News for 05 April 2016
All the news for Tuesday 5 April 2016
Hockeyroos crush Canada
Morgan, Kenny & Stewart on target in 4-0 win
Three goals in nine minutes either side of quarter time set the foundation for a dominant 4-0 Hockeyroos win over outsiders Canada at the Hawke’s Bay Cup in Hastings.
Penalty corner strikes from defenders Georgie Morgan and Jodie Kenny inside the opening period were supplemented by a double from 18 year-old Grace Stewart, the first of which came shortly after the restart, her second coming late in the contest.
As in their opening two matches against Japan and Korea, the Australian women controlled play throughout, creating numerous opportunities but failing to convert many of the best chances.
Hockeyroos Head Coach Adam Commens admitted that the number of opportunities passed up by his side was frustrating.
He said, “It’s a little bit frustrating when you have the amount of possession and chances we had and you don’t score more. I know our players are better than what they’ve shown and I’m just imploring them to start to bring into practice in these games the sorts of things we’ve been training. I thought today we could have done that much better.
“Certainly, we see a lot better from our players on the training pitch. We just want to see those skills in the game."
Commens wasn’t wholly unsatisfied, however, noting the team’s general play has been good and that the Hawke’s Bay Cup is a part of a larger plan to achieve success at Rio 2016.
He added, “We’re a team that has the ability to score a lot of goals. I think the way that we’re playing throughout the pitch is positive. We’re creating those chances. We just need to tidy up the end zone.
“On goal difference we finish second in our pool but that doesn’t really matter. We’re about trying to improve and peak at the right time in Rio and this tournament is part of that.
"In an Olympic year that selection pressure is there and sometimes that pressure can contribute but the pressure’s going to be that much more at the Olympic Games.”
A strong start was rewarded with Morgan’s goal from the game’s first penalty corner midway through the opening quarter, and the advantage was doubled on the stroke of quarter time; Jodie Kenny’s powerful penalty corner drag flick found the back of the net off the gloves of the Canadian goalkeeper, Kaitlyn Williams.
Shortly after the first break it was 3-0. Georgie Parker did well to win possession deep in Canadian territory and the South Australian picked out Grace Stewart in the middle of the circle. The unmarked New South Wales youngster remained composed to slot the ball beyond the advancing Williams for her second goal of the tournament.
Such was the Australian dominance that Hockeyroos’ goalkeeper Ashlee Wells was largely a spectator, called into action for the only time in the 50th minute, comfortably dismissing a shot on goal.
Late in the game Stewart netted her second goal, knocking home from close range after a cross from the left.
The Hockeyroos finish second in Pool A, behind Japan as a result of having scored fewer goals than the Japanese. Australia’s women will now face the third place team in Pool B, which completes later today, in Thursday’s quarter final. That could still be any one of three teams – China, Ireland or India.
Hawke's Bay Cup - Pool A
HOCKEYROOS: 4 (3)
Georgie Morgan 9 (PC)
Jodie Kenny 14 (PC)
Grace Stewart 18, 56 (FG, FG)
CANADA: 0 (0)
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Results & Fixtures, today
Korea 1-3 Japan
Australia 4-0 Canada
China v India
New Zealand v Ireland
Standings, Hawke's Bay Cup
Pool A
1. Japan (7 points)
2. Australia (7 points)
3. Canada (3 points)
4. Korea (0 points)
Pool B
1. New Zealand (6 points)
2. China (3 points)
3. Ireland (3 points)
4. India (0 points)
Hockeyroos’ squad v Canada, Hawke's Bay Cup
Started
Madonna Blyth (Brisbane, QLD) 327/70
Jodie Kenny (Wamuran, QLD) 167/94
Karri McMahon (Berri, SA) 91/9
Georgina Morgan (Armidale, NSW) 33/6
Ashleigh Nelson (Wagin, WA) 202/68
Georgie Parker (Berri, SA) 94/29
Brooke Peris (Darwin, NT) 82/13
Casey Sablowski (South Coast, NSW) 239/44
Grace Stewart (Gerringong, NSW) 10/5
Ashlee Wells (Moe, VIC) 71/0
Mariah Williams (Parkes, NSW) 41/5
Used Substitute
Edwina Bone (Evatt, ACT) 102/2
Jane Claxton (Adelaide, SA) 89/9
Anna Flanagan (Canberra, ACT) 163/34
Gabrielle Nance (Kingscliff, NSW) [SASI] 27/2
Kathryn Slattery (South Stirling, WA) 43/11
Unused Substitute
Rachael Lynch (Melbourne, VIC) 143/0
Emily Smith (Crookwell, NSW) 144/59
Hockeryroos’ Hawke’s Bay Cup fixtures
Thursday 7 April – Quarter Finals
Saturday 9 April – Semi Finals
Sunday 10 April - Finals
Hockey Australia media release
Canada finishes third in Pool A after loss to Australia at Hawke’s Bay Cup
Shaheed Devji
PHOTO: Canada’s Brienne Stairs (right) defends Australia’s Ashleigh Nelson on April 6 in New Zealand (Courtesy of Hawke’s Bay Festival of Hockey)
Canada’s women’s field hockey team has finished in third place in Pool A after the completion of group play at the Hawke’s Bay Cup in New Zealand.
Canada’s place in Pool A was confirmed after the Canadians dropped their final pool stage match 4-0 to Australia on Tuesday.
The third place ranking means Canada will take on the team that finishes in second place in Pool B in one of the tournament quarterfinals on April 7 at 12:15 local time (6:15pm PT/9:15pm PT on April 6 in Canada). The game will be streamed live at http://hockeynz.co.nz/video.
Australia, the world’s third ranked team, was hoping for a big win against Canada to take top spot in the pool. And the Aussies got off to a good start.
Two goals from penalty corners in the 9th and 14th minutes got them up 2-0 early. They added a field goal early in the second quarter looked off to the races. But Canada buckled down and – as they have all tournament – got stronger as the game progressed.
The Canadians managed to keep the Aussies off the scoreboard for the better part of the final three quarter, until they once again converted in the 56th minute.
The women will likely take positives in not allowing Australia to reach top spot in the pool and take confidence from that in to their net match.
Canada now waits for Pool B matches to complete to find out their quarterfinal opponent.
GAME NOTES:
- Veteran forward Thea Culley played in her 150th international match for Canada, inching her closer to Laurelee Kopeck (163 matches played) for second on the all-time list
- Goalkeepers Kaitlyn Williams and Rowan Harris split duty in goal almost equally, with Harris coming in in the 36th minute
- Tuesday’s match was the first officially sanctioned match between the Canadian and Australian women since they faced off in group play at the 1992 Olympic Games when Australia won 2-0
Field Hockey Canada media release
Australia and Japan collect wins at Hawke's Bay Cup
Ashleigh Nelson of Australia under pressure from Mayumi Ono and Maki Sakaguchi of Japan. Photo / Getty Images
Australia beat Canada 4-0 in their Hawke's Bay Cup match at the Festival of Hockey in Hastings this afternoon, but coach Adam Commens was far from satisfied with the performance of his players.
Australia went into their round three match as the favoured side given their world ranking of third compared to Canada at 19 and completely dominated Canada in all facets of the game and created a large number of gilt edged scoring opportunities.
They went into the match knowing that they had to score plenty of goals to lift their goal difference in pool A if they were to wrest the top spot from Japan. Both sides ended pool play in an identical position with two wins and a draw and a 6 goal difference.
The result see's Japan take top spot in the pool as they scored a total of 10 goals in pool play against Australia's 7.
Post match Commens expressed his disappointment at the players lack of finishing in the goal area and believes the players are not putting the lessons learnt on the practice turf into their match day performance.
Australia took a three nil lead into halftime with penalty corners to Georgina Morgan in the 9th minute and Jodie Kenny in the 14th minute. Grace Stewart completed the first half scoring when she scored a field goal in the 18th minute.
Canada's defence was more secure in the second half with Australia only able to add one further goal when Grace Stewart scored her second in the 56th minute.
At the end of pool play in Group A Japan takes the top spot from Australia, then Canada and Korea.
Meanwhile, earlier the opening game of round three at the Festival of Hockey proved to be a close fought affair.
Japan came into their final game at the top of Pool A after a win and a draw in the opening rounds.
Korea had yet to score a point and was at the bottom of the pool.
Japan dominated the opening 10 minutes but it was Korea who was first on the scoreboard when their Captain Bomi Kim scored from a penalty stroke.
Japan were again dominant in the second quarter and found their reward in the 24th minute when Hazuki Nagai scored from a penalty corner and they took the lead for the first time one minute later when Yuri Nagai scored from broken play.
Korea began to struggle in the third quarter and Young Sil Lee was handed a green then a yellow card in the 36th and 40th minute.
Mie Nakashima settled the match in Japan's favour when she scored from the field in the 47th minute. Korea mounted waves of attacks in the final 10 minutes but couldn't break through the resolute and disciplined defence of Japan.
Japan are now at the top of Pool A but must wait for the result from the Australia - Canada match to see if they will stay there on goal difference.
Hawkes Bay Today
GB Claim First Match Of Series Against Green Machine
A hat trick from Mark Gleghorne was the undoing of the Green Machine as his 3 drag flicks secured the win for Great Britain. The 3 penalty corner goals all came in the first half with the second half proving a far more even contest.
Speaking after the match Coach Craig Fulton said “We conceded 3 penalty corner goals in the first half to come in 3-0 down at half time, but at the same time we created a few really good chances, one of which hit the post. The second half was much better; we upped the speed and were more aggressive, resulting in 4 penalty corners for us”.
Ireland face Great Britain tomorrow at 2pm.
Ireland 0
Great Britain 3 (Mark Gleghorne)
Irish Hockey Association media release
Panam U21 Quarter Finals are around the corner
Damian Gordon
Pool play has ended, dust has settled and the quarterfinal opponents are now known. The results stayed true to the team rankings, even if there were a handful of surprise performances. Here is a look at Tuesday’s quarterfinal match ups in order of when the match will be played.
Match 1 – Argentina vs Mexico
In Pool A, tournament favourites Argentina did as expected, comfortably winning all three pool matches, two of them by double figures. Their pressing game has proven difficult to break down, with their speed and fitness helping to completely smother opponents’ attacking options. They have scored thirty goals and conceded zero. They have had 10 different goal scorers so far in what has been a series of strong team performances. Maria Granatto is leading the tournament scoring with 9 goals. Their quarterfinal opponent is 4th ranked Pool B team, Mexico. Fernanda Oviedo has been the pick of the Mexican players with her good close control and elimination skills. Las Leoncitas are heavy favourites to win this match.
Match 2 – Canada vs Uruguay
Canada were the Pool B runners up. They have put together a series of well organised, if not spectacular performances. They have worked hard as a unit and held higher ranked USA as equals for a significant period of their match. Alexis Dearmond is their leading goal scorer, but five others have also contributed to scoring. Their quarterfinal opponent is Uruguay who finished 3rd in Pool A. Uruguay was the only team in pool play not to concede double figures against Argentina, but is also the only team to concede against Barbados. Milagros Algorta is their leading goal scorer and Sol Amadeo has also looked dangerous in attacking situations. The team ranking places Canada as favourites in this match, but Uruguay have proven that they are a capable team and should not be overlooked.
Match 3 – Chile vs Trinidad & Tobago
Pool A runners up Chile needed a late goal against Uruguay to secure second spot. Denise Krimerman has been their outstanding player. Krimerman is also their leading goal scorer even though she is playing from the centre back position thanks to her penalty corner goals. They were unable to stop Argentina defensively, but proved much more effective against lower ranked teams. Their quarterfinal opponent is host nation Trinidad & Tobago, 3rd place finishers in Pool B. Kayla Brathwaite has been their top performer using her speed and fitness to create in attack as well as make crucial tackles in defence. Chelsea Dey and Felicia King have looked dangerous at times, but their team will have to be more efficient with their opportunities in the attacking third of the field. Chile are the favourites, but Trinidad & Tobago will have vocal home support acting as a potential “12th player”.
Match 4 – USA vs Barbados
Pool B winners USA were generally quite dominant during round 1. Only Canada stretched them and they were eventually able to come away with a comfortable margin of victory. They have used an aggressive high pressing game extremely effectively, helping them to rack up twenty-four goals in pool play while conceding just one. Gabrielle Major is her team’s leading goal scorer with 7 goals, which places her 2nd on the tournament’s goal scoring list. Their quarterfinal opponent is 4th ranked Pool A team, Barbados. Barbados has shown improvement and adaptability in each of their games so far. Krysten Mayers has been their most potent attacking option, but also a reliable defender. Their inexperience is obvious, but their determination will make them fight to the end regardless of the match situation. USA are heavy favourites to win this one.
Knock Out Round
The winners of Argentina-Mexico and Canada-Uruguay move on to play each other in the 1st-4th semi-finals while the losers play each other in 5th-8th classification. The winners of Chile-Trinidad & Tobago and USA-Barbados move on to play each other in the 1st-4th semi-finals while the losers play each other in 5th-8th classification on Thursday 7th April.
If at the end of regulation time the result is a draw, the match will proceed directly to a shoot-out competition to determine a winner.
Pan American Hockey Federation media release
Jr hockey women tackle Chile for semis spot
Nigel Simon
T&T’s Brianna Govia, centre, battles with Canada’s Ellis Cookson, left, and Nikki Woodcroft for the ball in their Junior (Under-21) Women’s Pan American Hockey Championship Pool B match hosted by the T&T Hockey Board at the National Hockey Centre, Tacarigua, on Sunday. Canada won 4-0. Photo: Anthony Harris
T&T will look to put aside its inconsistent Group B round-robin play and get a win when it faces Chile in the third quarterfinal of the Junior (Under-21) Women’s Pan American Championship hosted by the T&T Hockey Board at the National Hockey Centre, Tacarigua, today from 1.45 pm.
The “Calypso Stickwomen” ended group play with a 1-2 record and third in Pool B with three points to trail USA which ended with maximum nine points, and runner-up Canada which got six.
This after the T&T squad coached by Brian Garcia and featuring no fewer than seven players with senior team experience was beaten by USA (10-0) and Canada (4-0) while it blanked Mexico 4-0.
The Chileans, meanwhile, trounced Barbados 7-0 and edged Uruguay 2-1 after losing 10-0 to pre-tournament favourites and six-time champions Argentina, 10-0.
However, with the round-robin phase now out of the way, T&T and Chile, will enter today’s encounter, knowing a defeat will end their hopes of qualification to Junior FIH World Cup to be hosted by the South Americans later this year in Santiago.
First in action today from 9.15 am will be the free-scoring Argentines who with their 30 goals tally without conceding are favoured to get past winless Mexico, which has let in 17 goals without finding their opponents’ net.
Canada with its 9-5 goals ratio will also have a slight edge when it comes up against Pool A, third placed Uruguay at 11.30 am. In the day’s final match, USA, with a 24-1 goals ratio is also fancied to get past winless Barbados, which scored two times while allowing 33 goals.
Following today’s matches, the tournament will have another rest day tomorrow before it resumes on Thursday with main draw and losers draw semifinals, ahead of Saturday’s final day of playoffs for a place in the final and a spot at the World Cup in Chile, from November 26 to December 4.
fixtures:
Today’s quarterfinal matches:
Argentina vs Mexico, 9.15 am
Canada vs Uruguay, 11.30 am
Chile vs T&T, 1.45 pm
USA vs Barbados, 4 pm
Thursday :
Main Draw & Losers Draw semifinals
Saturday :
Final playoffs
The Trinidad Guardian
SAZ Cup will be a good test for Malaysia – Stephen van Huizen
By Lekshman Subramaniam
Photo Credit: Sultan Azlan Shah Cup official website
The 25th edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup will open its curtain tomorrow with the main squad expecting to at least claim a fourth spot finish in the competition.
New Zealand, India and Australia will all be competing in the tournament, which visibly makes it a competitive one, and as far as Malaysian head coach Stephen van Huizen is concerned, this is the perfect opportunity for his men to improve themselves as a team.
“We’ve had a steady preparation for the championship and hopefully we will give our best performance with the mix of junior and senior players,” Van Huizen told Sinar Harian.
Photo Credit: Sultan Azlan Shah Cup official website
The current Malaysian squad is largely made up of inexperienced youngsters and Van Huizen considers it to be a developmental squad. This was the same squad that picked up 3 wins, 2 draws and 5 defeats during their recent tour in Ocenia.
Malaysia will kick-start their Sultan Azlan Shah campaign against New Zealand tomorrow, followed by Japan on Thursday, Australia (Saturday), Canada (12th April), Pakistan (13th April) and India on the final day of the group stage (15th April).
The Fourth Official
Black Sticks focus on tournament opener
Hosts Malaysia present an awkward first-up hurdle for the defending champion Black Sticks at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup tournament.
New Zealand aren't looking past their opening game against the tournament hosts when they launch the defence of their Sultan Azlan Shah Cup men's hockey title in Malaysia.
The Black Sticks face a hot-and-cold Malaysian side in Ipoh on Wednesday wary of the possible pitfalls despite boasting a world ranking five places higher than the 13th-ranked home side.
A four-Test home series against Malaysia in March was hard-fought, with New Zealand emerging 2-1 winners.
Striker Hugo Inglis says it is important New Zealand improve on those performances and make a winning start to the 10-day, seven-nation tournament which operates on a round-robin format.
"The thing with Malaysia, one day they can be fairly average and the next day they can be the best team in the world," Inglis said.
"With the home crowd behind them they'll be good to go. There are some really competitive nations after that but hopefully we can make a good start."
World No.1 Australia and New Zealand have shared the honours at the annual tournament for the last five years, with the Black Sticks also victorious in 2012.
They did it the hard way last year, toppling Australia 3-1 in a penalty shootout on the back of some heroics from goalkeeper Devon Manchester after the final was locked 2-2 at fulltime.
The trans-Tasman rivals, who share the same Olympic pool at Rio, are favoured to reach the decider again although five-time champions India (ranked seventh), Pakistan (10th), Canada (14th) and Japan (16th) are all worthy opponents, Inglis said.
The prolific Inglis, 25, is encouraged by the progress made during last month's home series wins over Malaysia and Korea (2-0), particularly up front.
"From series to series we really stepped it up a notch," he said.
"Our counter-attack, especially, was dangerous. It's a real strength of our game now. We've got some pretty quick guys up there who can score some good goals."
NZ City
Canadian men taking business like approach ahead of Azlan Shah Cup
Shaheed Devji
PHOTO: April 3, 2016 – Canada’s men warmup at their first training session in Ipoh, Malaysia ahead of the Azlan Shah Cup.
In an Olympic year, nothing is business as usual. But as the Canadian men’s field hockey team inches closer to the 2016 Games in Rio, their approach is very business-like.
That’s especially true for veteran defender Jagdish Gill, who has battled his way back into the Canadian lineup after two injury plagued years, which culminated in him missing out on playing in the Pan American Games in his hometown of Toronto.
“I was feeling upset, but there were no other options,” he says. “I was just preparing myself mentally to move forward in the future and do well.”
The approach was simple and is very much like the one the Canadian men are taking in the lead up to the Rio Olympics.
“If there are ten steps on a ladder, you can’t go for the tenth step,” says the 31 year-old Gill, who is slated to play in his 50th international match for Canada during the upcoming Azlan Shah Cup. “You have to go step by step. The main focus is Malaysia. We want to do well there and go forward according to that.”
Canadian men taking business like approach ahead of Azlan Shah Cup
Jagdish Gill at training in Vancouver before Canada left for Malaysia.
The 25th edition of the Azlan Shah Cup, which begins April 6 in Ipoh, Malaysia, is a benchmark event for the Canadian men.
Not only does it give the coaching staff another look at athletes in competition ahead of Canada’s Olympic roster selection, but it also gives the team another look – in person and on the field – at their Olympic opponents.
At the Azlan Shah Cup, Canada will play Australia, India, and New Zealand, three teams that are going to the Olympic with the Canadian and one – India – which will be in Canada’s pool in Brazil.
But the Azlan Shah is not all about the Olympics.
Athletes like Richard Hildreth, who also missed out on the Pan American Games in Toronto, knows that it can’t be if he wants to end up in Rio.
“It gives you a sense of perspective,” he says of being left of the roster for a major event like the Pan Ams. “What it’s like being out, how tough that feeling is, and not wanting to feel that again gives you that extra push.”
That kind of mindset is what allows the Canadian men to stay focused on the task at hand – in Malaysia and as the Olympic approach.
“I think it’s important to kind of enjoy the lead up as well, not just wanting to make the team for Rio,” says Hildreth, one of Canada’s most experience active players with 138 matches played.
“Not being selected for stuff last year helps you kind of appreciate every training with these guys and every game and every tournament you get to go to.”
Canada opens the Azlan Shah Cup on April 6 at 4:00pm (12:00am PT/3:00am ET) against Pakistan.
Field Hockey Canada media release
Poster boy Tigges hails "immense" experience
Picture: Koen Suyk
Robert Tigges says that being greeted by a five-metre high poster of himself at the Wagener Stadium was a big surprise when he arrived for each game at the KO16 in Amsterdam last week.
Speaking about the giant picture at the entrance to the ground, Tigges told the EHL website: “I was so surprised when I showed up; the poster was immense.
"It’s really cool to play at your home pitch with all the crowd from everywhere, the place totally packed. It’s the very best time to play.”
His Amsterdam team earned their ticket to the FINAL4 with a fine 3-1 win over an impressive Wimbledon before they edged out Real Club de Polo de Barcelona 2-1.
Looking at that second game, Tigges said that it became a real battle when Polo switched up their style in the second half.
“We started off really well, going 1-0 up quickly. We defended really well and it was a tough game. There were some nice one-on-ones, pretty physical from both sides so its acceptable.
“They didn’t get chances in the beginning and until half-time we were the better team. But, at 2-0 up at half-time, they were always going to change their game and their tactics, putting a defender higher up. They did it well and forced chances.
“We also had chances to make it 3-0; if we made them, it would be a different game and the game would be done. They kept in the game and have very skillful players up front. When they got the goal, it was quite tight with corners and chances and our goalie saved us in the end.”
And, while the Hoofdklasse comes first for the next few weeks, he cannot wait for the FINAL4 in Barcelona on Mary 14 and 15.
“The FINAL4, you dream about. We had to beat two good teams to get there and I think it was well deserved.”
Euro Hockey League media release
Cool as ice Körper happy to be the hero
While many shy away from the pressure in a shoot-out, Harvestehuder THC’s Michael Körper says he revels under the pressure, especially when he has the chance to make the decisive impact.
He scored the winner in the 2014 EHL final and he moved the Hamburg club another big step closer to a possible second title last week in the Wagener Stadium by doing the same against Oranje Zwart.
Unexpectedly for him, Körper missed his first shoot-out chance but did the business in sudden death with victory on the line.
“In training, our coach Christoph Bechmann said I should go second in the shoot-out,” the Austrian told the EHL website. “I prefer to go last and am used to it. Ok, I missed my first one and then it went to sudden death. Then, I thought ‘perfect’, I am the last one!”
In normal time, his hat trick under-pinned one of the greatest EHL comebacks, recovering from 4-1 down against the reigning champions to earn a shoot-out.
He added that the side never panicked, confident that – other than the five minutes either side of half-time – HTHC were playing well enough to get a positive outcome.
“It was a hard game, we know everytime we play a quarter-final, it’s going to be a tight game. In the first half, we played really well. The only bad part was that we went down 4-1 but the good part in this team is that we never thought it was over.
“We had enough time to come back again and score the four goals and even the fifth which we were unlucky with. But the shoot-out is also worth a win!
“The team spirit we have; this whole club, the whole team is like a family. What we do on the pitch, we also do off the pitch. That’s what you in us. We fight for each other; there are no strangers and we love each other. We will always fight until the end.”
His side took the confidence from that performance into the German league last weekend. They moved into second place with a 3-0 win over Nuremberg on Saturday before drawing 1-1 with Uhlenhorst Mülheim.
Mannheim strengthened their place at the top of the table with a 6-0 win over Blau Weiss Berlin and now lead by four points from HTHC and Krefeld. Rot Weiss Köln dropped to fourth place after a 1-1 draw with bottom placed SW Neuss and a 4-2 loss against Club an der Alster.
Euro Hockey League media release
Canterbury and Students dominate promotion playoffs
By Mike Haymonds
CANTERBURY and Loughborough Students men are the pace setters after the opening round of the England League promotion play-offs.
Canterbury, playing to retain their Premier status, beat East Conference winners Richmond 4-3 with double strikes from Craig Boyne and James Oates while the Students’ 3-0 win at Cardiff & Met was secured with goals from Ed Horler and a brace from Luke Taylor.
In the relegation play-offs between the three ninth-placed Conference teams Chichester boosted their chances of avoiding the drop into the regional leagues by beating Wakefield 4-1.
The women’s promotion tournament produced a surprise result when East Conference winners Slough beat long-term Premier side Bowdon Hightown 2-1 with goals from Lizzy Totten and Harriet Ward. Wakefield suffered a second reverse as their women lost 3-2 to Sutton Coldfield.
In the relegation play-offs Bristol Firebrands and Maidenhead drew 1-1.
Daily Express
Indian Gymkhana win the Over 60s Cup
Indian Gymkhana Over 60s Cup Champions. Photo credit Andy Smith
In a repeat of the 2014 final Indian Gymkhana made it three consecutive titles when they overcame Surrey to win the Men’s Masters Over 60s Cup at Nottingham Hockey Centre..
Gymkhana had the best possible start when 1988 Seoul gold medallist Kulbir Bhaura fired them ahead after only 18 seconds. Harbhajan Sehmi increased their lead early in the second half and although Conrad Ray pulled a goal back for Surrey a brace for Santa Bansal eased Gymkhana to the title.
In the Plate competition Warwickshire & Worcestershire beat Khalsa 3-2. Trevor Dennison gave them the lead and when Steve Heslop and Peter Redfern added to this it looked all over. However Khalsa gave themselves a lifeline just before half time when Rabir Hayer scored from a corner. Sarjit Somal added a second set-piece with 14 minutes to go, however Warks & Worcs remained resolute to claim the Plate.
Warwickshire and Worcestershire pose with the O-60s Plate. Photo credit Andy Smith
Both matches were played in excellent spirit with old rivalries renewed and the competition will hopefully continue to flourish as more players show that age is no barrier to enjoying the sport.
England Hockey Board Media release
PAHF Honours Monica Cumberbatch
Damian Gordon
Photo: J-M Photography
The Trinidad & Tobago Hockey Board (TTHB) hosted the PAHF, tournament officials, teams and local stakeholders to a cocktail reception at The Atrium, Guardian Life, West Moorings. Among the attendees were PAHF President Alberto “Coco” Budeisky and Maureen Craig-Rousseau, PAHF Director, PAHF Representative Laura Pigretti and PAHF Event Coordinator Laura Macchiotti, TTHB President Mr. Douglas Camacho, 1st Vice President Roger St. Rose and Honorary Secretary Reyah Richardson. PAHF took the opportunity to present Monica Cumberbatch with the Order of Merit, which is given to individuals who have served on the PAHF Board for 10 years or more and have made a significant contribution to the PAHF. In addition, Natalie Nieves received her PAHF Coach’s Badge and local umpires, Tracy Lee and Kevin George received their PAHF Umpire’s Badge.
Monica remembers first getting involved in hockey as a teenager and when asked how long she was involved in PAHF her answer with a big smile on her face was, “Longer than I can remember. A very long time.” One of her most memorable moments serving PAHF was as a part of the Development Committee when she and Annette Knott of Trinidad & Tobago travelled to London to meet Gabrielle van Doorn to discuss securing a grant for the development of hockey in Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago. They went on to successfully secure the grant heralding a period of development that brought high level European coaches that worked with both local players and coaches alike.
Pan American Hockey Federation media release