News 07 November 2014
All the news for Friday 7 November 2014
Draw for Future Black Sticks tightens up the series
Pictured: Future Black Stick Rachel McCann playing for Canterbury in this year's Ford NHL. Photosport.co.nz
The Future Black Sticks Women have fought back tonight to draw 2-2 with the India Juniors at the TET Multisports Centre in Stratford.
After a 2-1 win yesterday in their first game of the six-test series, head coach Jude Menezes said although a win would have been nice, there were lots of positives to take from today’s game.
"Overall, it was a good end result, and a really good fight to come from behind and equalise," said Menezes.
"We had our chances – approximately 30 circle entries, 12 shots on goals – but we just couldn’t put them away today."
The Kiwis got away to a good start with Kelsey Smith tapping in a field goal in the first half, giving New Zealand a half time lead. The Indians came out firing in the second half, scoring a field goal and a penalty corner before Rachel McCann equalised with 12 minutes left on the clock.
"We didn’t play as well as we did yesterday and India improved their performance. We rotated some new players into new positions and we didn’t settle in as easily, it gave India a chance to exploit the gaps in the midfield," said Menezes.
Stand out players from today’s game were Danielle Sutherland, Rachel McCann and Tessa Jopp.
Tomorrow the Kiwis will have a light training session before they play their third game of the series at the TET Multisports Centre in Stratford at 3pm on Saturday. Free entry to all games. For the full schedule and team list, click here.
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Indian junior women play out 2-2 draw against New Zealand
STRATFORD (New Zealand): The Indian junior women's hockey team put up a brave fight to hold New Zealand 2-2 in their second match of a six-match series being played at the TET Multisports Centre on Thursday.
The hosts started brightly with Kelsey Smith scoring to put them ahead in the first half and held on to the lead at the first break.
India upped the ante in the second half and levelled through forward Anupa Barla.
India's equaliser intensified the contest as both teams went forward in search of goals with the visitors pulling ahead.
Jaspreet Kaur converted a penalty corner, hitting it low to the New Zealand keeper's right to make it 2-1.
India, however, failed to hold onto the lead conceding 12 minutes from time with Rachel McCann scoring a field goal.
In the last quarter of the keenly contested game, both teams managed to create scoring opportunities but could not capitalise on the chances.
India play their third match on November 8.
The Times of India
Eves draw with Kiwis
New Delhi - India's junior women's hockey team fought bravely to hold hosts New Zealand to a 2-2 draw in their second match of the six-Test series at the TET Multisports Centre in Stratford on Thursday.
The junior Blacksticks women had a good start to the game as Kelsey Smith scored the initial goal of the match to give the hosts a 1-0 lead in the first half.
After the change of ends, the Indian girls made a spirited fightback and levelled the scores with a close-range goal that came from the stick of striker Anupa Barla.
The match intensified thereafter as both the teams went on the offensive and created a lot of scoring opportunities.
India were soon awarded a penalty corner and Jaspreet Kaur made no mistake by flawlessly converting the opportunity low to the right of the New Zealand goalkeeper. However, Rachel McCann equalised for New Zealand with another field goal 12 minutes from the final hooter. In the last quarter of the game, both the teams managed to create a few more scoring chances but could not capitalise on the chances.
The third Test between India and New Zealand will be played on the same ground on Saturday.
The Tribune
Black Sticks Men set for return to South Island
Hockey New Zealand has announced a significant boost for South Island hockey fans with the Black Sticks Men to host Canada in a four test series in Nelson and Christchurch this December.
The first two tests of the series will be played at Saxton Field in Nelson before the teams head to Marist Park at St Bede’s College in Christchurch for a further two games.
It’s the first time a New Zealand men’s team has played in Nelson since 1952, while the Black Sticks haven’t taken to the turf in Christchurch since before the devastating 2011 earthquakes.
Hockey New Zealand has received sponsorship for the two test matches in Nelson from the Nelson Events Marketing & Development Programme funded by the Nelson City Council.
“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to host the Black Sticks and Canada here in Nelson and look forward to showcasing the world class Hockey Complex at Saxton Field,” said Bill Findlater, Chairman of the NEM Programme and CEO of Nelson Regional Economic Development Agency.
“Nelson can clearly demonstrate its ability to successfully host international sporting events. This follows on from the successful hosting of Rugby World Cup, One Day International Cricket and the upcoming Cricket World Cup matches.”
For the second two tests, the Christchurch City Council, Canterbury Community Trust, New Zealand Community Trust and Lion Foundation have all made contributions to make hosting at Marist Park possible.
Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel said the region invests significantly in sports and facilities and having international hockey back in Christchurch for the first time in more than five years is great news for the city.
“World class hockey competition in Christchurch provides a brilliant opportunity for budding stars to see their hockey heroes in action, and for us it will be extra special as it will be the first time since before the 2011 earthquakes.
“This is an ideal opportunity for us to showcase all we have to offer and there will be many benefits for the community from hosting an event of this calibre."
Canada are currently ranked 16th in the world, but are playing world class hockey and proved that during pool play at this year’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games where they fought hard against the Black Sticks (ranked 6th) but ultimately lost the match 3-1.
Hockey New Zealand Events Manager Richard Palmer said it is fantastic to have the opportunity to bring international hockey back to the South Island.
“We are really excited about the upcoming Canada series. We have had outstanding support from local council and trusts in Nelson and Christchurch and are confident hockey fans will come out and celebrate having the Black Sticks Men back down south,” he said.
“It’s the first time the New Zealand Men have played in Nelson for more than 60 years, while Christchurch has been deprived of international hockey since before the earthquakes so this is a significant moment for both regions,” he said.
The Canada series will provide another hit-out for the Black Sticks Men on home soil following their four test series against Japan in Wellington and Kapiti later this month.
Tickets will go on sale at www.dashtickets.co.nz from 9am on Wednesday 12th November.
BLACK STICKS MEN vs CANADA
SAXTON FIELD, NELSON
6.30pm, Tuesday 9th December
6.30pm, Wednesday 10th December
MARIST PARK AT ST. BEDE’S COLLEGE, CHRISTCHURCH
3pm, Saturday 13th December
3pm, Sunday 14th December
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Squad named for 3rd Test
Australian team selected in preparation for third Test against India Saturday night
It's been a great start to the Perth India Series earlier this week, with Australia now looking to break ties with India and win their second Test of the series this weekend.
Don’t forget to tune in Saturday night from 21:30pm AEDT to catch the action live via Hockey Australia’s YouTube channel.
View the team list below for the third Test match.
Australia v India – Saturday 8 November
7pm WST start
Daniel BEALE QLD
Kiel BROWN WA
Andrew CHARTER ACT
Chris CIRIELLO VIC
Tom CRAIG NSW
Matthew DAWSON NSW
Tim DEAVIN TAS
Jeremy EDWARDS TAS
Matt GOHDES QLD
Jeremy HAYWARD NT
Leon HAYWARD NT
Eddie OCKENDEN TAS
Flynn OGILVIE NSW
Glenn SIMPSON VIC
Jake WHETTON QLD
Tristan WHITE NSW
Dylan WOTHERSPOON QLD
Aran ZALEWSKI WA
Hockey Australia media release
Surprise for Beng Hai
By Jugjet Singh
TAI Beng Hai looked shell-shocked when he was named as the national seniors coach by Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) vice president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad yesterday.
What was supposed to be a team management meeting to chart next year’s plans, turned out to be an announcement by MHC president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah as even the coaching committee did not meet to decide on Beng Hai’s appointment.
Beng Hai will be an interim coach as the MHC continues its search for a foreigner to handle the team.
“Beng Hai has been named by our president to coach the national seniors for the World League Round Two in Singapore, and Arul Selvaraj will now concentrate on the juniors,” said Nur Azmi.
The round two will be held from Jan 17-25 and Malaysia, the top seeds, must finish among the top-three to qualify for the World League Semi-finals which offer entry into the 2016 Olympics.
Beng Hai, who is coaching Sapura, will only have his players when the MHL ends on Dec 14. Fitness could be his main problem.
“All the national players are in the MHL and I believe their respective clubs also conduct physical training and they should report in good shape at the end of the MHL.
“Although I will only have one month for centralised training, I will be approaching MHL teams to release their players at least once a week to train with me,” said Beng Hai.
Arul, who wore three hats before yesterday, is pleased that he will be able to fully concentrate on the juniors for the Junior Asia Cup at the end of next year.
He is also free to coach UniKL in the MHL, as his contract allows for it.
“As I’ve said before, I am ready to coach at any level, and now that I have been fully entrusted with the juniors, my focus will be much more specific,” said Arul.
In the World League Round Two, Malaysia will play Bangladesh, Japan, Poland, Singapore, Oman and Ukraine. One more team will be the winners of the last Round One tournament which will be played in Suva, Fiji from Dec 6-13. The teams involved are Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.
Malaysia need to finish in the top three to make the semis cut and play either in Belgium or Argentina.
New Straits Times
Beng Hai to coach national hockey squad
By S. Ramaguru
Tai Beng Hai (second from right) was first appointed as national coach in 2009. He was later named assistant coach to Stephen van Huizen for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in Guangzhou, where the team won the silver medal.
KUALA LUMPUR: Tai Beng Hai is back as national hockey coach.
The surprise announcement came on Thursday after the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) management committee meeting chaired by senior vice-president Datuk Nur Azmie Ahmad.
Earlier, the MHC had named junior coach A. Arulselvaraj as the interim coach for the next three months. The MHC also said they would be scouring for a foreign coach.
Azmi said the decision to name Beng Hai was made by the MHC president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
“Beng Hai has been named by our president to coach the national senior team for the World League Round Two in Singapore and Arulselvaraj will now concentrate fully on the juniors (Project 2016),” he added.
The World League Round Two will be held in Singapore from Jan 17-25 and Malaysia are the top seeds. Poland, Ukraine, Japan, Bangladesh, Oman and Singapore are the other competing teams. One more team will join the tournament after the Round One meet in Fiji next month.
Malaysia must finish among the top three to qualify for the World League Semi-Finals, which offers the top three finishers a place in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.
Beng Hai was taken by surprise by the MHC move but accepted the challenge.
“I have no problem with the request to take over considering the circumstances. Now, I need to plan the next step and see how we can maximise the short preparation period to get the best out of the team for the tournament in Singapore,” he said.
Beng Hai was first appointed as national coach in 2009. He was later named assistant coach to Stephen van Huizen for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in Guangzhou, where the team won the silver medal.
He was back at the helm after the Asiad and took the team to the 2012 Dublin Olympic qualifiers. The team failed to make the London Olympics and he was replaced by South African Paul Revington. He was then made the director of coaching, a post he still holds.
Beng Hai is also involved in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) as coach of Sapura. He is only expected to have his national squad for full-time training after the MHL ends on Dec 14.
“I will use the MHL as the selection for the training squad. We will naturally include all those who have been in the training squad and look at a few others, especially the juniors from the Project 2013 team.
“I will try to get the players to train for two sessions a week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays as the MHL is also held at the weekend. We will do this after a discussion with the clubs concerned,” he said.
The Star of Malaysia
Time for forwards to start scoring, says coach Beng Hai
By S. Ramaguru
Defender Kashif Ali (right) contributed two goals for Sapura in their Malaysia Hockey League opening two matches.
KUALA LUMPUR: Former champions Sapura have called on their forwards to get the goals as they seek their second win in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).
Third-placed Sapura face a daunting task on Friday as they are up against defending champions Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil. Sapura drew 2-2 with Maybank and then defeated Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) 2-1 in their opening two matches. In contrast, second-placed KLHC were 5-3 winners over Tenaga Nasional 5-3 and then beat Maybank 4-1.
Sapura coach Tai Beng Hai is confident of an improved performance from his team. And he wants the forwards to start delivering the goals.
Out of four goals scored, two were contributed by defender Kashif Ali of Pakistan. Of the forwards, only Amerullah Abdul Aziz managed to get his name on the scoresheet with one goal.
“I believe the time has come for the other forwards to start scoring. Kashif’s goals came mainly from penalty corners. We have to start scoring field goals now,” said Beng Hai.
Besides Amerullah, the other forwards are Izwan Firdaus, Dangerous Lee and Pakistanis Waqas Akhbar and Mohamed Zubair.
On the match against KLHC, Beng Hai said they would need to be at their best form.
“KLHC are a balanced team. They have a very good structure. So it will not be easy playing against them,’ he said.
One KLHC player Sapura need to watch out for is penalty corner specialist Mohamed Razie Rahim. He has contributed four goals in the nine scored by KLHC.
“Razie is a big danger. We need to avoid giving away penalty corners,” said Beng Hai.
Sapura’s other game this weekend is against Tenaga on Sunday.
“It is indeed a tough weekend. Tenaga also lost last week and will be looking to redeem themselves. That is why we must treat every game seriously. We need to win as many points as possible,” said Beng Hai.
Tenaga will play UniKL on Friday before the match with Sapura.
Like Sapura, Tenaga are also struggling to score goals. They have scored only four goals in two matches.
Said Tenaga coach Nor Saiful Zaini: “We have been missing far too many chances. We created a lot of opportunities, but unfortunately the forwards failed to make them count against KLHC (3-5) and Terengganu (1-2) last week.”
Both fifth-placed Tenaga and bottom side UniKL, with national coach A. Arulselvaraj at the helm, are the only two sides without a win in the six-team league.
“After two losses, we need to start winning. We need to win both the matches this week to keep our title hopes alive,” said former international Nor Saiful.
The Star of Malaysia
A draw will do just fine for Penang
By S. Ramaguru
KUALA LUMPUR: Penang kept alive their hopes of making the semi-finals of the 1MAS-MHC-Milo under-14 hockey championships after a narrow 4-3 win over Johor in Group A at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
The win gave Penang nine points and they just need a draw against Selangor on Friday to make the cut.
Selangor and defending champions Perak are still in the fight to reach the last four as they have six points each.
Pahang are the only side to confirm their berth after winning all four matches.
Penang took a four-goal lead against Johor but a relaxed attitude in the second half almost scuppered their plans. Johor staged a late fightback to score thrice but ran out of time to save the match.
Mohamed Amirul scored a hat-trick for Penang in the fourth, eighth and 46th minutes while Putera Ahmad Shah was on target in the 20th minute.
Johor’s fightback started in the 51st minute with Mohamed Zulfiqri scoring a field goal. Mohamed Haridmi Shah (60th) and Mohamed Zulhafiq (70th) netted the other two goals.
In Group B, Terengganu are in a straight fight with neighbours Kelantan for one of the semi-final berth. Both teams meet today with the winners making the cut for the last four.
Sabah, on nine points, are virtually assured of a place in the semi-finals.
They complete their preliminary round against winless Perlis on Friday.
The Star of Malaysia
Belgian clubs wary of tough KO16 battles
The Waterloo Ducks, Dragons and Royal Daring have all been handed tough draws in the KO16 round of the Euro Hockey League but are quietly confident of progressing to the next round.
Speaking to Hockey Belgium, the Ducks’ Alexandre de Saedeleer said that meeting Dutch league leaders Kampong will be a huge ask for his panel that have seen a large turnover in players over the summer.
"It is true that there were two or three welcoming teams in the draw,”he said. “But we also know that in a one-off match, anything can happen.
“It is of course a formidable opponent who have excellent individuals and has an excellent corner with Loick Luypaert. But we'll take our chances to reach the quarter-finals which is still our goal in the competition."
Dragons, third place finishers last year, face reigning champions Harvestehuder THC in another marquee game.
“This is actually the worst draw we could inherit,” said Dragons captain Felix Denayer his side. “At the same time, this is the EHL, We have qualities to achieve something against the Germans and their system suits us better than the Dutch sides, for example.
“However, we have found ourselves in such a situation in this competition before and managed to come through it. Our experience in the tournament we will certainly be a benefit even if our team is young. We are still looking for balance to our game which still lacks consistency. But we will work these issues and we will be ready in April. "
Geoffrey Cosyns’s Daring side have been aligned with English champs Beeston and he reckons his side will come up against a “physical game”.
“They have some international players and are currently quite successful in their league. It is therefore not an easy draw but, on the other hand, all the other teams are also strong. There’s no favourite in our duel and we really have every chance, especially as this clash is a one-off game.”
Euro Hockey League media release
Isberg to remain as Tournament Director for HIL 2015
After successfully overseeing the second edition of the event, Bjorn Isberg will continue to don the hat of Tournament Director (TD) for the third season of Hero Hockey India League (HHIL) scheduled to be held from January 22 to February 22 next year.
Having worked as the Tournament Director in the second edition, Isberg has been responsible for ensuring smooth functioning of all the technical activities initiated in the HHIL.
He has also actively conducted many events over the recent years including FIH Men’s World Cup 2014 in The Netherlands, 2012 Olympic Games in London, three FIH Champions Trophy tournaments, including Lahore in 2004, Kuala Lumpur in 2007 and Auckland in 2011 and 2011 FIH Indoor World Cup in Poland.
“We are very pleased to appoint Bjorn Isberg as the Tournament Director for the third season of the league. He has enormously contributed to the league which has received huge support and exposure in the previous editions. I wish him all the best for his extended service as Tournament Director,” HHIL CEO Elena Norman said in a statement.
Speaking about his involvement in the HHIL, Isberg said: “I’m very pleased to be able to return and be a part of HHIL 2015. The last season saw some fantastic attacking hockey, with a lot of great hockey profiles participating. We will now build on the success from last season, and I expect this season to be even better.
“The panels of umpires and other officials are already appointed. One of our targets as officials is to create a good, fair and safe environment for the players, so that they can perform and play their best hockey.”
Isberg has also worked as an Assistant Tournament Director at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and two FIH World Cups including Germany in 2006 and India in 2010.
The Hindu
Champs Beeston take on leaders East Grinstead
Beeston players celebrating v Brooklands. credit Josh Dixon
Champions Beeston entertain new league leaders East Grinstead in the NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey League Premier Division on Sunday.
The Sussex side made the most of their game in hand last weekend, beating Southgate 4-0 to climb to the top of the table, but Beeston will be out to maintain their five-match unbeaten run.
“It’s going to be a nice tasty match, that’s for sure!” said Beeston Manager Graham Griffiths. “Our home fans are very enthusiastic, and we don’t expect to lose at home.
“It’s always a close one when we play East Grinstead - it took a shootout to beat them in the final last season – but that result won’t be a factor at all on Sunday.
“We are fresh after having a week off, although East Grinstead have the continuity from having played last week, but the big advantage for us is that it’s at Highfields.”
Elsewhere, former leaders Surbiton head to Cannock in search of a win which could put them top again, while Wimbledon – who beat East Grinstead 4-1 in their last match – entertain struggling Canterbury.
Bottom of the table Brooklands Manchester University, still searching for their first win, play host to Reading, while Hampstead and Westminster have a home game against a Southgate side who are just one point and one place above them.
Unbeaten leaders Holcombe face potentially their toughest test yet when they go to second-placed Chichester Priory Park in the NOW: Pensions Conference East. Meanwhile, third-placed Brighton and Hove play host to fourth-placed Bromley and Beckenham and the bottom two – Oxted and Old Loughtonians – clash at Luxborough Lane.
In the NOW: Pensions Conference West, struggling University of Exeter face a tough home match against table-topping Team Bath Buccaneers who, along with Holcombe, are the only two teams with a 100 per cent record to date. Cardiff & Met, who are Bath’s closest rivals, travel to Barford Tigers.
It’s top versus bottom in the NOW: Pensions Conference North as high-flying Bowdon visit Belper in search of their sixth win of their campaign.
In stark contrast, Belper are still seeking their first victory and will be hoping they fare better than in their 6-1 loss to Sheffield Hallam a fortnight ago. Sheffield’s hope of catching Bowdon will be tested on Sunday when they travel to fellow promotion hopefuls Loughborough Students. Second-placed Olton make the long trip to University of Durham.
NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey League (Sunday, November 9 2014)
NOW: Pensions Premier Division
Beeston v East Grinstead 12:45
Wimbledon v Canterbury 14:00
Brooklands Manchester University v Reading 14:00
Hampstead and Westminster v Southgate 14:00
Cannock v Surbiton 14:00
NOW: Pensions Conference West
Cheltenham v Guildford 12:30
University of Exeter v Team Bath Buccaneers 12:30
Whitchurch v Fareham 13:00
Barford Tigers v Cardiff and Met 13:00
Indian Gymkhana v University of Birmingham 14:00
NOW: Pensions Conference North
Deeside Ramblers v Wakefield 13:30
Leek v Doncaster 14:00
Loughborough Students v Sheffield Hallam 14:00
University of Durham v Olton and West Warwicks 14:00
Belper v Bowdon 14:00
NOW: Pensions Conference East
Teddington v Cambridge City 12:30
Oxted v Old Loughtonians 12:45
Brighton and Hove v Bromley and Beckenham 13:00
Chichester Priory Park v Holcombe 13:30
Richmond v West Herts 13:30
England Hockey Board Media release
Buckingham braced for Surbiton test
Buckingham's Amie Hone. Credit Chris Hobson
NEW to the top flight this season, Buckingham face their toughest test yet on Saturday when they head to leaders Surbiton in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division.
Currently second bottom with just one win from their first seven matches, Buckingham have nevertheless shown glimpses of the play which saw them finish top of the Investec Conference West last season.
“We know Surbiton pretty well, having played each other pre-season for the last few years,” said Buckingham Head Coach Zak Jones. “They are a quality side, but we’re looking forward to the challenge.
“It has been a frustrating start for us. We’re competing really well but haven’t taken our chances, and we have to turn some of the good performances into tangible results.”
Second-placed Canterbury head to the University of Birmingham on Saturday, while Clifton – who are third only on goal difference – are also on the road, heading for Bowdon Hightown.
Apart from Surbiton, Holcombe are the only other unbeaten team, and they go to Reading aiming to get back to winning ways after being held to a 1-1 draw by Surbiton a fortnight ago.
Bottom of the table Beeston host Leicester in a match they need to win to avoid being left adrift. A win for Leicester would help them climb into the mid reaches of the table.
The top two sides in the Investec Conference West face off as unbeaten leaders Slough host Swansea, who have lost only once.
Swansea will have to be at their best to cause an upset against a side that have conceded only three goals all season. Meanwhile, third-placed Trojans head to bottom club Olton and West Warwickshire.
Leaders Brooklands Poynton host bottom of the table Cannock in the Investec Conference North. Elsewhere Wakefield could go top if Brooklands do slip up, and they beat hosts Loughborough Students.
In the Investec Conference East only goal difference separates East Grinstead and St Albans. They both play teams from the lower reaches of the league as East Grinstead face Bedford and St Albans travel to Horsham.
Investec Women’s Hockey League (Saturday, November 8 2014)
Investec Premier Division
Beeston v Leicester 12:00
University of Birmingham v Canterbury 12:30
Reading v Holcombe 13:30
Bowdon Hightown v Clifton 13:45
Surbiton v Buckingham 14:00
Investec Conference West
Gloucester City v Bristol Firebrands 12:00
Olton and West Warwicks v Trojans 12:00
Oxford Hawks v Isca 12:00
Slough v Swansea City 12:30
Stourport v Cheltenham 18:00
Investec Conference North
Brooklands Poynton v Cannock 12:00
Kendal v University of Durham 12:30
Loughborough Students v Wakefield 12:30
Ben Rhydding v Whitley Bay and Tynemouth 13:30
Sutton Coldfield v Liverpool Sefton 14:00
Investec Conference East
Bedford v East Grinstead 13:00
Harleston Magpies v Sevenoaks 14:00
Horsham v St Albans 14:00
Wimbledon v Chelmsford 14:00
Ipswich v Maidenhead 18:00
England Hockey Board Media release
Investec Women's Cup Round 5
Investec Women's Cup Final - Surbiton Team Photo
This weekend the Investec Women’s Cup reaches round five with a series of mouth-watering ties in prospect.
Holders Surbiton saw off Hampstead and Westminster in the last round in what was a repeat of last season’s final. Their 5-0 win took them safely through and set up arguably the tie of the round with top flight rivals Holcombe. The Kent side negotiated a tough game with East Grinstead in the last round thanks to a brace from Lauren Osborn.
In another all Investec Premier Division tie, Leicester will go up against Bowdon Hightown. The Pukkas produced a splendid display in the last round to sweep aside Wakefield 5-1 whilst Tina Cullen’s team held their nerve to beat Sutton Coldfield 4-3 on penalties.
The other glamour tie pits Clifton against University of Birmingham. Both have made good starts to the league season and are vying for a place in the playoffs, meaning this tie could go either way. The other Premier team left in the competition, Buckingham, will play at Conference East outfit Chelmsford.
There are three non-Investec League teams left in the cup all with a chance of pulling off a giant-killing and making the business end of the competition. They each face Investec Conference opposition. Leamington, who beat Liverpool Sefton in the last round, will look for another Conference North scalp against Brooklands Poynton. Tulse Hill & Dulwich travel to Loughborough Students, who enjoyed a win on strokes against Premier Division Beeston. Didsbury Northern play host to Gloucester City. The final tie sees Investec West side Oxford Hawks on the road at Ben Rhydding.
The draw for the next round of the competition will be done live on Twitter on Sunday evening at 7pm. Follow @EnglandHockey to see the next step on the road to Lee Valley.
Investec Women’s Cup Round 3 ties, 9 November
Ben Rhydding v Oxford Hawks – 13:00, Ben Rhydding Sports Club
Chelmsford v Buckingham – 14:00, Chelmer Park
Didsbury Northern v Gloucester City – 14:00, Manchester High School for Girls
Holcombe v Surbiton – 14:00, Holcombe Hockey Club
Leamington v Brooklands Poynton – 14:00, North Leamington School
Leicester v Bowdon Hightown – 12:30, Leicester Grammar School
Loughborough Students v Tulse Hill and Dulwich – 11:30, Loughborough University
University of Birmingham v Clifton – 12:30, University of Birmingham
England Hockey Board Media release
RCF to clash with Haryana XI in final
Jalandhar - Battle lines have been drawn for the semifinals of the Surjit Hockey Tournament as Punjab and Sind Bank, Delhi will take on Army XI and Punjab XI (Pakistan) will cross swords with Indian Oil, Mumbai at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium on Saturday.
In the last league matches of the men’s section, Punjab and Sind Bank, Delhi, CAG, Delhi played out a (3-3) draw, earning one point each. Punjab XI (Paksitan) beat ONGC, Delhi (3-1) to enter semifinals. Punjab & Sind Bank, Delhi earned 4 points from two league outings, while CAG earned two points from two outings.
In the women’s section, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala will clash with Haryana XI. RCF entered the final on better-goal average compared to Punjab XI. Haryana XI beat Rest of Pakistan (5-0) in the semifinals.
The women’s final will be played on Friday (5pm).
The Tribune
Punjab XI cruise into the semis of Surjit Hockey
JALANDHAR: Punjab XI (Pakistan) have cruised into the semifinals of the ongoing 31st Surjit Singh Memorial Hockey Tournament at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium here on Friday. Placed in Pool-C Punjab XI defeated Oil & Natural Gas Corporation, Delhi 3-1 to earn the top position in their pool.
The match belonged to Right-Half Waqas Sharif who scored two goals and Goalkeeper Imran Shah who saved three penalty corners to guide the visitors to earn victory over their opponents. Kashif Shah, Tousiq and team Captain Shafqat Rasool played brilliantly and demonstrated their class. They dribbled amazingly and baffled their opponents with their speed, skill and stamina. The crowd cheered their every move.
Both teams comprising of Olympians fought hard to outclass each other. The traditional style of Asian hockey was witnessed in the match which was enjoyed by the spectators. They cheered every moments of the match which started on a fast pace amid aggressive stick work of the forwards. Punjab XI was on the offensive since the beginning. Waqas, Kashif Shah, Mohamed Dilber made a good move in the 6th minute and after struggling in the D Dilber passed the ball to Waqas whose neat deflection beat the goalkeeper. In the 20th minute of the match Shafqat Rasool and Qayyum Dogar launched an attack and reached in the D where Waqas netted another goal on Shafqat’s pass. Punjab XI were leading 2-0 at the half time.
The deficit of two goals couldn’t deter the hosts to make offensive moves as the play started in the second half. Their forwards made a series of attacks which forced the visitors to be on the defensive. The home team kept control of the ball for a considerable time. In the 49th minute Mandeep, Arun Rawat and Preetendar Singh made a combined move and earned a penalty corner. Olympian Diwakar Ram successfully converted the penalty corner to reduce the lead. The visitors doubled their efforts after that and made a series of moves to consolidate their team’s position. In the 52nd minute Mohammed Haseeb’s blind pass to Shafqat in the D missed a certain goal. In the 64th minute both Rizwan Junior and Haseeb failed to deflect a beautiful cross from Tasawar Abbas in the D.
Punjab XI was awarded a penalty corner in the last minute of the match which Tousiq successfully converted to finish the match at 3-1. Ripudaman and Varinder supervised the match. Waqas Sharif was given Rs. 7000 for scoring the first goal by a local sponsor.
PHF Media release
Gain best coaching practices from world-renowned hockey standouts
Whether competing or coaching, U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach Craig Parhamn and Assistant Coach Janneke Schopman have been absorbing and dissecting hockey by the hours from all over the globe. Saving you the cost of a passport, our elite High Performance staff is opening up a unique opportunity to share their gained knowledge, what's successful and what to avoid, so United States coaches of all levels are able to reap international experience and perspective to take home to their teams.
As such, USA Field Hockey is proud to present the 2014 National Coaches Forum. The Forum will be held at the premier Sports Complex in the United States, Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster, Pa. from December 13-14, 2014.
On top of a fantastic 4th place finish at this summer’s Rabobank World Cup, the Women’s National Team is fresh off a winning test series versus #4 ranked New Zealand. The National Coaches Forum is the annual opportunity to learn what Women’s National Team Head Coach Craig Parnham and his National Coaching staff are doing to motivate and empower their team as well as show how their practice and approach has turned our USAFH Women’s National Team into world contenders. As the team enters the all-important year of Olympic qualification, Craig, Dave Hamilton, Janneke Schopman, and Nate Franks will share and impart their knowledge and expertise that will assist all coaches in their journey to success.
The Forum will be divided into two programs; Program I and Program II.
Program I is a 2-Day program and whose curriculum is tailored towards all current USAFH Level III and Level II coaches. Program I will consist of presentations and classroom sessions from 9:30-5:30 pm on Saturday. Topics will revolve around Craig’s overall Coaching Philosophy and Training Methodologies. You will learn how the staff and players found high performance success at this year’s World Cup. Craig Parnham, Janneke Schopman and Nate Franks will present on Day 1.
Day 2 of Program I will feature on-field activities and demonstrations by Craig, Janneke, and Dave Hamilton, Director of Sports Science and will take place in the dome from 9:00-3:30 pm. The staff will show on-field concepts and drills that will help your team understanding, but also impart the science behind physical preparation from warm-up to cool down and periodization before, during and following your season.
Price of Program I: $215
Program II is open to any coach* (MS, HS, USAFH coach, Club and USAFH Level I) and is a Sunday only registration. Program II registrants will observe the entire Sunday presentations in the Dome from seating in the stands. You will be able to observe the entire Dome presentation, receive course materials and have access to the National Coaching Staff in a Q&A session at the end of the day.
Price of Program II: $55
*Any coach may sign up to be on a waiting list for Program I. In the event Program I does not fill, coaches from the waiting list will be invited to register to attend based upon their position on the waiting list. Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be placed on this waiting list
Day 1 - Saturday, December 13th
8:30-9:30 am Program I Registration – Get wristband
9:30-12:00 pm Classroom presentations
12:00-1:15 pm Lunch provided
1:15-4:45 pm Classroom presentations
4:55-5:30 pm Q&A w/ USA Staff
5:30-5:40 pm Review of Sunday Schedule – Topics to discuss
Day 2 – Sunday, December 14th
8:00-9:00 am Program II Registration – Get wristband
9:00-12:00 pm The Dome
12:00-1:00 pm Lunch provided
1:00-2:30 pm The Dome
2:30-3:00 pm Q&A National Coaching Staff on pitch
3:00-3:30 pm Continue Q&A and Wrap-up inside the Nook
Coaches of all levels are welcome to attend this year’s National Coaches Forum, however the 2-day, Program I Forum registration is limited due to classroom space. Program I registration is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis to current USA FH Level II and Level III accredited and current USAFH Coach members. Any remaining Program I registration openings will be allotted to any USAFH coach member based upon a first-come, first-serve basis registration.
Host Hotel Information:
The Heritage Hotel in Lancaster, PA. USA FH has reserved a limited number of hotel rooms for this event. The Heritage is a 15-minute drive to the Spooky Nook Sports Center.
Room Rate: Click Here
Other:
Session topics will be finalized by November 15th.
Registration time is from 8:30-9:30 am on Saturday, December 13th and from 8:30-9:30 am on Sunday the 14th.
Please note that a tournament will be running on Saturday at the Nook, therefore plan on arriving early.
Lunch will be provided to all registrants on both days.
Parking is free to all participants. You will be given a pass from a staff member daily. You will be required to show the attendant the pass as you leave the facility, so as not to get charged.
Program I (Level III and Level II coaches): $215
Program II (any coach) Dome Stands Only: $ 55
Click here to register
USFHA media release