that this is news to me. No player has raised this with me and as far as I am concerned, the squad here and the one at home are like one family.

I know that my position as national coach is under threat and I will accept whatever decision is made but all that I ask is for it to be remembered that I was asked to help out the senior squad at a time of crisis.

The national coach (Paul Revington) had resigned and MHC asked me to fill in. I was supposed to assist until a replacement was found but instead was elevated to the senior job.

In my reply to the showcause letter (issued after a posting on social media), I apologised to MHC but also said that I was willing to be redesignated to the juniors or grassroots if deemed fit.

That still stands but as we (the team) are criticised, I am confident that our bold decision to field young players here will bring results.

* As told to Vijesh Rai after Malaysia lost their final Commonwealth Games Group B match 6-1 to New Zealand yesterday. The team will play Scotland in the seventh-eighth playoff.

New Straits Times



Terry sure that this team will waltz!

By Uthra Ganesan.


Terry Walsh... great clarity of thought. S. SUBRAMANIUM

“As for this team, there is no doubt it will continue to grow. Potentially, I see all of them still there in 2016. From the point of view of age and physiology, there is no one who couldn’t do it even in 2018,” Terry Walsh, the Indian men’s hockey chief coach, tells Uthra Ganesan.

Indian men’s hockey chief coach Terry Walsh’s first major assignment in charge was the recent World Cup, where India finished a disappointing ninth.

But the Australian, who swears by the importance of the process over results, insists the team is far better than its current ranking and can hope for a podium finish at the next edition, provided the development programme continues.

Walsh spoke extensively on the system he is trying to put in place for Indian hockey, his expectations from the team and his vision for the future.

Excerpts:

How do you assess India’s performance at the World Cup?

We finished ninth — a disappointing result from the point of view of position, but there were a few very positive things from the point of view of performance. I believe that all things are driven by a process. If you stay in process mode all the time, there is a good chance of going where you want to go. We finished ninth but I think we are able to play anyone from probably 3rd or 4th in the world through to 10th comfortably.

There has been a lot of emphasis on fitness. How much has the level increased?

I think it’s really improved. When I got here — I have to be very honest — it wasn’t good in the group I had. Of the 35 or so we had in Bhopal, only 15 are still in this group. If you do not have a level of real quality on the international scene, you cannot play at a concerted consistency. That’s the basic building block and if you don’t have it, you can play very well in a game or in parts but will not be able to perform over a period of time, no matter how skilful you are or how fast.

Indians appear comfortable playing natural, attacking hockey but fumble when they have to curb their instincts. What are you planning to do about it?

Your observation is absolutely correct, but you can’t play with an attacking mentality all the time. If you see the football World Cup, one of the semifinals was a very good indicator that you cannot live off that (attack). There is a structure built around a process. Can you change it really quickly to something completely foreign to the culture of the players? You can’t. You have to find things that allow you to change enough to bring in the pieces that are important but not so much that they become foreign in themselves.

Do the players understand the changes under pressure? I have to be open, they don’t. Some of them get it wrong but is that a fault? No, it’s reality. We make mistakes under pressure, but we have to keep making them till we solve them. That’s the basic thing.

What about actual thinking in match situations? Where is that at?

My perception is that it has improved a lot. Game understanding and the ability to make decisions are really important. What do we do when we are playing with 10 men or with one minute to go? The Indian mentality is that, if you are 4-4 with two minutes to go, you want to make it 5-4. The reality is, if you are playing in a World Cup, one point may be crucial. It’s nice to talk about that difference but there is a big difference in understanding and implementing.

How easy or difficult is it to convince players to curb their instincts?

The challenge is to give them information in a way they feel that what they are trying to do is what they should be doing, not try smokes and mirrors. Sportspersons know that in the end, they are the ones who will be gauged on what happens on the field and take the blame, not the coach or the system.


WALSH IN THE MIDDLE of a every important lesson. S. SUBRAMANIUM

Indian hockey needs an equally good next line of players. Do we have that yet?

You are talking about something that is the lifeblood of any international sport. You need to start getting hold of kids at 10. That is not to say they have to be put into training camps, but the information they need to be receiving has to be of a quality which allows them to develop and grow. Not detailed programmes, but an idea of what they have to do and the parameters within which to do that.

We are talking about kids at the very bottom of the pyramid, which is to do with the academy programmes across the country. You can fix things in the short term with a national programme but that doesn’t give any longevity. You need to get the right people to do the job and support them, give them appropriate time to put a system in place. It’s a relatively simple thing, but difficult to implement because it’s change and change is not well accepted anywhere.

How was your two-day meeting with the Hockey India panel?

I thought it went really well. It was an insight into how the programme works, looking inside something they (the panel) hadn’t seen before. It was also an insight for me to look back into the Indian thought process because there were people sharing experiences from the past.

What was the issue with penalty corners during the World Cup?

We have a good PC, but we don’t know enough about why it happened. I don’t have a categorical answer, but I can share some of the information I have. One, the balls were changed just before the tournament. No one had handled them before — not even the hosts. They were minimally different — harder, a fraction heavier, but for those playing at that level, it’s like playing with tennis balls. You are going from a pile pitch to a loop pitch, which again makes a difference in execution. The surface didn’t have enough water on it. I will say categorically that we will convert more goals at the Commonwealth Games (CWG) because we are playing on a different pitch.

That is the difference in ways countries operate. Australia put down a Greenfields pitch 12 months ago just for the World Cup team to practise on. The changed balls used were Kookaburra, made in Australia, and they were the only ones to have them before the World Cup.

Do you think the team needs specialised coaches for penalty corners, goalkeeping etc?

Everything can make a difference and if you have a bottomless financial pit, you get them. It helps because a specialist spends his entire time concentrating on that one area. But if you have the ability to practise on the surface you are playing on, players can really fix their problems themselves, if they know what the problem is.

How did the involvement of Martin Djiver for helping out the goalkeepers come about?

It came about because of contacts. That’s why it is so important to have people who know what’s going on around the world. Roelant (Oltmans) knew him really well. On whether it made a difference, the best person to talk to would be Sreejesh or Harjot Singh. My view is very positive. It’s not a complex thing. The art of coaching is to make complex things simple.

Is there pressure on you to produce results at the CWG?

There is no pressure, but wisdom is a very funny thing. At the World Cup, we were the youngest team with an average cap of 70 against the Australian average of 140. In the end, you have to choose the best group because we do not have enough games. When we went for the World Cup, I thought we would run into physical problems and one of the thoughts I had was to rest some players for the CWG, so that they are available for the Asiad. But we have to play the CWG with our main group because we don’t have any other games to get playing experience.

If you have expectations then you have to give what the team wants. If we don’t play 40 to 50 games a year, we will not get where we want to be.

Are you open to holding training sessions for Indian coaches?

The first point is that everybody has to appreciate and agree that we have to change, including the coaches, and that is a delicate area. It’s all about the willingness to improve and get better education about what we are trying to do and what the game really is today.

It’s very clear from the people we came across in recent times, many of them icons in our sport, that they don’t have a familiarity with what’s going on in the game today. The reality is that we don’t have a high level of coaching across the country. You can either dispute that or do something about it.

What about your preference for a different venue besides Delhi?

We looked at all the variations and both the SAI and Hockey India have been good, trying to find a better solution, but we don’t have any.

Logically, the best location for us would be Bangalore, but we have to have the pitches. When I came into this role in November last year, it was clearly indicated that by March, we would be in Bangalore in preparation for the World Cup. But here we are in July and there is no sign that there is going to be a change of pitches in Bangalore.

I understand how the Indian system works. But the process of preparation revolves around the 2016 Olympics surface, the 2018 World Cup surface. If you have two surfaces in Bangalore, they are the two you want to have. It’s not easy but we have to get people to understand that, that is the way forward.

What about your interactions with the players?

When we started in Bhopal, there was an expectation this was going to be a one-way street. I was trying to get as much information on them as possible, whether in Hindi or English or Punjabi — things that don’t have any great relevance to hockey — as well as the hockey pieces. Now we talk about a lot more details in the interactions.

We try to give them as much information, in whichever language they understand better — it’s part of understanding and developing a trust between players and the coach.

Does the Indian team need a psychologist?

At this point of time, no. I think it’s more about understanding the concept of play and the person who is really responsible for what goes on in the psychological area is the head coach.

What are the prospects for the team?

In the short term, we have a really good chance of a medal, if not the optimum one, at the Asian Games. We have a viable, outside chance of a medal at the CWG.

But after that we have the 2016 Olympics and further down, the 2018 World Cup. I would think that, at the Olympics, you can talk about a top-six finish if you keep the process going. And if things drop right, you can look at being in the last four at the World Cup with a chance of a medal.

Belgium has been at it for 10 years and getting results now. My view is that the base level of what we have in India is at a significantly higher starting point than them.

As for this team, there is no doubt it will continue to grow. Potentially, I see all of them still there in 2016. From the point of view of age and physiology, there is no one who couldn’t do it even in 2018. But if that happens, then we have a bigger problem — because that would mean there is no one pushing them.

Sportstar



Shahnaz wants international matches before Asiad

By Mohammad Yaqoob


Shahnaz Sheikh and Samiullah. — Photo by AFP

LAHORE: The third phase of the national training camp for the upcoming Asian Games begins in Islamabad from Aug 5 while the camp for the Youth Olympics starts in Lahore from Aug 4, secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Rana Mujahid said here on Thursday.

The Asian Games is going to be held in Incheon, South Korea from Sept 19 to Oct 3 while the Youth Olympics are being staged in Nanjing, China from Aug 16.

Mujahid said the players would report to head coach Shahnaz Sheikh in Islamabad on Aug 4 while the probables for the Youth Olympics would report to head coach Olympian Tahir Zaman on Aug 3.

He added that the PHF was also considering seriously the suggestion put forward by Shahnaz to arrange some international matches for the Pakistan team as part of their preparations for the Asiad.

“Hopefully, some international matches will be organised in order to boost Pakistan team preparations, who will be defending their title at the Asian Games,” Mujahid said.

Meanwhile, Shahnaz said it would be relatively more beneficial (for Pakistan) to play some matches against Malaysia and India prior to the Asian Games.

However, the head coach acknowledged that the Asian teams might be reluctant to face each other before the prestigious continental event.

“Some matches against European teams are also preferable, and if those countries are also not free then a few games against some strong European clubs can also provide us necessary practice,” Shahnaz said, noting that several European Clubs had maintained good standard of hockey that was even better than that held by some Asian teams.

“We, after the Asian Champions Trophy, have not played international hockey for the last 10 months and it is a big gap. Therefore, it is necessary to play some international matches so that we can assess strong and weak areas of the team after completion of the first two phases of national camp,” Shahnaz explained.

The Incheon Games is the first assignment of Shahnaz, who has joined hands with Akhtar Rasool-led PHF after remaining in opposition throughout the tenure of last PHF president Qasim Zia.

Dawn



Ireland to take on Spain & France in August



The Irland Hockey Association has announced the schedule of their Women's Internationals to be played in August.

Wednesday August 13th – Sunday August 24th
Women's 4 x 3 Nations tournament Ireland (UCD, Dublin) (tickets on the gate / prebook)
Countries: Ireland, Spain & France

Series 1

    Wednesday August 13th Spain v France 19.00
    Thursday August 14th Ireland v France 19.00
    Friday August 15th Ireland v Spain 18.00

Series 2

    Saturday August 16th Spain v France 16.00
    Sunday August 17th Ireland v France 16.00
    Monday August 18 Ireland v Spain 19.00

Series 3

    Tuesday August 19th Spain v France 19.00
    Wednesday August 20 Ireland v France 19.00
    Thursday August 21 Ireland v Spain 19.00

Series 4

    Friday August 22 Spain v France 17.00
    Saturday August 23 Ireland v France 15.00
    Sunday August 24th Ireland v Spain 15.00

Tickets will be available to purchase online soon with huge discounts! see below:

On Line Sales Only  – Tournament Ticket – Adult - €20 (50% discount)

On Line Sales Only – Tournament Ticket – “Bring a friend” – 2 Adults - €30 ( 62% discount)
Gate price -  €5 per adult/OAP/3rd level Student – all school-children are free

Irish Hockey Association media release



French star Soyez takes Spanish role

Former Lille man Frederic Soyez has been named as the new Spanish senior men's head coach following an RFEH decision not to renew the contract of coach Salvador Indurain after a two year stint in charge.

Soyez, 36, is well known in Spain having played for several years there, first with Club de Campo and then with Complutense while he has earned 196 international caps on the playing front.

He moved into coaching with Lille in 2010, winning the French national title to qualify for the EHL in the 2012/13 season. He combined that role with working with the French national and Under-21 teams and was head coach of the latter as they won silver at the Junior World Cup in 2013. The seniors, meanwhile, reached the final of the 2012 Olympic qualifying campaign.

Indeed, he brings a serious winning mentality having won five outdoor league titles with Lille and eight indoors before winning a the European Super Cup and a Copa del Rey title with Campo in 2005.

Euro Hockey League media release



GAHA League kicks off Friday

The Greater Accra Hockey Association (GAHA) has announced the fixtures for the first round of the Dwadifo Adanfo Hockey League which starts on Friday at the Theodosiah Okoh Hockey Stadium in Accra, Ghana.

According to the schedule, week one will be played over two days, with the ladies team of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) clashing with Reformers, with Police ladies facing Extinguishers in a repeat of this year’s Bajfreight Gala final which Police won 3-0.

The final game on Friday involves the male team of Police and Exchequers of the Bank of Ghana.

On Saturday, there will be a total of seven exciting clashes, the first of which will be Goldensticks and GRA, while Trustees will hope to start their campaign on a winning note against Reformers.

The two games involving the ‘Seniors’, will see Sapholda against Veterans, Multistix play Citizens with Amazing Grace taking on Ark Ladies.

In the Junior’s competition, Tema Manhea will slug it out with NDK Young Financiers while La Juniors lock horns with Ark Boys.

GhanaWeb



The Nation mourns for Chua



It was today a year  ago that fate dealt Malaysian hockey a bitter blow as Marcus Chua Boon Huat died tragically in a road accident.

His death sent shockwaves, with many still being unable to come to terms that the life of a person, loved by so many was snatched away all of a sudden.

While the family has tried to overcome the loss of their loved one, Malaysian hockey has somewhat struggled to fill the shows of the pony tailed smiling Chinese boy that hailed from Malacca.

Chua had a mission, and that was to see Malaysia play in the World Cup, and although he was not there in The Hague last May, there is no doubt that Chua played a vital role in ensuring Malaysia play their first World Cup since 1998 on merit.

Chua gave his all when on the pitch, never one to pull punches, and if only the current batch of national players can for a moment stop and reflecy on how the famous Number 3 conducted himself on the pitch, will they play their hearts out.

Chua had a tattoo “Living The Dream” inscribed on his arm but today Malaysian hockey is “Living in the dreams”.

Ask any hockey fan, player or official, they all have kind words to say about Chua, and he deserved every accolade that was showered upon him as he left the world to be with his creator.

There is an important lesson that all connected with Malaysian hockey can learn from Chua, for he was one person that never gave up or threw the towel no matter how impossible the task looked.

Chua was left out of the national team for reasons best known to some but he strived to prove critics wong, never begrudged anyone as he worked hard on the pitch doing what he did best, let his hockey do the talking.

And Chua was instrumental in the national team that finished fifth in the World League in June last year in Johor Baru that eventually paved the way for Malaysia to play in the 2014 World Cup.

Today Malaysian hockey is divided with many factions, all pulling in the opposite direction, with personalities [utting their self interest over the nations.

Chua is probably looking at all that is transpiring from God’s home, shaking his head in disbelief that what was a smooth ride a year ago has now ended tragically.

Personally I miss Chua, for his death coming weeks after I lost my Mum last year created a big vacuum in my life, for Chua was someone who would call and seek advice on what to do when put in a situation.

Chua, there is one humble request from all of us to you, put in a good word to the almighty for Malaysian hockey needs divine intervention since you are notaround personally to help us be back on the right track.

Rest in peace brother, we all miss you.

Malaysian Hockey blogspot

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