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All the news for Tuesday 1 March 2016

Black Sticks clinical in big win over Argentina


Photo: Hernan Pablo Barrios

The Black Sticks Women have recorded back to back wins over hosts Argentina with a 4-1 result in the fourth test in Mar del Plata.

The Black Sticks were in control against the world number two side from the opening whistle and after leading 1-0 at halftime, added a further three goals in the second half to seal the result.

Stacey Michelsen scored the opening goal in the first quarter, and alongside Kayla Whitelock was impressive playing today’s game in an attacking role.

Brooke Neal scored from a penalty corner early in the third quarter before Petrea Webster and Gemma Flynn added to the goal tally for the Kiwis.

Head coach Mark Hager said it was an impressive result for his side, who have gained in confidence and momentum throughout the series.

“Argentina were a bit flat today, but full credit to our girls we created a lot of opportunities and were able to put four of them away,” he said.

“The first half was fairly even, and they put together a good period where we were under pressure but our defence I thought was very good and we controlled the second half.

“The result is pleasing for the group and it really highlights the work we are doing around building consistency. It’s a pretty impressive effort to beat Argentina twice in a row, especially at home.”

The Black Sticks now lead the six test series with two wins, one loss and a draw with two games still to play. Game five is at 11:00am tomorrow morning (NZ time).

The Argentina series serves as an important part of the team’s build-up to the Hawke’s Bay Cup in April, FIH Champions Trophy in June and Rio Olympic Games in August.

BLACK STICKS 4: (Stacey Michelsen, Brooke Neal, Petrea Webster, Gemma Flynn)
ARGENTINA 1: (Delfina Merino)
Halftime: Black Sticks 1-0

Hockey New Zealand Media release

Black Sticks beat Argentina in second consecutive match

By David Leggat


Petrea Webster scored one of New Zealand's four goals. Photo / Paul Taylor

The Black Sticks have won a second consecutive match against world No 2 Argentina to go 2-1 up in their six-match series in Mar del Plata.

The world No 4 New Zealanders followed their 3-2 victory 48 hours earlier with a 4-1 win today, to put themselves in the box seat to wrap up the series in game five tomorrow.

Goals by Stacey Michelsen, with a field goal, Brooke Neal, from a penalty corner and Petrea Webster, also with a field goal, had New Zealand 3-0 going into the final quarter. After Argentina got one goal back, attacker Gemma Flynn got the fourth to decide the match.

"The girls did very well," coach Mark Hager said today.

"I thought we were more clinical around the park today. They (Argentina) looked a little bit flat, not taking anything away from us. I thought once we got 3-0 up, they had a go at us but couldn't score because our defence was very good.

"The fourth goal closed out the game. It was a team effort rather than any one or two individuals."

The fifth game is tomorrow. Today's match had been postponed a day due to the death of a young Argentine player.

The New Zealand Herald

Black Sticks women thump Argentina 4-1 in fourth hockey test


Black Sticks striker Sophie Cocks on the attack. FAIRFAX NZ

The Black Sticks women's hockey team have beaten Argentina 4-1 in their fourth test in Mar del Plata.

The impressive win on Tuesday (NZ time), sees New Zealand lead the six-test series 2-1.

After opening the series with a 2-2 draw and then being pipped 1-0 in the second test, the Black Sticks have found their scoring touch.

They won the third test 3-2 and have now thumped their hosts.

Stacey Michelsen scored the opening goal in the first quarter and, alongside Kayla Whitelock, was impressive playing an attacking role.

Brooke Neal scored from a penalty corner early in the third quarter before Petrea Webster and Gemma Flynn added to the goal tally for the Kiwis.

"Argentina were a bit flat today, but full credit to our girls we created a lot of opportunities and were able to put four of them away," New Zealand coach Mark Hager said.

"The first half was fairly even, and they put together a good period where we were under pressure but our defence was very good and we controlled the second half.

"The result is pleasing for the group and it really highlights the work we are doing around building consistency. It's a pretty impressive effort to beat Argentina twice in a row, especially at home."

The final two tests are being played on Wednesday and Friday.
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It's encouraging form form New Zealand who have qualified for the Rio Olympics in August.

Argentina are ranked No 2 in the world behind the Netherlands while New Zealand are No 4.

After their tour of Argentina the Black Sticks return to New Zealand to face Canada over Easter and then play the Hawke's Bay Cup early next month.

New Zealand 4: (Stacey Michelsen, Brooke Neal, Petrea Webster, Gemma Flynn)

Argentina 1: (Delfina Merino)

HT: 1-0

Stuff

Goals for Bell and Horne against Germany

Both teams started the third and final test between South Africa and Germany in the Private Property Summer Series like a house on fire with four goals in the first quarter, but when it all settled down it was Germany who secured another victory by winning 6-2.

South Africa made a promising start to the match when Keenan Horne and Daniel Bell scored to give the home team a 2-0 lead after just seven minutes. But goals from Arnold Pilt, Tobias Hauke and Christopher Ruhr gave Germany a 3-2 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter Florian Fuchs and Jonas Gomoll scored for Germany. The final 15 minutes Fuchs scored the last goal.

Any scoring opportunities for South Africa were shut down so quickly. The most frustrating part of the match for the South Africans would have been their inability to keep possession on the attack. Too many wayward passes made the hard battle even tougher.

When conceding six goals it is difficult to see how South African could have been good on the defense, but the team were. Goalkeeper Rassie Pieterse and the back trio of captain Rhett Halkett and youngsters Dylan Swanepoel and Daniel Bell did give a good performance. Their dogged defense saved some sure goals. The pace of this match was really fast and by the end it was visible that the players were getting a bit tired.

“The scores in the matches showed the difference between the top 3 team and a team outside the top 12. But in the same breath it is not like we were outplayed for the full 60 minutes in any of the games. We just can’t maintain the kind of play we produce at certain times. And the reality is that we don’t train together on a regular basis. I am still proud of the group and our performance. We played positively; never gave up or just rolled over...no matter the score or how tough it got,” said Halkett.

The last matches in the summer series are when SA women take on Germany on Friday and Saturday at Bishops and in Stellenbosch respectively.

SA Hockey Association media release

Germany down Indian eves in a hard fought encounter


Sunita Lakra scored the first goal for India. (AFP Photo)

STELLENBOSCH: The Indian women's hockey team went down fighting 2-3 to slump to their second consecutive defeat against Germany in the tour to South Africa.

The first period started with the Indian eves looking to make up for the 0-3 loss in the previous tie against Germany. They began on an attacking note and were soon awarded by a penalty corner conversion by Sunita Lakra to end the first quarter with a 1-0 lead.

The second quarter evidently saw Germany trying to make a comeback. Their efforts paid rich dividends as Lisa Marie Schutze secured a field goal to score the equaliser.

The Indians fought back, playing a counter attacking game and in the dying minutes of the second quarter Anuradha Devi Thokchom scored a field goal that put team in the lead again.

But it wasn't long before Germany's Hannah Kruger converted a penalty corner to once again bring the scores to equilibrium.

The first half ended with the scores tied at 2-2.

The third quarter witnessed no goals from either side as both the defences were at work.

Both the teams went into a completely attack mode, playing a pressing game in the fourth and final quarter.

It was Kruger, who became the hero for Germany in the end, as she converted her second penalty corner of the match in the dying moments to give her team an exciting 3-2 victory over India.

The next match of the South African tour will be played between India and Scotland on Tuesday.

The Times of India

Familiar faces back for Black Sticks in Tauranga


Photo: Planet Hockey

The Black Sticks Men are set for their first taste of international hockey in more than four months when they take on Malaysia in Tauranga.

Head coach Colin Batch has named a team of 20 players for the four test series which gets underway at Blake Park at 3:00pm this Sunday.

The Black Sticks are captained by world class striker Simon Child, who has plenty of experience and talent surrounding him.

The first test will likely recognise a huge milestone for Ryan Archibald who plays his 300th test for New Zealand. It puts him among esteemed company as just third player of all time to reach 300 caps behind Phil Burrows (343) and Dean Couzins (318).

Batch said the series is a timely return to international competition following four months of heavy training.

“The time away from games has been good in a way as it has enabled us to assess players and improve their fitness during a tough training block,” he said.

“We are looking forward to the opportunity for our first competitive matches of the year which will show where players are at for future selections in the lead up to Rio.”

There are some familiar faces returning with the likes of Shay Neal, Cory Bennett, Jared Panchia, Alex Shaw and Jacob Smith all named in the team.

It’s been a long road to recovery for Neal, who last played for the Black Sticks at the 2015 Azlan Shah Cup almost a year ago before being struck down by injury which required knee surgery.

Now back at full fitness, Neal is excited about the opportunity to put on the black shirt again and get out on the turf.

“I had a pretty low year following the last Azlan Shah Cup with the injury, surgery and rehab and it was awful being stuck watching from the sidelines,” he said.

“It’s such an exciting opportunity for us right now with our first hit-out of the year ahead of Rio. You can tell it’s a different year for our group, there’s determination and guys are notching up personal bests in testing so it’s awesome to see.”

Following the Malaysia series, the Black Sticks head north for four tests against Korea at Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium in Auckland from 16-20 March.

Both series serve as important build-up for this year’s Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia from 7-17 April, where the Black Sticks return as defending champions.

Tickets are on sale now from just $5 and are cheaper online than at the gate. To buy tickets for games in Tauranga and Auckland go to www.dashtickets.co.nz

BLACK STICKS MEN
Malaysia series, Tauranga

Hockey New Zealand Media release

Black Sticks veteran Ryan Archibald set for major milestone against Malaysia


Auckland midfielder Ryan Archibald will play his 300th test in the Black Sticks upcoming series against Malaysia. PHOTOSPORT

A major milestone looms for Ryan Archibald as the New Zealand men's hockey team's prepare to host a four-match series against Malaysia.

The veteran midfielder will make his 300th test match appearance in the first test in Tauranga on Sunday, making him just the third player to achieve the feat.

Striker Phil Burrows, who was one of three notable omissions from the 25-man squad named for 2016 on Monday, has the most international caps for New Zealand with 342, while former captain and defender Dean Couzins played 318 games before retiring after the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Vastly experienced midfielders/defenders Shea McAleese and Brad Shaw, Wellington strike duo Blair Hilton and Stephen Jenness and uncapped Canterbury striker Dominic Newman are the five players from the 2016 squad not in the 20-player group to face Malaysia.

The series against Malaysia will be the Black Sticks men's first matches since the were beaten 2-1 by Australia in the Oceania Cup final more than four months ago and head coach Colin Batch said it would be a timely return to international competition.

"The time away from games has been good in a way as it has enabled us to assess players and improve their fitness during a tough training block," he said.

"We are looking forward to the opportunity for our first competitive matches of the year which will show where players are at for future selections in the lead-up to Rio."

Several familiar faces are part of the 20-man squad, with Shay Neal, Cory Bennett, Jared Panchia, Alex Shaw and Jacob Smith all set to feature.

Neal last played for New Zealand at the 2015 Azlan Shah Cup and is back at full fitness after undergoing knee surgery.

"I had a pretty low year following the last Azlan Shah Cup with the injury, surgery and rehab and it was awful being stuck watching from the sidelines," he said.

"It's such an exciting opportunity for us right now with our first hit-out of the year ahead of Rio. You can tell it's a different year for our group, there's determination and guys are notching up personal bests in testing so it's awesome to see."

Following the Malaysia series, the Black Sticks head north for four tests against Korea at Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium in Auckland from March 16-20.

Both series serve as important build-ups for this year's Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia from April, where New Zealand are defending champions.

Black Sticks men's squad for Malaysia series: Ryan Archibald,  Cory Bennett, Marcus Child, Simon Child, James Coughlan, Nick Haig, Hugo Inglis, Devon Manchester, George Muir, Shay Neal, Arun Panchia, Jared Panchia, Kyle Pontifex, Nick Ross, Kane Russell, Alex Shaw, Jacob Smith, Blair Tarrant, Nick Wilson, Nic Woods.

Stuff

Inspired Canadian women welcome invite to Hawke’s Bay Cup

Shaheed Devji



The Canadian women’s field hockey team is in Vancouver preparing for its next tournament of the year in New Zealand, where they will face some of the world’s best teams.

This year’s Hawke’s Bay Cup (April 2nd-10th in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand) features six teams headed to the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil this summer, and five teams in the top ten of the World Rankings.

“It will be a good benchmark for us to see where we are against some of the top teams who are at peak form right and see where we really need to make the gap smaller,” says forward Hannah Haughn, who – along with Women’s National Team teammate Danielle Hennig – will be returning to New Zealand for the first time since playing for Northland in the countr’s National League during Canada’s decentralized period late last year.

“We’re committed to performing at our best there and we really want to show the world that we’re up and coming.”

Haughn – who is coming off playing in her 100th international match for Canada, becoming the youngest Canadian woman on record to reach that milestone – and her teammates have made significant strides in the last two years.

After winning a bronze medal at the 2015 Pan American Games – the first time they took home hardware at the tournament since 1999 in Winnipeg – the Canadian women cracked the top twenty in the world rankings, all while still being one of the youngest teams on average at any international tournament.

Their invite and inclusion in the Hawke’s Bay tournament is international recognition of the progress that has been made.

“It’s definitely a confidence booster,” Haughn adds. “We’ve been working really hard and we’ve got a core group of girls sticking around and we’re all committed.”

One of the athletes who has joined that group of committed athletes is Vancouver’s Thora Rae.


Womens National Team. Thora Rae. Training: February 24, 2015.

The 16 year-old is part of a group of junior athletes that has been training with the senior women since the start of the year, and the Vancouver native has been named to the team set to compete at the Hawke’s Bay Cup.

“I’m so excited,” says Rae. “I’ve watched all these teams play on YouTube, on the FIH (International Hockey Federation) channel and I was watching them the other day and I thinking, ‘I can’t believe I’m going to play these top teams in the world.’”

It will be quite a way for Rae to play in her first senior international match for Canada, but she is confident the wisdom she has gained in the previous months training with the senior women has prepared her well.

“The team is so supportive,” she says. “It’s such a great time to be entering the team because all the girls have such great leadership.”

And at the tender age of 21, Haughn is one of those leaderships who has helped the Canadian women get to the position they are in – one where they now rub shoulders with the world’s elite.

“We’re all really excited to be here,” she says. “It’s definitely an inspiring environment right now. We’re all pushing really hard and we’re all excited for the next events.”

The Canadian women open the Hawke’s Bay Cup on April 2nd against Korea (World No.9) at 11:00am local time.

Field Hockey Canada media release

GND University annexes the top honours



New Delhi: For once, the Inter-University Hockey Championship has been played on level playing field, meaning a neutral venue, with reputed umpires and officials in attendance. Played for the first time at Shivaji Stadium, instead of host University, under the referring of Olympic umpire Raghu Prasad and international umpire Deepak Joshi, GND University, Amritsar won the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth Varanasi in style 4-3 to clinch the All India Inter-University Hockey tournament 2016 here today.

So far mostly the host universities used to win the Zonal or Inter-Zonal numbers with intimidating crowd and ‘cooperative and coercive’ umpiring environ. This has been one of the most noticeable bane of colleges’ hockey in India, and the blemish has someway diminished with wisdom donning with the powers that be of Association of Indian Universities. As a result, the last leg of the universities hockey was held under the aegis of Delhi based Nehru Hockey Tournament Society (started in 1964) yesterday.

However, this has robbed the Society of its original baby, Champion Colleges Cup, but it was in the collective interest of hockey at large.

In the final, both team matched each other and a goal in the last moments by Pawandeep Singh gave the Amritsar team the championship. Till then both the teams shared equally all the six beautiful goals.

Immediately after wasting its first penalty corner, captain Harsahib Singh connected a midfield push to give his side the first goal in the tenth minute only to see the fighting rivals even out through Manish Yadav six minutes later. Manish struck after umpire Raghu Prasad gave a penalty corner for wilful foul outside D by the Amritsar defence.

In a scramble, Karanbir Singh pushed the ball in the 24th minutes to change sides with 2-1 lead.

Varanasi team came up with trumps in the second half, and got the dividends in the 42nd minute. Birendra and Krambir wove a pattern that led to umpire Deepak Johsi giving a penalty corner of which Manish Yadav again struck (2-2).

Dharambir was again cynosure of all eyes when he converted a penalty corner in the 50th minute to give Varanasi again lead (3-2), but his defence let in an easy avoidable close range goal to Pawandeep Singh (3-3) and then struggled to contain the Amritsar warriors.

Lanky Pawandeep Singh again punctured three minutes before the hooter to warm up their bench. A quick lightening shot of a Varanasi forwarded seemed levelled the score in the dying minutes but it struck the right post and richotted off much to the chagrin of the fighting team.

The crown thus landed on the lap of Amritsar team.

Professor Farqan Qamar, Secretary General of AIU, was the chief guest while Rajeev Mehta, Secretary General, Indian Olympic Association, was present in the final.

Each participant player was given Rs 500. (Total cash incentives Rs 1, 60,000).

Stick2Hockey.com

Hockey camp from March 5

LAHORE: The second phase of the training camp for Pakistan senior probables preparing for participation in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup will be held from March 5 here at the Johar Hockey Stadium.

“In all 28 players will be attending the second phase of the training under former Olympian Abdul Hanif Khan”, said a Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) spokesman on Monday.

Probables: Goalkeepers: Yasir, Waleed; Full-backs: Asad Aziz, Nawaz, Ijaz Ahmad, Siddique Salman, Khalid Bhatti, Sultan Amir, Munawar Kakar; Halves: Saleem Nazim, Zohaib Ashraf, Kashif Javaid, Ali Hassan, Faisal Qadir, Rehan Ashraf, Qazi Asfand Yar; Forwards: Irfan Junior, Ijaz Ahmad, Fayyaz Yaqoob, Jamil Bostan, Hamid Ullah, Zeeshan Bukhari, Musharraf, S. Qamar Ali, Owais Khan, Kareem Khan, Akbar Ali, Rizwan Ali.

Dawn

Verga looking forward to unforgettable Wagener experience

Valentin Verga is hoping AH&BC Amsterdam can take a huge step toward winning the Euro Hockey League title when they host the KO16 at the Wagener Stadium from March 25 to 28.

Three times, Verga has been a medalist with the club, winning silver in 2012 and bronze in 2010 and 2013, but there is only one colour of medal he wants this year with the club he considers his home.

Son of former Argentina international and Los Leones coach Alex, Verga was born in Buenos Aires on the day his father played an international tie against the Netherlands.

When his family moved to the Netherlands, he first made his hockey home with Almere, just over the A6 bridge from Amsterdam. But the capital club was always one that he wanted to play for as his star rose. At age 17, he made the switch to the club where he has now been for nine seasons.

“The funny thing is that I always loved the club, the stadium, the colours of the kit; it took me!” he told the EHL website. “When we came to Holland in 2002, my dad took us to watch the playoffs.

“I will never forget when we came in to the Wagener Stadium, Marten Eikelboom got the ball at the right side of the the D and he scored a brilliant goal. At that moment, I said to my dad I want to play for this club. He said ‘it is going to be a long journey haha!”

Verga says his favourite moments with the club have clearly been the two Hoofdklasse championship titles with the club and he would love to add an EHL title to his list of honours.

“The EHL is fantastic. You don't get too many opportunities to play against the best clubs in Europe! Its very different in comparison to international hockey. I love it! We hope this year to win the European title; we have come really close in the past years so I hope we got lucky this year!

Amsterdam eased through Round 1 in Hamburg with plenty to spare, setting a new goalscoring record in their 19-2 demolition of KS Pomorzanin Torun before beating Saint Germain 4-0.

It puts them through to a KO16 date with English champions Wimbledon on March 26 at 3pm (central European time), something Verga says will be a special occasion.

“Playing in front of our own crowd has a beautiful influence; the whole club will be there supporting us! Three years ago, we played a great final against UHC and the atmosphere was incredible!”

His side topped the Dutch league table at Christmas and while they lost 4-2 to Kampong on Sunday, Verga is confident they can push on for the playoff places.

They did so despite Alyson Annan moving on from the coaching job to lead the national women’s team with Dirk Loods coming in as the new boss. Verga says the side has coped well despite the changes.

“The transition between coaches wasn’t difficult at all; at the end of the day, a coach is someone who helps the team to improve themselves but the players are responsible for their actions on the pitch!

“The new coach is an old friend of the club, he knows the philosophy and he brings with him a lot of experience.”

“We did a great job the first half of the campaign. The thing is that last season we needed to step up to reach the playoffs; this year we need to step up more to stay at the head of the table.

“That will be difficult because everybody wants to beat us, so we have to improve ourselves every day even more.”

Euro Hockey League media release

School hockey league gets under way tomorrow

Sherdon Cowan


(File photo)

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Champions Jamaica College will begin the defence of the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Jamaica Hockey Federation (JHF) high school boy title against Mona High when the league gets under way on Tuesday.

The Jamaica College versus Mona clash scheduled for 4:30 pm will be the day's feature at the Mona Hockey Field.

Mile Gully High will oppose Papine High in the Zone A curtain-raiser at 12:00 pm, before the opening ceremony of the girls' competition, which is scheduled for 3:30 pm.

Kingston College and Excelsior complete what is expected to be a very competitive zone.

Over in Zone B, Denbigh High will do battle against Wolmer's Boys at 1:10 pm, before last year's beaten finalists Munro College and Campion

College square-off at 2:30 pm. York Castle, the other team in the zone, will be idled.

The top two teams from each zone will contest the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, in the high school girls' League, the teams are also divided into two zones with the top two teams advancing to the semi-finals.

Zone A comprises of reigning champions St Hugh's High, Alpha Academy, St Andrew High, Papine, and Immaculate Conception High, while last

season's runners-up Merl Grove High, Excelsior High, Mona High, and Wolmer's will contest Zone B.

Jamaican Observer