News 03 August 2014
All the news for Sunday 3 August 2014
Aussie golden girls
Hockeyroos leave it late to triumph in Commonwealth Games shoot-out
Photo: Ady Kerry / AK Pictures
In the most dramatic of circumstances the Australian women’s hockey team, the Hockeyroos, won a third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal on Saturday as they struck late to overhaul a determined England team in a shoot-out.
Trailing 1-0 with 18 seconds remaining, defender Jodie Kenny showed her cool as slotted home a late, late equaliser from a penalty corner rebound to force the shoot-out.
Lily Owsley had earlier put England ahead against the run of play but Kenny’s leveller brought the tournament to a nail biting conclusion with captain Madonna Blyth stepping up to score the winning goal in the shoot-out.
On the night, Australia had heroines across the park with Casey Eastham and Georgie Parker also finding the target in the shoot-out while goalkeeper Rachael Lynch demonstrated her pedigree saving from England’s Susie Gilbert and forcing Nicola White wide.
The World Cup silver medallists finished the tournament having scored 33 goals in their six matches while conceding just two and national coach Adam Commens spoke afterwards of his pride.
“I’m just very proud of the team and what they’ve done this tournament; we were the best team and we deserved the gold medal,” he said.
“It’s a very, very pleasing result. Our girls stuck to the process throughout the match. They executed the game plan well, they created a lot of opportunities – they were just unable to score. I thought that England defended very well. They were very tough and dogged as we expected and it was a fantastic match.”
England’s doggedness looked as if it would pay off when Owsley chipped the ball over the advancing Rachael Lynch just before the midway point of the second half after winning possession deep inside the Australian circle. The goal came against the run of play with the Australian women dominating possession and chances, creating 11 shots on goal to England’s two, but England stood firm.
As in Friday’s semi-final, Australia competed with just 15 players as Kate Jenner sat out the match with a shoulder injury. The early stages saw both sides struggling to find a rhythm as they adapted to the atmosphere and the rain-heavy pitch. Lynch kicked clear an early English attack spearheaded by Lucy Wood. At the other end, Kellie White had the best chance of the half on the quarter hour mark but could only watch as her flick went wide after she had collected a rebound off England goalkeeper Maddie Hinch.
Late in the half, Australia believed they had a shout for a penalty corner after the ball appeared to strike the upper body of opposition captain Kate Richardson-Walsh in front of goal but Georgie Parker’s appeal to the video umpire was rejected. Five minutes later they were awarded a set-piece but Kenny’s low flick went wide of the right post.
Owsley’s goal marked the first time that Australia had fallen behind in the tournament and the team in green and gold simply pressed harder in response.
There was a let-off for England when a long pass rebounded off the post and Hinch scrambled clear before an Australian forward could pounce. Soon after, Parker’s reverse stick strike was deflected over the top as the match entered its final ten minutes.
Hinch kicked clear as England clung on to their lead but with a minute remaining Australia’s persistence paid off as they won a penalty corner. England scorer Owsley broke the defensive line early, resulting in another corner and the youngster being sent to the halfway line. From the follow-up, Hinch blocked but could only send the ball into the path of Kenny, who demonstrated superb control to thread a perfect shot through a crowd of bodies into the far corner for the equaliser with just 18 seconds remaining. It was Kenny’s tenth goal of the competition and sealed her place at the top of the goal scoring charts.
Locked at 1-1 after two shoot-out attempts each, Georgie Parker’s confident strike and Lynch’s save from Susie Gilbert handed Australia the advantage at 2-1. A foul on Kenny by Hinch resulted in the award of a penalty stroke but the defender’s flick went wide. After Lynch forced Nicola White wide and off the back line it fell to experienced captain Blyth, Australia’s second most capped woman ever, to finish the job sparking wild scenes of celebration.
Speaking afterwards, Adam Commens summed up his side’s tournament and reiterated his high hopes for the future.
“The pleasing thing with this tournament is our ability to really put teams away and although we had trouble doing it against a tough opponent tonight, we’ve shown that we are able to take that next step and play some really exciting hockey. Over the next 12 to 18 months we’re going to improve and we have an exciting time ahead with a fantastic bunch of players and also a fantastic staff.”
***
Women's standings (final)
1. Australia (gold medal)
2. England (silver medal)
3. New Zealand (bronze medal)
4. South Africa
5. India
6. Scotland
7. Malaysia
8. Canada
9. Wales
10. Trinidad & Tobago
***
Australia (women) v England
Women's Final
Commonwealth Games, Glasgow
AUSTRALIA 1* (0)
Jodie Kenny 70 (PC)
ENGLAND 1 (0)
Lily Owsley 48 (FG)
*Australia wins 3-1 on shoot-out. Australia wins Commonwealth Games gold medal.
Shoot-out
Casey Eastham (AUS) – goal (1-0)
Georgie Twigg (ENG) – goal (1-1)
Kellie White (AUS) – no goal (1-1)
Alex Danson (ENG) – no goal (1-1)
Georgie Parker (AUS) – goal (2-1)
Susie Gilbert (ENG) – no goal (2-1)
Jodie Kenny (AUS) – no goal (2-1)
Nicola White (ENG) – no goal (2-1)
Madonna Blyth (AUS) – goal (3-1)
Australian squad v England
Athlete (Hometown) caps/goals
Starting XI
Madonna Blyth (Brisbane, QLD) 292/65
Edwina Bone (Evatt, ACT) 53/2
Jane Claxton (Adelaide, SA) 54/6
Casey Eastham (South Coast, NSW) 216/44
Anna Flanagan (Canberra, ACT) 137/32
Jodie Kenny (Wamuran, QLD) 119/67
Rachael Lynch (Melbourne, VIC) 116/0
Ashleigh Nelson (Wagin, WA) 160/62
Georgie Parker (Berri, SA) 69/23
Emily Smith (Crookwell, NSW) 99/41
Kellie White (Crookwell, NSW) 89/29
Used Substitute
Karri McMahon (Berri, SA) 52/4
Georgia Nanscawen (Melbourne, VIC) 137/26
Brooke Peris (Darwin, NT) 35/9
Jayde Taylor (Bunbury, WA) 107/3
Unused Substitute
Kate Jenner (Tamworth, NSW) 106/1
Hockey Australia media release
England win Silver medal at Commonwealth Games
England's women's team came within seconds of winning a Commonwealth Gold medal in a dramatic Final at the Commonwealth Games. Lily Owsley scored a superb goal for England, who defended brilliantly throughout the match, but Jodie Kenny scored for Australia in the last seconds to take the game to a shoot-out. Australia won the shoot-out 3-1 with their Captain Madonna Blyth scoring their winning goal, England having to settle for a Silver medal.
Leading 1-0, thanks to Lily Owsley’s second-half strike, England were only 11 seconds away from what would have been a brilliant and remarkable victory.
But Jodie Kenny broke English hearts with virtually the last play of the game, firing in from a penalty corner after Anna Flanagan’s initial strike was saved by Maddie Hinch.
That last-gasp equaliser meant the Gold medal would be decided by shootout and despite Georgie Twigg levelling things up after one each, it was Australia who held their nerve in the end to defend their Commonwealth crown with a 3-1 shootout victory.
Kate Richardson-Walsh, England's Captain, said: "It’s so devastating to take it so close to the wire and then with 11 seconds to go that goal went in, it is just heartbreaking.
"We'd stuck to our task for the whole game, I’m so proud of the girls though after losing to them [Australia] 3-0 in the group stage but when it is that close, you want to be on the winning team.
On winning a silver medal she added: "If you had told me at the last game of the World Cup, when we were in a play-off for 11th spot, that we would be in the final of the Commonwealths I would have ripped your arm off. It just shows where this team can go in the future."
On her own future and possible retirement she commented: "Sport is cruel and that’s why we love it, that knife edge is what we play for, that passion and drive to win and that’s why it is going to be so hard for me to give it up. I am going to take some time to think about it because it is just so special. This is not real life, you are in a bubble in the Commonwealth Games, I need to take everything into consideration before I make the decision."
Danny Kerry, Performance Director for England Hockey, said: “Given the age of some of the kids running around in this team, they have got an enormous amount of positives to take from that. We have just matched the team that have wiped everyone else off the park so I am chuffed to bits.
“At the moment they [the players] are absolutely devastated however I think that when they wake up tomorrow, look at their silver medals from the Commonwealth Games and think that they have just drawn with Australia and have only lost one game in the last ten, they will be pretty pleased.”
Australia 1 (0)
Jodie Kenny 70 (PC)
England 1 (0)
Lily Owsley 48 (FG)
Australia win 3-1 in shootout
Australia scorers: Casey Eastham, Georgina Parker, Madonna Blyth
England scorer: Georgie Twigg
England Hockey Board Media release
England's women suffer penalty agony in hockey final as Australians comes back from the brink
After being seconds away from a shock gold medal, England’s women fall to Australia in hockey final
By Tom Cary
Penalty pain: The England players react to their shott-out defeat Photo: GETTY IMAGES
So England's penalty shootout curse is not confined to football. What a way to find out. This was pure, pure agony; the cruellest of defeats.
Seconds from their first ever Commonwealth gold, Katie Richardson-Walsh's side were leading the previously unbeaten Australia 1-0 courtesy of 19 year-old Lily Owsley's expertly-taken goal midway through the second half. A famous victory was within their grasp. Then, tragedy. With 17 seconds left on the clock, England conceded from a re-taken penalty corner.
Having fallen for the sucker-punch, there was an air of inevitability about the outcome, a grim realisation this would not be England's night. Yes, they had beaten New Zealand 3-1 on penalties the previous evening to progress to the final. But this was gold on the line. This was when it really mattered. And just as in last year's EuroHockey final in Belgium, where England lost on penalties to Germany following a thrilling 4-4 in normal time, England's sporting curse struck.
Not that there is much similarity between football and hockey shootouts. Never mind trying to beat the keeper from 12 yards, it would be interesting to see Gareth Bale try to round one having started on the halfway line, which is effectively what a hockey player has to do, the players taking turns to dribble the ball towards goal from the 23m line and score within eight seconds.
It does not just require nerves of steel, it requires legs, arms and brain to be functioning fully at the end of an exhausting match.
"I've stood there myself and, in my eyes, just to take one means you are a hero," Richardson–Walsh had said the previous night. "The silence that descends in the stadium is epic. Your legs are starting to shake and you're like 'Come on umpire, blow the whistle'. But they all still do it."
They did. Australia just did it better, their captain Madonna Blyth stepping up to finish the job herself after Alex Danson, Susie Gilbert and Nicola White had all missed for England.
As the rain which had fallen in such copious quantities all evening began to dry up, England's players were left in with tears running down their cheeks, agony etched on their faces.
"Sport is cruel and that’s why we love it," reflected Richardson-Walsh who began the tournament intending to retire but who is now rethinking her decision. "That knife edge is what we play for, that passion and drive to win and that’s why it is going to be so hard for me to give it up. I am going to take some time to think about it because it is just so special. This is not real life, you are in a bubble in the Commonwealth Games, I need to take everything into consideration before I make the decision."
She and her team can take huge positives from the strides they have made in this tournament. It was only six weeks ago they made such a limp exit from the World Cup in Holland. The thought of taking Australia to a penalty shootout in the final of the Commonwealths was simply inconceivable back then, a point Richardson-Walsh was happy to concede, saying she would have "ripped the arm off" anyone offering her that deal.
The transformation has been impressive but, even so, England were huge underdogs last night. Australia had beaten them 3-0 in the group stage and began last night's final with five wins from five matches in this tournament, having scored 32 goals and conceded just one. And that one goal they conceded was in a 7-1 thrashing of South Africa in their semi-final.
Perhaps that lack of real competition in their path to the final meant Australia were not ready for what England threw at them on a cold wet night. Certainly they did not have things their own way during a first half in which England harried and hassled them constantly.
Richardson-Walsh had demanded a brave performance from her players and they did not let her down. This was gutsy, bodies-on-the-line stuff. And when Owsley scored midway through the second half, after a melee caused by a cross from Susannah Townsend, it looked as if a famous victory was theirs. Fate, though, had other ideas.
With less than a minute remaining, Australia won a penalty corner. Although they sent the ensuing shot the umpire ordered it to be retaken for encroaching. This time, Jodie Kenny made no mistake, firing home after Anna Flanagan’s initial strike was saved by Hinch.
And so to the shootout and the all-too familiar heartache.
The Telegraph
BRONZE for New Zealand Women in Glasgow!
Photo credit - www.photosport.co.nz
The New Zealand Women’s hockey team are thrilled to be bringing home a bronze medal following their convincing 5-2 win over South Africa this morning (NZT).
Both sides were locked at 2-2 until New Zealand pulled away and smacked home three goals in the final 15 minutes to secure the win.
“I’m very happy for the girls, they put all the hard yards in today and left everything out there,” said captain Kayla Whitelock.
“We had to come out and play aggressive, we didn’t want to come away with no medal and so the motivation was there.
Our plan was to come out and be aggressive right from the start and South Africa held on for quite a while. I thought as soon as we got one up on them we would pile on the goals, and we did.”
Whitelock said the memories the team will have from this Games will be mixed, but they are thrilled to be finishing on a good win, thanking all the support that her side has received from schools and fans around the country.
“I guess we are disappointed that we couldn’t be in the gold medal match, but delighted to come away with a bronze. I know what it’s like to go to a tournament and come away with nothing, so to win your last game at a tournament is pretty crucial and I’m pleased the girls stood up today.”
New Zealand won five of their six games in Glasgow, drawing to England in the semi-final and losing in a penalty shoot-out.
In today’s game, it took New Zealand only five minutes to go in front when Anita Punt scored with a slap shot finish, taking her tally for the tournament to eight goals. South Africa used its video referral but the challenge of whether the ball had moved five-metres before it entered the circle was rejected by the video umpire.
South Africa equalised when they converted a penalty stroke after Katie Glynn blocked a shot on the line with her body. But three minutes later New Zealand regained the lead when Krystal Forgesson deflected a penalty corner into the roof of the net for her eighth goal of the tournament.
In the second half, South Africa pegged one back with a reverse stick shot, but the turning point came for New Zealand when with 15 minutes left, Jordan Grant who was playing in her first Commonwealth Games, picked the perfect time to score her first goal of the tournament with a deflection that flashed past South Africa’s goalkeeper. Gemma Flynn made it four from a penalty corner before Grant added to her earlier goal.
New Zealand finish with a bronze medal for the second time at a Commonwealth Games, having won its first at Kuala Lumpur 1998 and also winning a silver in Delhi 2010.
The medal ceremony will be held at 9pm NZ time today.
The big weekend of hockey continues with the New Zealand Men playing in the bronze medal match against England at 9pm tonight (NZT).
Go to www.facebook.com/nzblacksticks to check out the photos from today’s game.
RESULT
Full time: 5-2 win to NZ
Half time: 2-1 lead to NZ
New Zealand’s goal scorers: Anita Punt, Krystal Forgesson, Jordan Grant x2, Gemma Flynn.
South Africa goal scorers: Marsha Cox, Kathleen Taylor
Overall results from the tournament
Trinidad and Tobago: 14-0 WIN
India: 3-0 WIN
South Africa: 2-1 WIN
Canada: 6-0 WIN
England: 1-1 DRAW, England won penalty shoot-out 3-1
South Africa: 5-2 WIN
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Bronze it’s not to be for brave SA hockey women
JONATHAN COOK
The South Africa women’s hockey team put up a skilful, courageous performance but a dominant second half was enough to earn world number four New Zealand a 5-2 victory after a fortunate 2-1 lead at half-time in the Commonwealth Games bronze medal match at Glasgow’s national hockey centre in Scotland Saturday night.
SA had very good opportunities to make early inroads but goal-making passes went astray. Then it was Kiwi speed queen Anita Punt’s turn to skin the SA defence out wide in winning the match’s first penalty corner, but SA skipper Marsha Cox intercepted the variation and relieved the pressure with aplomb.
In the fifth minute the Black Sticks went 1-0 up when Anita Punt blasted a rebound off keeper Anelle van Deventer’s pads into the back of the net.
In the 13th, with the rain teeming down, a trademark Lisa Deetlefs aerial led to Kathleen Taylor winning SA’s first PC but the Kiwis cleared the danger.
Lenise Marias and Tarryn Bright had made vital tackles to stop New Zealand at the other end before Taylor’s deft touch won a second PC for SA but the upshot was Bright pushing an excellent chance past the wrong side of the post.
In the 23rd, Bernie Coston cleverly won a third PC for SA and Marsha Cox’s disguised shot-pass to Tarryn Bright resulted in a penalty stroke which the skipper converted (1-1).
The rain now bucketing down and the ball barely making any purchase on the sodden turf, the Kiwis’ Krystal Forgesson deflected in the second of successive PCs to put her side 2-1 up in the 25th minute. Soon after, SA won yet another PC but the Kiwis survived.
With the slow ball speed across the turf negating the high-tempo game both teams favour, it forced a tactical re-think as the long ball was less effective.
SA had dominated the first half, getting in seven goalshots (including five PCs) to New Zealand’s three but 2-1 to the Black Sticks it was, and six minutes into the second half Gemma Flynn was desperately unfortunate not to increase their lead but the post got in the way.
There had been a very good spell for the Kiwis but the in-form Dirkie Chamberlain and company kept grafting away and a superb Tarryn Bright tackle and offload brought delight to the SA camp when a clever Sulette Damons pass in the 42nd minute gave Kathleen Taylor space out left to slap a backhand shot past goalkeeper Sally Rutherford for the 2-2 equaliser.
Van Deventer made two excellent saves shortly thereafter before Bright fed Chamberlain, who delivered a powerful cross from the right that almost brought a goal.
With 15 minutes left (55th) the delight went to the other way when Jordan Grant’s adept touch put New Zealand 3-2 up, and in the 62nd Gemma Flynn was on the end of a PC variation to give the girls in black a two-goal cushion (4-2).
Anelle van Deventer made four great saves before Damons came close at the other end but the killer blow was dealt three minutes from the end (67th) when Jordan Grant’s spectacular goal following Flynn’s superb through-ball put New Zealand out of sight at 5-2.
SA finished fourth, as in 2010, while New Zealand ended with bronze after silver in Delhi.
SA Hockey Association media release
Black Sticks women rebound to secure bronze
NATHAN BURDON IN GLASGOW
SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT: Black Sticks players celebrate a goal. Photosport
Two goals from Jordan Grant have helped the New Zealand women's hockey team to a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games this morning.
The Black Sticks beat South Africa 5-2 in the playoff for third place to provide some consolation for yesterday's semifinal loss to England.
Black Sticks coach Mark Hager was proud of the way his team lifted despite yesterday's dejection.
"We spoke last night and said 'you're better off going home with a medal than not'.
"We needed to take pride in our performance, we were so disappointed in how we played yesterday. We felt we owed it to ourselves to put in a good performance," he said.
"I just don't think we played as a team yesterday. I know the players, that's what they were disappointed about, that not enough people stood up yesterday.
"For whatever reason we were a bit overawed. To be honest we don't play in a lot of... finals, the last final we played in was London [Olympics], which was two years ago."
New Zealand started well against South Africa, with Anita Punt scoring after six minutes.
Leading 2-1 at the break, there were some concerns as the South Africans fought back to 2-all with 20 minutes to go, before Grant's brace and a goal from Gemma Flynn made the game safe.
The only blight on the game was a nasty gash around the eye to Petrea Webster after she copped a South African stick to the face.
"She's got some stitches, that's normal for Petrea, she's one of those players who puts her head where it shouldn't go," Hager said.
"To be honest we probably need more of those sort of players, if we want to win the big games, that are prepared to throw themselves at balls or in situations where you know you are going to get hurt."
Conditions at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre became increasingly difficult as torrential rain fell for the first time during these Commonwealth Games.
With water starting to pool on the pitch, officials even considered stopping the game.
Black Sticks captain Kayla Whitelock said the water made life difficult for the players.
"It was pretty bad, the turf holds the water quite a lot so it is quite hard to play on and you've just got to get lift on the ball really and I think we did that in the second half," she said.
"We talked about it at halftime [that] we can't use our skills as much, we've just go to jink it in behind and that's how that last goal came off."
Whitelock was pleased her team was able to finish the Games on a high note, despite missing out on the chance to play for a gold medal.
"We had to come out and play aggressive and we didn't want to go away with no medal. The motivation was to go out there right from the start and be aggressive. South Africa held on for quite a while and I thought if we got one up on them we'd pile the goals on and we did," Whitelock said.
"I thought our connections in the attacking 25m were a lot better than yesterday. There was a lot more confidence and strong receives and our basics were a lot better. The girls worked really hard and chased back and denied them from penetrating us."
New Zealand 5 (Anita Punt 6min, Krystal Forgesson 26min, Jordan Grant 55min, Gemma Flynn 62min, Grant 68min)
South Africa 2 (Marsha Cox 24min, Kathleen Taylor 49min)
Stuff
Black Sticks claim bronze
The New Zealand women's hockey team has claimed the bronze medal after beating South Africa 5-2 in the third-place playoff in Glasgow this morning.
In wet conditions, the Black Sticks took an early lead with a goal to Anita Punt.
South Africa responded through a Marsha Cox goal, but the Kiwis went into the break 2-1 after Krystal Forgesson scored late in the half.
The sodden turf made for a difficult second period.
The Black Sticks had the early running, with Gemma Flynn hitting the upright. However, it was the South Africans who were able score first, Kathleen Taylor's goal locking things up at 2-2.
But New Zealand finished strongly, knocking in three goals - two to Jordan Grant and one to Gemma Flynn - in the final stages of the game.
The New Zealand Herald
Fifth Comm. Games Final
Australia overcome England 4-1 to seal place in Glasgow 2014 final
Australia’s men’s hockey team emerged victorious from a battling semi-final with England to seal their place in a fifth consecutive Commonwealth Games final on Saturday.
A 4-1 victory over rivals England sealed Australia’s shot at the gold medal in Sunday’s final against either New Zealand or India.
Early goals from Tristan White and Simon Orchard put the Australian men in the driving seat but when Harry Martin halved the deficit for England midway through the second half the men in green and gold looked to have a battle on their hands.
True to character they remained calm under pressure and were rewarded with Chris Ciriello’s penalty corner goal eight minutes from time, his sixth of the tournament. With England chasing the match late on, Eddie Ockenden took advantage of their substitution of goalkeeper George Pinner to score on the breakaway and make sure of Australia’s passage to the final.
Speaking afterwards, Australian captain Mark Knowles said, “It was the exact semi-final that we thought we would get. Our style of play is to play very high intensity, to put the opposition under a lot of pressure and when you’re playing against the top nations in the world you’re going to get teams that want to bite back and fight back and we got that today. It was good.
“The English are trying to get to a level that we’ve been at for a long time and they know that that’s an area where physically you can try and get to us. We’ve done a lot of work as a group over the last 18 months on staying out of that kind of stuff, on the mental preparation, staying on task. You can’t control what the umpires call, you can’t control the field or the rain and I think the one thing that’s really improved in our team since London is that we’re really on task and we saw that. They got a goal back at 2-1 and we could have given it up; we got the 3-1 one and that’s the most pleasing thing for me.”
In a milestone match for Kiel Brown, who made his 150th international appearance, Wollongong’s Tristan White gave Australia the best possible start as he fired a penalty corner low down the middle to make it 1-0 in the third minute. Just minutes later the lead was almost doubled when Fergus Kavanagh had a swing at a pass in the circle but he failed to connect.
Simon Orchard’s endeavour paid off in the 12th minute when we stole the ball from the stick of Dan Fox inside England’s defensive third before playing a one-two pass with Daniel Beale. Beale’s return put Orchard through on goal and the Maitland man sent a low shot on the reverse into the far corner for 2-0.
Green cards were received by Trent Mitton and Matt Gohdes, and Ashley Jackson of England while Aussie goalkeeper Andrew Charter did well to deny Alistair Brogdon, diving at the Englishman’s feet. The goalkeeper denied the same man soon after before a moment of confusion as Australia briefly appeared to play with 12 men. With the officials’ attention brought to the extra man, captain Mark Knowles was punished with a yellow card and five minute suspension as the rules state.
With Knowles missing England pressed but Australia weathered the storm, albeit losing Daniel Beale for the remainder of the half after the Queensland youngster was hit on the knee by the stick of Jackson. He would return in the second half.
At the other end, Australia were denied the chance to extend their lead with England clearing a late penalty corner.
Both goalkeepers were called into action in the early stages of the second half; Australia’s Andrew Charter thrust out a toe to divert a cross from the right with Simon Mantell bearing down before England’s Georgie Pinner repelled Matt Gohdes’ strike.
Australia’s lead was halved midway through the second half when David Condon got in behind the Aussie defence and his pass from the back line was bundled over the line by Harry Martin from close range for 2-1. But the defending champions refused to crumble and Chris Ciriello netted his sixth of the tournament with just under ten minutes remaining, shooting low into the bottom left corner to restore Australia’s two goal lead.
There then followed a flurry of yellow cards with Australia’s Matthew Swann and Kieran Govers, and England’s Michael Hoare all sidelined for knocking the ball away after the whistle.
Desperately chasing the game, England removed Pinner and replaced him with an outfield player. With both teams missing suspended players there was plenty of space on the turf and Australia took full advantage with Eddie Ockenden converting for 4-1 from a last minute breakaway.
Afterwards, Australian Co-Coach Graham Reid said, “We had a good start. We knew that you’re always going to get more opportunities at the start of the game – it’s a matter whether you capitalise on them, and we did today. So, that set up a clearer run through [the match]. England are a world class team, of course. I think everyone knows that. They’re difficult opponents.
“[We’re] very happy with our trajectory so far. It’s hard coming of a World Cup, it’s hard to keep them motivated. We’ve got four or five new players [from the World Cup squad], which has helped a little – a bit of a rejuvenation. These guys haven’t necessarily had this experience before so I think that is helping the other guys through a bit of mental shift.”
Australia will play in their fifth consecutive Commonwealth Games final on Sunday with the match scheduled for 12:15pm local time (9:15pm AEST / 7:15pm AWST). The final will be a re-match of the 2010 final in which Australia beat India 8-0. England will face New Zealand for the bronze medal.
***
Australia (m) v England
Semi-final
Commonwealth Games, Glasgow
AUSTRALIA: 4 (2)
Tristan White 3 (PC)
Simon Orchard 12 (FG)
Chris Ciriello 62 (PC)
Eddie Ockenden 69 (FG)
ENGLAND: 1 (0)
Harry Martin 52 (FG)
Australia v England
Name (Hometown) Caps/Goals
Starting XI
Daniel Beale (Brisbane, QLD) 33/7
Kiel Brown (Toowoomba, WA) 150/4
Andrew Charter (GK) (Canberra, ACT) 75/0
Matt Gohdes (Rockhampton, QLD) 99/30
Kieran Govers (Wollongong, NSW) 98/52
Fergus Kavanagh (Geraldton, WA) 190/14
Mark Knowles (Rockhampton, QLD) 244/20
Eddie Ockenden (Hobart, TAS) 220/55
Andrew Philpott (Melbourne, VIC) 20/1
Matthew Swann (Mackay, QLD) 112/5
Tristan White (Wollongong, NSW) 34/3
Used Substitutes
Chris Ciriello (Melbourne, VIC) 145/91
Trent Mitton (Perth, WA) 61/19
Simon Orchard (Maitland, NSW) 155/49
Jake Whetton (Brisbane, QLD) 67/30
Aran Zalewski (Margaret River, WA) 42/4
Hockey Australia media release
England unable to overhaul Australia
England v Australia at Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games - Photo by Ady Kerry
England were unable to overhaul world champions Australia in their Commonwealth Games semi-final, going down 4-1 at Glasgow National Hockey Centre.
To watch highlights from the match, click here to go to the BBC Sport website.
Australia took an early lead through Tristan White as he swept home from a well-rehearsed penalty corner through the legs of George Pinner after three minutes.
They doubled their advantage on 11 minutes when Simon Orchard’s superb reverse-stick shot found the bottom corner.
Matt Ghodes then forced a good stop from Pinner having rounded Michael Hoare, while Harry Martin had England’s first opening shortly afterwards but was denied by Kookaburras keeper.
England dug in and after half-time and got one back on 51 minutes when David Condon got to the by-line and found Martin with his cutback, the midfielder scoring from a yard out.
Simon Mantell was then denied by Knowles as England were in the ascendency, but a Chris Ciriello’s strike from another penalty corner helped Australia restored their two-goal advantage with ten minutes to go.
England went for broke, bringing off Pinner for another outfield player, but Eddie Ockenden capitalized on that to seal the 4-1 win.
The Defeat means England will contest the bronze medal match on Sunday morning against either New Zealand or India.
England Captain Barry Middleton said after the match: “We started slower, slower than what we wanted and they started fast but we know that is what they do and if we can keep it close we could get back into it. We were just a bit passive in the first half and let them come at us. We were upset with the goals we conceded but there were others they could have scored so 2-0 was a fair reflection.
“In the second half we had momentum going but they got their third at a good time for them and it was too much to come back.”
“I think it’s pretty simple now, some games you find are hard to pick yourself up for but I think there have been a lot tougher games to get myself up for than a bronze medal.”
England Men's Head Coach Bobby Crutchley added: “In the first half we were a bit off it for too long and then in the second half we started to get ourselves up for the fight which is what we needed to do. Then it showed that we could actually compete and we put them under a bit of pressure but we needed to continue that as they came back at us and showed why they are such a good side."
“We have to be pleased with some of our play but ultimately we don’t want to run them close, we want to beat them.”
Australia 4 (2)
Tristan White 3 (PC)
Simon Orchard 11 (FG)
Chris Ciriello 61 (PC)
Eddie Ockenden 69 (FG)
England 1 (0)
Harry Martin 51 (FG)
England Hockey Board Media release
England left to play for bronze medal in men's hockey after 4-1 loss to Australia at Commonwealth Games 2014
Australia quick out of the blocks and never looked back as England's best chances of medal lie in third-place play-off
By Tom Cary, in Glasgow
Out of luck: England will compete for the bronze medal after losing their semi-final against Australia 4-1 Photo: GETTY IMAGES
England will play for the bronze medal on Sunday after losing 4-1 to Australia in a wet semi-final at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday.
There had been a whiff of controversy in the build-up to the match with some of the England camp upset at the early start time of 10am.
The official reason given was to allow for a longer rest period between the semi-finals and the medal rounds on Sunday. Midfielder Ashley Jackson was not buying that, however, suggesting that the demands of Australian television overlords may have been more decisive.
"It is absolute rubbish," Jackson told reporters on Friday. "An Australian TV company dictates what happens over here in Glasgow.
"It is very irritating, but it has happened now and hopefully come the start it will have no effect except to give us extra motivation to get off to a good start, which will be crucial."
It was crucial. But unfortunately it was Australia who were quickest out of the blocks. Barely two minutes were on the clock when England conceded a penalty corner and Tristan White put the ball away after an initial save.
It set the tone for the first half, with Australia pressing and England trying to hit the No 1 side in the world on the counter as and when the opportunity arose.
Australia doubled their advantage after 11 minutes when Simon Orchard ran the ball across the top of the circle and fired it across George Pinner into the bottom left hand corner.
Even the temporary departure of Australian captain Mark Knowles, yellow carded after Australia inadvertently fielded an extra player, could not stem the tide, and England were forced to face another penalty corner on the stroke of half-time, although this time it came to nothing.
While the score remained at 2-0, England were always in with a chance and they gave the crowd at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre something to shout about midway through the second half when David Condon ran the ball along the baseline before setting up Harry Martin to tap home.
Any hopes of a comeback were erased, however, when Chris Ciriello scored his sixth of the tournament and Eddie Ockenden wrapped things up with one minute remaining.
The Telegraph
India pass the test with flying colours
by Dil Bahra in Glasgow
India celebrate their winning goal against New Zealand during their semi-final match. Photo: Ady Kerry
India’s real test playing the semi-final match against New Zealand without their skipper and playmaker, Sardar Singh, suspended for this match, was passed with flying colours. Sardar, India’s world class player has been a key player in the Indian team for the past four years.
New Zealand got off to a dream start through a Simon Child goal in the second minute. And to make matters worse for India, their team video referral was rejected which meant they had no more referrals for the rest of the match. The early goal gave New Zealand the confidence to attack and they nearly doubled the lead two minutes later with a run by Hugo Inglish, but his shot at goal was saved by Sreejesh in the Indian goal. Sreejesh was called upon to make another good save, palming down a shot from a penalty corner, in the ninth minute. New Zealand kept the pressure on the Indian goal and in the 18th minute increased the lead to two goals when Nick Haig followed up the rebound from a penalty corner.
This second New Zealand goal spurred on India. Gurwinder Singh Chandi made a good run in the 22nd minute but his shot went wide. Six minutes later, India were awarded their first penalty corner. Raghunath’s shot was stopped on line by Dean Couzins and skipper Rupinder Singh made no mistake with the penalty stroke which was pushed low to the goalkeeper’s right. India maintained constant pressure and went to the interval 1 – 2 down.
The second half started just as the first half finished – constant Indian pressure. Seven minutes after the interval Ramandeep Singh scored a brilliant goal, a reverse stick deflection, from a cross on the right by Manpreet Singh to level the score at 2 – 2. Constant Indian pressure continued and in the 47th minute Akashdeep Singh scored a reverse stick goal to the roof of the net to put India in the lead for the first time in the match. India missed three scoring chances in the last 10 minutes, Ramandeep Singh slipping down just as he was about to shoot in the 63rd minute and Chandanda Nikkin also missing an open goal.
With five minutes remaining, New Zealand replaced their goal keeper with a kicking back but India had the match in full control. Rupinder Singh made a clean tackle in his circle two minutes from the end to ensure India won and will meet Australia in the Final tomorrow. This will be a repeat of the Commonwealth Games final in Delhi in 2010.
“ I am happy with the way the game was closed down in the last ten minutes” said Indian Coach, Australian Terry Walsh. He added “We are still working on a couple of things in defence but it was an improved display. We made some clean tackles in the circle in the last five minutes. Players were playing with a clear mind.”
Akashdeep Singh, scorer of the winning goal said “this win was for our captain. We were all motivated and worked that bit extra.”
“I want to thank all my team for working that bit extra” said Sardar Singh. He added “we discussed this at our team meeting. The whole team were motivated for this match and were right behind me.”
Win or lose against Australia, India have already shown how they have improved recently. They are not on the level of Australia as yet but are on the right path. The fact that Sardar was suspended inspired the team and players took responsibility.
www.sikhsinhockey.com
Indian hockey finds new zeal at Commonwealth Games
Biswajyoti Brahma
GLASGOW: For a change, no goals were conceded in the last minute. There was no meltdown at the death. India held their nerve in the dying minutes to stun a higher-ranked New Zealand 3-2 on Saturday and will now play Australia in men's hockey final.
India started poorly, conceding two goals in 18 minutes. But playing without their suspended skipper Sardar Singh, the Indians showed tremendous character to bounce back and then sail through.
"It was a difficult match and a great win. It was sad to miss the match but the boys had promised they would win it for me," Sardar said later.
New Zealand took the lead in the second minute through veteran Simon Child and Nick Haig made it worse for India by scoring off a rebound from a penalty corner.
Fortunes started to change for India when V Raghunath's shot from a penalty corner was taken on the body by a Kiwi defender on the goalline and the resultant stroke was successfully converted by Rupinderpal Singh seven minutes from half time.
"The turning point came after India scored the second goal through Ramandeep Singh to draw level. Till then it could have been won by anyone," coach MK Kaushik told TOI.
India did not let off the pressure, and forced the Kiwis to make mistakes. Taking advantage of a defensive lapse, Akashdeep trapped a pass inside the circle, turned around in a jiffy and shot home in the 47th minute. This class act turned out to be the match-winner.
India, who have never won the Commonwealth Games gold, have a tough match on their hands as the Aussies beat them 8-0 in the last final in Delhi. With Sardar back for the final, India, who lost 2-4 to the Aussies in the group stage, are hoping for an improved show.
The Times of India
India edge past Kiwis, set up golden clash with Oz
Rohit Mahajan
Akashdeep Singh (C) celebrates a goal with Manpreet Singh (L) during their semifinal clash against New Zealand in Glasgow on Saturday.
Glasgow - Four minutes before the end of play, leading 3-2, it seemed the time was just ripe for another heartbreak, another hard-luck story for the Indian hockey. It seemed that circumstances were conspiring to create the perfect tragedy for India — Sardar Singh, the captain and the inspirational leader, was banned for this match.
India conceded a goal in the second minute of the game, and then were down 0-2 after the 18th. It was wet, cold and blustery, and the Indian players seemed cold and miserable. But they fought back hard, scored three in a row — one in the first half, two in the second — and looked strong going into the final minutes of the game.
Then, four minutes before time, Manpreet Singh received a yellow card — he was out for the rest of the game. It seemed that a cruel twist of fate was coming India’s way, after all. New Zealand had 11 men against nine of India for four minutes. New Zealand pressed hard, but the Indian defence wasn’t breached.
As rain felt lightly at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre, India didn’t have to shed tears, after all. It wasn’t the familiar old tale of late hard luck. India won the semifinal 3-2, and are through to the final — where Australia are waiting. It would be a completely different level of opposition, a much higher degree of struggle than today.
The absence of Sardar Singh, and the terrible beginning, conceding a goal in the second minute, could have broken the team. For many months, India’s chief coach has said that the team is steadily improving, and today was one huge test they faced, against a team ranked No. 6 in the world — India are No. 9. He was delighted that Indians came through today’s challenge with honour.
New Zealand took early possession and 96 seconds into the game, they scored.
Indian attempts to level the scores were met with tight defending by the New Zealanders. It got worse when, in the 18th minute, New Zealand were awarded a penalty corner. Nick Haig’s first attempt, a drag-flick, was blocked; he got the ball back on the rebound and this time, a falling Sreejesh failed to parry the ball. 2-0 to New Zealand.
India fought hard and finally, in the 28th minute, they earned a penalty corner. R Raghunath struck the drag-flick, Dean Couzins managed to prevent the ball from going in — but with his body rather than his stick. Penalty shot ordered — Rupinder Singh, stand-in captain in the absence of Sardar, hit the ball into the bottom corner.
India attacked with increasing confidence and urgency in the second half; in the 42nd minute, Ramandeep Singh came up with a touch of brilliance. Manpreet Singh had sent the ball down the middle into the D; Ramandeep deftly deflected the ball in with a flick of his stick — 2-2.
India completed the good work when in the 47th minute, Akashdeep Singh got the ball in the circle and, with a stunning movement, shot the it into the top of the goal with a reverse-flick even as he fell, diving. India created moves thereafter, but also defended strongly. They held on.
“This win is dedicated to Sardar, we wanted to win this for him,” Ramandeep said later. Next up are Australia, who beat England today.
The Tribune
India fight back to set up Australia final
GLASGOW: India will face Australia in a repeat of the Commonwealth Games men's hockey final from four years ago in Delhi after producing a stunning comeback from 2-0 down to beat New Zealand 3-2 on Saturday.
Earlier, Australia had secured their place in a fifth successive Games final with a 4-1 rout over England.
New Zealand had won all four of their matches in the pool stages and looked well on course for the final thanks to early goals from Simon Chile and Nick Haig.
However, India rallied just before half-time with a penalty stroke being awarded when the ball had been illegally blocked on the New Zealand line from a penalty corner and captain for the day Rupindeer Singh slotted home.
And the game was turned on its head during a five minute spell early in the second-half as Ramandeep Singh skillfully flicked home a low cross before Akashdeep Singh blasted high into the roof of the net to give India a deserved victory.
They face an even tougher task on Sunday, though, in the form of world and Commonwealth champions Australia, who have already beaten India 4-2 during the group stages.
In the pouring rain it was England who were caught cold after just two minutes as Tristan White gave Australia the perfect start from a penalty corner before Simon Orchard doubled their lead just eight minutes later.
"We expected a very tough game against a very strong opponent, but our boys did really well today," said Australia coach Graham Reid.
"Scoring a goal with two minutes gone in the match is something we dream about. We always try to create opportunities for to make that happen."
Harry Martin briefly gave England hope when he bundled home from close range on 52 minutes to half the deficit.
However, England never looked like levelling and Australia rounded off their victory with two more goals in the final 10 minutes as Chris Ciriello fired a penalty corner low into the net before Eddie Ockenden had the simple task of finishing into an open goal.
"We're very disappointed. We thought we could win but we weren't quite there today," said England coach Bobby Crutchley.
"We didn't create a lot and they made it quite difficult for us." England do, though, at least have the chance to secure a medal in the bronze medal match on Sunday.
"We don't want to leave here with nothing," added Crutchley. "We want that bronze medal tomorrow."
The Times of India
India edge out Kiwis 3-2 to set up hockey final with Australia
India came from two goals down to edge out New Zealand 3-2 in the hockey semifinals of the 20th Commonwealth Games here today and set up a repeat final of the 2010 edition with holders Australia.
Trailing 0-2 in the 18th minute, India were revived by strikes from skipper Rupinder Singh Pal, Ramandeep Singh and Akashdeep Singh, who ensured at least a silver medal for the country.
The Kiwis drew first blood in the second minute with Simon Child taking a neat cross pass to put the ball screeching into the net.
The Black Sticks continued with their fine show and three minutes later, Hugo Inglis fired at the net again but this time it was stopped by the Indian goalkeeper Sreejesh Ravindran.
Indian midfileder Rupinder also came up a with a forceful hit at the Kiwi net but goalkeeper Hamish McGregor was alert to put the strike at bay.
The New Zealanders missed a penalty corner in the 10th minute but they did not repeat the mistake when they got the next opportunity, as hard-hitter Nick Haig scored on the rebound to double the lead in the 18th minute.
Indians got their one and only penalty corner in the 27th minute and drag flicker V R Raghunath hit the chest of a Kiwi player on the net. The on-field referee gave India a penalty stroke as part of obstruction.
Rupinder, who took the stroke, gave India their first goal in the 28th minute.
Coming from the bench after a two-minute suspension post a green card, Child missed an open goal in the dying minutes of the first half as the scoreline read 2-1 after 35 minutes.
DNA
New Zealand Men to play England for bronze
Photo credit: www.photosport.co.nz
A strong come back from India has edged New Zealand out of gold medal contention at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Kiwis will now face the tournament’s second ranked England in the bronze medal play-off at 9pm tonight (Sunday 3rd August, NZT).
A determined and disciplined effort had New Zealand 2-0 up thanks to a goal from Simon Child after 90 seconds and Nick Haig scoring off the back of a penalty corner in the 18th minute.
“We had a dream start, there’s no doubt about that and good control of the game, but unfortunately we let it slip a little bit in the first half and we didn’t have enough possession. In the second half, we just didn’t create anything from the amount of ball we had so that part of our game was really disappointing,” said coach Colin Batch.
Rupinder Singh, stand-in captain in the absence of suspended Sardar Singh, slotted the flick into the bottom corner to reduce New Zealand's lead before half-time. The Indians maintained the momentum in the second half, Ramandeep Singh deflecting a shot in and then Akashdeep Singh taking the lead in the 47th minute when he pounced on the ball in the circle and flicked it to the top of corner.
New Zealand threw everything into attack in the final five minutes, replacing goalkeeper Devon Manchester with an extra field player but the Indians tirelessly defended. The medal matches are now a repeat of the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games fixtures, with India and champion Australia contesting the final after New Zealand and England once again battle it out for bronze.
“We were unable to possess the ball for long enough periods and make the necessary plays inside the circle and it’s disappointing that we got no corners in the second half and limited goal shots, it’s certainly something we need to correct before tomorrow’s game” said Batch.
Batch and captain Dean Couzins said that despite the teams disappointment from today’s result, they will pick themselves up ahead of another big game tonight (NZT).
“I can assure you it is better to go away with a bronze medal rather than a fourth place finish so we will have to get ourselves up, we have less than 24 hours to do that, the guys have been pretty resilient so I think they will be able to do it,” said Batch.
Couzins is determined to get a win in tomorrow’s game and knows it will be a good contest. “They will be hurting too. They will find it tough and so will we. We need to fight for that result,” said Couzins.
The NZ Women play in their bronze medal game against South Africa at 5am this morning (Sunday, 3 August).
RESULT
Full time: 2-3 India win
Half time: 2-1 NZ lead
New Zealand’s goal scorers: Simon Child, Nick Haig
India’s goal scorers: Rupinder Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Akashdeep Singh
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Black Sticks cough up two-goal lead in defeat
MATT RICHENS IN GLASGOW
DOWN TO THE GROUND: New Zealand's Simon Child dives on the turf to knock a pass away during the Black Sticks' semifinal loss to India. ROBERT KITCHIN/Fairfax NZ
Just like the women's team, the New Zealand men's hockey side has spluttered its way out of Commonwealth Games gold medal contention.
Up 2-0 the Black Sticks looked set for a gold medal showdown with the world No 1 Australians who have won all four Games golds.
But they blew their lead and the match, losing 3-2 to India in Glasgow.
Like the women's team they will now play off for the bronze medal, against and England side which lost 4-1 to Australia.
New Zealand got off to a perfect start in the Scottish drizzle.
They opened the scoring through Simon Child's third goal of the tournament, after just 90 seconds.
They were up-beat, were the better of the two sides early and deserved the two-goal lead they picked up in the 17th minute.
India had wasted and lost their referral when Child scored so couldn't dispute the second penalty corner New Zealand were awarded.
Nick Haig basted the drag-flick into an Indian runner, but the deflection fell straight back to him and the 27-year-old from Canterbury found the back of the net the second time.
At that stage the game looked won. The Indians were struggling in the cold and wet and were clearly missing inspirational play-maker Sardar Singh after he was suspended for a nasty tackle in pool play.
India scored their first with a penalty stroke. New Zealand gave away a penalty corner and the powerful strike ploughed into New Zealand captain Dean Couzins' chest on the line.
Their second was a well take deflection by Ramandeep Singh and that was a game-changer.
India started playing with more purpose and enjoyed periods of domination before they Teenager Akashdeep Singh scored their superbly taken third.
The 19-year-old received a pass deep into New Zealand's circle, pivoted and reversed in a strong shot passed Manchester's out stretched arm.
New Zealand pushed everything forward and even pulled keeper Manchester off the field, but couldn't score an equaliser.
India 3 (Rupinder Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Akashdeep Singh) New Zealand 2 (Simon Child, Nick Haig). HT: 1-2.
Stuff
Black Sticks lose semi to India
By Kris Shannon in Glasgow
New Zealand's Simon Child, left, fights for the ball during the men's hockey semifinal between New Zealand and India. Photo / Greg Bowker
Both Black Sticks campaigns will end in the bronze-medal match after the men's side followed the women in falling from contention at the semifinal stage.
The double-defeat marked a disappointing campaign for hockey at these Commonwealth Games, with both sides taking grand ambitions to Glasgow.
Gold medal play-offs against Australia were the aim, and it appeared a realistic target with the two teams topping their pools to avoid the old foe in the final four.
But, after the women lost a shootout to England yesterday, the men blew a two-goal lead against India overnight (NZT) to bow out of the tournament on a bad note.
Simon Childs gave New Zealand a perfect start at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre, opening the scoring inside the first two minutes, before Nick Haig's success from a penalty corner saw the Black Sticks in control.
But a penalty stroke before the break pulled India back into the match and two quick goals after the break doomed the Kiwis to defeat.
While the first arrived in unfortunate circumstances, the Black Sticks' defence will feel they let themselves down on both the equaliser and the winner. There was a lack of imagination in attack after falling behind, creating few clear opportunities on a rainy and grey Glasgow afternoon.
The Black Sticks' prospects looked much brighter during a scrappy first spell, though the danger of a one-goal lead hung heavily over halftime.
It could have been more comfortable, with Devon Manchester rarely troubled in goal, as the majority of the opposition attacks broke down in the final third. But two chirps of the referee's whistle saw the Kiwi defence breached and their two-goal buffer reduced.
The first saw Alex Shaw given a yellow card for obstruction and a penalty corner awarded to the Indians. And the second saw a stroke given after Dean Couzins suffered the cruel double blow of copping a drag flick to the chest and costing his team a goal.
New Zealand had been rather deserving of their healthy advantage. The game was barely two minutes old when Childs put his side in front, finishing astutely at the back post after the ball was played across goal.
And the lead was doubled when, after Andy Hayward's penalty corner was blocked by the keeper, India failed to keep out the Black Sticks' second opportunity from the set piece.
The goal was a lesson in determination from Haig, seeing his initial effort blocked by a defender by firing in the rebound, putting New Zealand in charge.
But captain Rupinder Singh's stroke changed the complexion of the match right on halftime, and Ramandeep Singh's clever reverse-stick deflection turned it on its head shortly after the break.
Before long India had seized the lead and New Zealand had no one to blame but themselves.
India's raids were becoming more penetrating and they got behind the Black Sticks once too often, with Akashdeep Singh allowed to smash home the winner after the defence failed to clear the initial cross.
The New Zealand Herald
Mistakes cost Black Sticks
By Kris Shannon in Glasgow
New Zealand's Steve Edwards in action during the men's hockey semifinal between New Zealand and India. Photo / Greg Bowker
"Whether it was the pressure, the pitch, whatever - we just choked."
That was the blunt assessment of Phil Burrows after the Black Sticks blew a two-goal semifinal lead and, with it, a shot at the Commonwealth Games gold medal.
The New Zealand men had done everything right in Glasgow. They marched through the minnows in their pool with minimal fuss, they scored a late winner to edge England and, crucially, they topped their pool to avoid Australia in the semifinals.
Then it all came undone. The seemingly more comfortable route to the final - a showdown with India at the National Hockey Centre overnight (NZT) - ended in disaster as the Black Sticks squandered a golden opportunity and, in the words of one of their most experienced, choked.
"It's just disappointment, really," said an emotionally spent Burrows. "We're pretty upset. We had a good start, 2-0 up, then let them back into it.
"The second half, I don't know. We just made too many errors - dribbling mistakes, we missed trapping the ball."
The result is a rematch with England in the game that neither team wants to play but that both teams will be desperate to win and salvage something from the campaign - the dreaded bronze medal match.
"The next couple of hours will be pretty shit but we just have to get up," Burrows said.
"We have an important game to win a bronze medal, so we just have to get up for that."
It's a long way from the ambitions New Zealand took to these Games. Both the men and the women believed only Australia stood between them and the gold medal but both were undone before a step before setting that date with the old foe.
The hockey programme will again head home from a major tournament without gold hanging around their necks, leaving that 1976 Olympic win a shining beacon being further lost in the gloom.
"We were always coming to try and make the final," Burrows said.
"We wanted to have both the New Zealand teams in the final. It's unfortunate that none of us are. We could have taken that chance today but we didn't. It's getting a bit frustrating."
That chance was indeed there, with either better defending at 2-0 or better finishing at 2-1 needed to kill off an unwavering Indian challenge.
While captain Dean Couzins shared his senior partner's frustration at throwing away the lead earned through Simon Child and Nick Haig, he disagreed on the description of the defeat.
"I wouldn't describe it as a choke," he said. "It's not the way I feel. You're two goals up with a long way to go in the game. We've been on the flipside of that - when you're two goals down and chasing games and come back.
"It's incredibly frustrating. I'm not sure that there is the right type of words for print to describe it. It's tough. It's going to hurt like heck - not just tonight or tomorrow, even if we go on and win the bronze, which I'm very determined to do.
"It's going to stay with someone who's been to four Games or someone who's been to one Games. It's going to stay with us for a long time - it's going to hurt."
The New Zealand Herald
Adrenaline-charged SA hockey men beat Canada to end fifth
JONATHAN COOK
The South Africa men’s hockey team beat Canada 7-3 after the scores were locked 2-2 at half-time in the playoff for fifth and sixth place at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow late Saturday afternoon.
Still without the seriously injured Andrew Cronje and Jonty Robinson, world number 12 SA went into the match two players short on the all-important rolling subs’ bench, placing an extra burden on the remaining players, as has been the case for most of the tournament.
But two early shots on goal - the incisive Lloyd Norris-Jones brought a save from keeper David Carter before Clint Panther lashed a shot over the crossbar – set SA’s course. World number 16 Canada then won three penalty corners in succession – all this in the opening six minutes.
Gutsy SA defence kept them out but Scott Tupper will reflect on what might have been with his gilt-edged opportunity - and to rub salt into it the immensely strong SA midfielder Clinton Panther drove into the strike zone in the seventh minute for Lloyd Norris-Jones to pick up the loose ball and breach the goalline with an excellent shot under the shoulder (1-0).
Norris-Jones and Panther connected once again to win SA’s first PC and the variation back to Austin Smith worked a treat, the captain surely would have scored from the golden opportunity had he not lost his balance on what had become a very slippery surface saturated with rainwater. Norris-Jones then got in a shot and while the goal didn’t come, SA were now well and truly on top of the North Americans.
That changed after two or three SA defenders backed off Canada’s Taylor Curran as he stole around the left-hand baseline before slipping the ball past keeper Rassie Pieterse and it was 1-1 after 17 minutes.
SA won a PC soon after and keeper Carter did well to block Smith’s drag-flick, but Julian Hykes absolutely creamed his shot off the rebound and all but decapitated the hapless Carter. Thankfully the lower portion of the keeper’s protective headgear took the brunt of the force and the brave last line of defence resumed battle.
Hykes had a good chance shortly after, following a lovely through-ball from Norris-Jones but his backhand blast flew high and wide.
SA suffered a major setback when Norris-Jones was sin-binned for the last 10 minutes of the half and the African champions were now three players short, a parlous two on the rolling subs’ bench compared to Canada’s five.
SA keeper Rassie Pieterse made a top-class double save before a minute later (28th) Iain Smythe put Canada into an unlikely lead with a superb diving deflection goal to capitalise on a pinpoint cross from the left wing (2-1).
Smith vehemently disputed the refusal of the officials to allow for a video referral but SA had a chance a minute later to draw parity when Natius Malgraff put his body on the line to win a PC. However, the skipper’s drag-flick went wide.
Two minutes from half-time (33rd) SA defender Rhett Halkett fed the outstanding Panther, who drove with power and skill into the strike zone before getting a flick away, which Tim Drummond helped over the goalline (2-2).
Two minutes after the re-start (37th) Canada went 3-2 up when Gordon Johnstone fired in a PC drag-flick.
From nine minutes into the second half Jethro Eustice, in his 50th Test, and Smith, jointly let loose three successive PC drag-flicks but the Canadians were equal to the challenge.
But in the 49th, SA scored from their eighth PC after a net one-two variation finished off by captain Austin Smith (3-3). A minute later, keeper Carter made a terrific save from another Smith PC, which had been won by a determined Hykes.
With over a quarter of the match left, the courageous South Africans were running on adrenaline. An end-to-end move saw Julian Hykes win a PC before the men in green and gold were awarded yet another and the slip left to Wade Paton yielded immediate reward for SA to go back in front 4-3 in the 56th minute.
SA survived an awkward minute or two that included a Canadian PC before a determined run by Pierre de Voux earned a penalty stroke, with which Rhett Halkett made no error for a 5-3 lead with eight minutes left (62nd).
In the 66th, Lloyd Norris-Jones and Taine Paton got in successive shots before Julian Hykes slipped the rebound past keeper David Carter (6-3) and in the 68th the Canadian defence stood off Norris-Jones to allow the elusive striker the time and space to smash a shot from the edge of the strike zone bang into the backboard (7-3).
SA Hockey Association media release
Canadian men finish 6th at Commonwealth Games
Canada lost 5th-6th match to South Africa
Yan Huckendubler
Canada ran on par with South Africa for the first sixty minutes of the game, but could not prevent their opponent to run up the score in the final minutes. They finish in 6th place, equaling their best finish at a Commonwealth competition (6th in Melbourne in 2006).
Canada played their last match of these 2014 Commonwealth Games against South Africa, four spots ahead of them in the world rankings, in a downpour that increased in intensity in second period. South Africa opened the score in the 7th minute at the end of an innocuous looking attack that the Canadian defense seemed to have well under control before Lloyd Norris-Jones managed to make it count.
Play was balanced, with both teams trying hard in the difficult playing conditions. Canada came level in the 17th minute by Taylor Curran, progressing in spectacular fashion on the backline and finishing the job himself. Iain Smythe was on hand ten minutes later to deflect the ball under the nose of the diving keeper to give the lead to Canada.
South Africa equalized at the end of the period and both teams walked into the break back-to-back at 2-2.
Canada regained the lead in the 37th minute by Gordie Johnston with a well taken penalty-corner, after a combination that saw the South African defence zoom on usual striker Scott Tupper. Canada defended their lead for the next ten minutes, until South Africa tied the score on a penalty-corner.
Play became less fluid in the final stage of the game, with multiple arguments and video-referrals. South Africa broke the deadlock in the 57th minute on penalty-corner, then immediately increased the gap on penalty-stroke. They scored two more field goals in the final minutes of play, although the final score of 7-3 is flattering for them. They nevertheless finish 5th of this Commonwealth Games competition, pushing Canada into 6th place.
Field Hockey Canada media release
Canadians make great strides at Commonwealth Games
Shaheed Devji
If you were to ask any athlete, the goal entering a major competition is to have success. At a Commonwelath Games, that would typically mean winning a medal. But ask a coach, and success will likely equate to progress.
At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the Canadian Men's and Women's Nationals had both success and progress, makng for a successful outing in Glasgow.
The Men's National Team matched its best finish ever at a Commonwealth Games, finishing sixth. This matches its previous best result of sixth at the 2002 Games in Manchester, England.
"As a group we are starting to build the depth that we need to have sustainable success on the international scene," says Men's National Team head coach Anthony Farry. "Provided we are able to increase the level of international competition we attend, we will not only keep up with the teams around us in rankings but also catch up to a few higher ranked teams."
The men had their fair share of matches against higher ranked teams at this Commonwealth Games, but they were up for every challenge.
They nearly came out with a tie versus powerhouse New Zealand in the opening game of the tournament, kept the contest with England extremely close until the very end, and were in a very good position until late in the second half to win the 5th place consolation match with South Africa.
"There is no doubt that we are disappointed with our final placing, we set our expectations high for this tournament and didn't achieve what we set out to do," says Farry. "But the end result has us placed equal to our best ever finish on the men's side and above our ranking for the tournament so there are positives to come out of it."
With its eighth place finish, the Women's National Team can take many positives from its performance as well.
On average, the Canadian Women's National Team is among the youngest field hockey teams in the world, let alone the Commonwealth Games and the experience for a young squad made up of mainly first-timers at a multi-sport event will be invaluable as the women attempt to qualify for the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games.
"Throughout 2014 our performances have continued to improved; this was no different here," says Women's National Team head coach Ian Rutledge. "We managed to start the tournament off with a close fought affair with India and continued to improve from throughout the tournament."
"While we are obviously disappointed with the results, our performances in four of the five matches have produced some of the best hockey we have played over the past twelve months."
The progression is clear for the women, who had many players stand out individually on an international stage and have gained invaluable experience as a team.
"You cannot fast track experience, it can only be lived," adds Rutledge. "We now come away knowing that the big pieces of our game are in place. We come away knowing that we are on the right track, and also knowing the areas we need to improve."
And that's a good a sign, not only for the women but for the men too as both teams inch closer to Olympic qualifying tournaments such as World League (which beings in September for the women, and early in 2015 for the men) and the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto next summer.
"Ultimately it's about being successful at Olympic Games and World Cups so we have plenty of work in front of us," adds Farry. "But we're definitely on the right track."
Field Hockey Canada media release
Malaysia hockey boys end campaign with a win
By Aftar Singh
GLASGOW: The Malaysian men’s hockey team wrapped up their Commonwealth Games campaign with a face-saving 2-1 win over hosts Scotland to finish seventh.
The game, played late on Friday evening, saw Scotland taking the lead through skipper Chris Grassick’s 12th minute penalty corner goal at the Glasgow National Hockey Stadium.
K. Dharmaraj’s men then fought back to score two goals in five minutes.
First, forward Mohd Shahril Saabah equalised in the 25th minute with a field attempt before defender Ahmad Kazamirul Nasruddin sounded the board off a penalty corner set-piece.
Scotland came back after the breather in search of goals but Malaysian goalkeeper Mohd Hafizuddin Othman did well to repel them.
Dharmaraj and his men have been under fire lately after their shocking 4-2 loss to minnows Trinidad and Tobago in a group match.
Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) coaching committee chairman Manjit Majid Abdullah had called for Dharmaraj’s head after world No. 13 Malaysia’s humiliating defeat by world No. 29 Trinidad.
Malaysia, who won silver in the 1998 KL Games, have netted just eight goals and conceded 18 in five matches in Glasgow.
Malaysia, who also won a bronze in the 2006 Melbourne Games, began well, beating Canada 2-0 in their group match but lost the remaining three – England (8-1), Trinidad and Tobago (4-2) and New Zealand (6-1).
The national team will take a short break before resuming training for next month's Incheon Asian Games.
The Star of Malaysia
The U.S. Men’s National Team Creates Strong Attacking Presence Against Mexico
CHULA VISTA, Calif. – The U.S. Men’s National Team kicked off their second series of the summer against Mexico today with remarkable attack to secure a win of 6-1.
Developing momentum into the offensive end, U.S. Men’s athlete and rookie all-star, Tom McCarthy (East Windsor, Conn.) capitalized off of a corner in the 17th minute. Ranjot Sangha (Sacramento Calif.) fed off of the team’s forward energy to cage and in the following minute scored a field goal for Team USA making a halftime score of 2-1.
“It is great to start a series with a clear victory like we did today,” Head Coach Chris Clements. “We executed our penalty corners well and scored some good field goals. Congratulations to Adam Miller and Tom McCarthy for earning their first international cap.”
In the 36th minute marker Paul Singh (Simi Valley, Calif.) found the backboard for the red, white and blue. Christian Linney (San Diego, Calif.) struck the ball on a penalty corner in the 53rd minute to turn the score to 4-0. Game flow then maneuvered with speed from end line to end line. In the 55th minute, Mexico struck fast to earn their lone match goal. Team USA didn’t settle into a slow pace despite their lead. The aggressive forward mentality persisted until the very last minute of play. The U.S. Men’s National Team earned two corners, in the 68th and 70th minutes where William Holt (Camarillo, Calif.) translated both opportunities into goals. The final score was locked at 6-1.
“I am extremely proud to represent my country and score in my first game for the USA,” said McCarthy. “Since I started playing at Romsey Hockey Club it has always been my dream to represent the USA and today that dream came through. I hope to play many more matches."
Team USA will meet Mexico on the pitch tomorrow at 10:45 a.m. PST. Follow USA Field Hockey on Twitter @USAFieldHockey for live updates and be sure to visit the official website for more event information.
USFHA media release