News for 05 April 2017
All the news for Wednesday 5 April 2017
Canada, Uruguay earn final pool-play wins, Undefeated Chile tops Pool B
Ali Lee
FIH World League R2, Vancouver - Mexico vs. Chile. Photo: Yan Huckendubler
A last-minute goal from Uruguay’s Maria Teresa Viana Ache lifted the Cimarronas 3-2 over Belarus to ultimately nab second place in Pool A. Chile continued their clean sheet with a 2-0 win over Mexico to top Pool B and earn a bye into the semifinals, while Canada finishes second in Pool B after their 12-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago.
Pool B: Mexico vs Chile (0-2)
Chile earned their opening goal in the 8th minute on a penalty corner. Camila Caram’s initial sweep on goal was saved by Mexican keeper Jesus Castillo but the air-born rebound was tapped in my Sofia Walbaum to lift Chile 1-0. In the 19th minute, Chile capitalized again on a set piece in the second quarter when Manuela Urroz deflected another sweep from Caram, this time at the far post, to double Chile’s lead. A spirited Mexican defence lead by Maribel Acosta and Eliana Cota weathered the waves of Chilean attack to keep the defecit at 2-0 by half time.
The Mexican defence continued to put up a wall, denying Chile a third goal both in free play and through several penalty corner attempts. Castillo came up strong, denying attempts by Caram, Urroz and Walbaum in the second half. The opening half goals were enough to give Chile their third-straight win to top Pool B and earn a bye in to the semifinals on 8 April.
Pool A: Uruguay vs Belarus (3-2)
It was even opening quarter with both teams scoring just one minute a part. Uruguay executed a give-and-go play on a penalty corner that resulted in Kaisuami Dall’orso setting up Carolina Mutilva for the 1-0 lead in the 14th minute. Less than a minute later Belarus finished a set piece as Sviatlana Bahushevich deflected at the near post to tie the game 1-1 entering the first break. Matilde Kliche lifted the Cimarronas 2-1 when she picked up a rebound, curled and fired into the unguarded net in the 24th.
Following a penalty corner in the 38th minute, Belarus was awarded a penalty stroke but Yuliya Mikheichyk’s flick rang off the post. Uruguay were unable to match the pace of the Belarussian attack for most of the second half and conceded a penalty corner in the 48th minute. Belarus forward Nastassia Syrayezhka put in the rebound to tie the game 2-2. The game was decided in the final minute of play as against the flow Maria Teresa Viana Ache put in a diving deflection goal that Uruguay 3-2 to finish in an all-important second place in Pool A.
Pool B: Canada vs Trinidad and Tobago (12-0)
Canadian Rachel Donohoe got the scoring flurry going as the striker danced through a sea of white shirts to rip a back-hand past Trinidad and Tobago keeper Petal Derry. It was the first of three goals in as many minutes as Canadian defender Alison Lee sent a pass across the circle that deflected in off a defender. Just after, Alex Thicke walked in and found the back board to give Canada a 3-0 lead just six minutes into the game. Canada added three more deflection goals before half as Donohoe notched her second and Jordyn Faiczak buried two for a 7-0 lead at the break.
Donohoe tapped in her third goal of the game, finishing a Kate Wright pass to give Canada an eight-goal advantage in the 32nd minute. The goals kept flowing as Nikki Woodcroft, Brienne Stairs, Dani Hennig scored for Canada, who clinched second place in Pool B with the 12-0 victory.
The Gryphon Hockey World League Round 2 resumes on 6 April. The seven-team tournament will have two quarter-finals with the top pool-play finishers earning byes into the semifinals. Uruguay will play Mexico at 1415h and Canada will play Belarus in the other quarter-final at 1630h. All games will have live tweets via @panamhockey
Pan American Hockey Federation media release
Canada beats Trinidad and Tobago, will play Belarus in Gryphon Hockey World League 2 quarterfinal
Shaheed Devji
Brienne Stairs and her Canadian teammates celebrate a goal in their 12-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago on April 4, 2017 at the Gryphon Hockey World League Round 2 in West Vancouver, BC (By Yan Huckendubler)
Canada’s women’s field hockey team finished pool play of the 2017 Gryphon Hockey World League 2 with a big 12-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago Tuesday in West Vancouver.
The win sets up a match-up with Belarus in Thursday’s quarterfinal (4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET).
The other quarterfinal match will feature Uruguay and Mexico (2:15pm PT/5:15pm ET). Follow Field Hockey Canada on Twitter for live updates of Canada’s match, and the Pan American Hockey Federation for all other matches.
North Vancouver native Rachel Donohoe – who recently re-joined the Women’s National Program – scored three goals in front of her home crowd, as Canada easily handled the lower ranked Trinidadians in the final pool match in West Vancouver.
“It’s good, it’s exciting,” says Donohoe, who plays hey club hockey with the West Vancouver Field Hockey Club, which is based out of Rutledge Field, where World League 2 is being played. “But I have to give credit to my teammates, most of my goals were tap-ins so they made it easy for me.”
“We were unlucky to lose to Chile (last game) but I think coming out today, we came out firing and stuck to our plan.”
Canada’s other goals were scored by Alison Lee (4′), Alex Thicke (6′), Stephanie Norlander (10′), Jordyn Faiczak (26′, 29′), Nikki Woodcroft (38′), Brienne Stairs (44′, 45′), and Danielle Hennig (53′).
Despite the lopsided scoreline, the Canadians were intent on playing the match against lower-ranked and winless Trinidad and Tobago with the same purpose as their other matches.
It’s a philosophy that has been consistent since Head Coach Ian Rutledge took over the Women’s National Program in 2013.
“We just stick to our game plan,” says veteran defender Shanlee Johnston. “We know our process and we know that it works against some of the best teams in the world and we just have to stick to our guns and go for it.”
In its quarterfinal opponent, the 20th ranked Belarusians, Canada faces a relatively unknown opponent and one that is ranked only two spots below.
But the Canadians are less focused on who they play as they are with how they play in the Thursday’s quarterfinal.
“There’s three good teams in the other pool and we’re happy to play any of them and excited to get into any competitive match leading into the rest of the tournament,” adds Johnston.
“We’re going to take the win as a really positive thing going into quarterfinals, but we’re going to be prepare for that game the same way as we prepare for all the other games.”
The winner of Canada’s quarterfinal matchup with Belarus will go on to face India in the tournament semifinal. The other semifinal will feature the winner of Uruguay-Mexico and Chile.
Field Hockey Canada media release
Cold conditions hamper women’s hockey
Hampered by the extreme cold conditions in West Vancouver Canada, the T&T Women’s hockey team was scheduled to go after an overall fifth-place finish in Pool B of the FIH Women’s World League Round Two Qualifiers, team manager Garth Baptiste said yesterday.
The team went down in their earlier two matches of the qualifiers 9-0 to Chile and 6-0 to Mexico on Sunday and were up against an equally tough Canadian outfit last night which according to Baptiste was due to better preparations under the cold conditions. “The weather here has really played an important role against the team because the highest temperature we are playing in is around 7’degrees celcius which is very very cold. When we analyze the game we realise that the first 15 minutes it takes us to get into the game because of the temperature and then to get warmed-up, so it is something they have to get used to” Baptiste said.
He noted “Some of the teams have been out here two weeks now, and they have played test matches against other teams. Teams such as Canada has been out here, Australia for three-four weeks preparations, so I think it’s a case of preparation for a lot of the teams coming into these very windy conditions which haven’t done quite well for us.”
In spite of this however Baptiste said the mood in his camp was an upbeat one and they will be going after a fifth place finish as they have entered the tournament as the lowest ranked team. According to Baptiste it was not realistic for them to qualify for the quarter finals but will be in the fifth, sixth and seventh play-offs.
The Trinidad Guardian
Black Sticks overcome Japan in Hawke’s Bay
Photo: Planet Hockey
The Vantage Black Sticks Women secured a 1-0 win over Japan in their fourth round match at the Vantage Hawke’s Bay Festival of Hockey.
After 60 minutes of hockey played in steady rain, the Kiwis got the result they needed thanks to a first half goal from Kirsten Pearce.
The Black Sticks came into the match with a win and a draw from their opening three matches but more importantly, were looking for redemption after being beaten 2-1 by Japan in the opening match of the tournament.
The first half was played in a predictable style by both teams; the hosts pressing forward on attack while Japan fell back in defence and were quick to stifle any opportunities that were created.
The Black Sticks broke the deadlock in the 20th minute from a penalty corner after Japan goalkeeper Megumi Kageyama made the initial save but Pearce flicked the rebound into the net.
The second half belonged to the Kiwis who pushed forward through the midfield and created more opportunities for the strikers.
At the end of four rounds Australia tops the table with eight points, the Vantage Black Sticks have climbed to second with seven, the early leaders Japan are on six and the USA has just one.
Tomorrow is a rest day at the tournament before the Vantage Black Sticks take on Australia at 5:30pm on Thursday night.
VANTAGE BLACK STICKS 0: (Kirsten Pearce)
JAPAN 0
Halftime: Black Sticks 1-0
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Black Sticks on track for HB Cup final
By Shane Hurndell
A Japanese defender dives to keep the ball away from Black Sticks forward Amy Robinson. Photo / Duncan Brown
Give the Black Sticks today off completely . . . they deserve it!
This call to Vantage Black Sticks women's hockey team head coach Mark Hager will fall on deaf ears but his troops deserve a rest after beating previous leaders Japan 1-0 in atrocious weather conditions last night to take second place after four rounds in the Hawke's Bay Cup, which ends at the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park on Sunday.
"You call it a rest day but we call it a recovery day," Black Sticks assistant coach Sean Dancer explained last night after his stint in charge of the troops.
"There won't be much time for sightseeing tomorrow. But the girls will have the opportunity to go and have a coffee," Dancer said.
"There will be a training sessions as well as some video analysis sessions . . . we're pretty focused on retaining the cup here in the Bay."
Dancer agreed the hosts did well to gain revenge for a 2-1 loss to Japan on Friday night but there is still plenty of room for improvement from a team which appeared to go into conservative mode after the scoring the only goal in the 20th minute. The Kiwis forced a penalty corner and Kirsten Pearce played the ball in for a shot by Brooke Neal.
Japan keeper and player-of-the-match Megumi Kageyama made the save but the ball rebounded to Pearce, who flicked it into the net.
"You always try and score a few more goals. We had a few more opportunities which we should have done better with," Dancer stressed.
"But to Japan's credit they stopped us. Games against them are always tight and we spoke about the need to win after dropping points to them last time. We had something to prove."
Dancer said the defending champions would be aiming to be more clinical against the Aussies tomorrow night, a clash which is expected to be repeated in Sunday's final.
"We're getting down to the attacking third all right but we're conceding too many possessions down there. We need to control that better."
Dancer pointed out experienced captain Stacey Michelsen, who was rested last night, is expected to return from injury tomorrow.
"Everybody else is injury free which is a good sign."
The first half turned out exactly how those who braved the elements expected. The Black Sticks pressed forward on attack while Japan fell back in defence and were quick to stifle any opportunities stand-in captain Olivia Merry, Amy Robinson and co created. The Japanese were also dangerous on the counter attack.
The second half was dominated by the Black Sticks. They pushed forward through the midfield and the strikers had plenty of scoring opportunities, including three penalty corners, but these weren't converted.
Japan got into their attacking D only once in the fourth quarter and were unlucky not to secure a draw, with three minutes remaining when a penalty corner attempt hit a goal post and rebounded away. Should Japan cause another upset like they did last year to book a final berth expect classy keeper Kageyama to be prominent.
"As a goal keeper I was reasonably happy with my game but I was disappointed with the loss," Kageyama said through an interpreter afterwards.
"We have to be more physical. We need to be more aggressive to get the points first."
She agreed her team could be considered unlucky not to have secured a draw. The 24-year-old former university student only has 10 caps to her name and made the team only after there were numerous retirements following the Rio Olympics.
Last night she proved she has a huge future in the code.
Hawkes Bay Today
Black Sticks beat Japan at the Hawke's Bay Festival of Hockey in Hastings
Black Sticks vs Japan at Vantage Festival of Hockey, Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park, Hastings. Photo / Duncan Brown
The women's Black Sticks beat Japan 1-0 in their fourth round match at the Hawke's Bay Festival of Hockey in Hastings tonight.
The Black Sticks came into the match with a win and a draw from their opening three matches but more importantly, were looking for redemption after being beaten 2-1 by Japan in the opening match of the tournament.
The first half was played in a predictable style by both teams; the hosts pressing forward on attack while Japan fell back in defence and were quick to stifle any opportunities that were created.
It took until the 20th minute for the stalemate to be broken. The Black Sticks forced a penalty corner and Kirsten Pearce played the ball in for a shot by Brooke Neal. Japan keeper Megumi Kageyama made the save but the ball rebounded to Peace who flicked it into the net.
The second 30 minutes belonged to the Black Sticks. They pushed forward through the midfield and the strikers had plenty of shooting opportunities but to no avail.
Japan were again strong in defence and keeper Kageyama was a standout as she stifled wave upon wave of Black Sticks attacks.
Japan was unlucky not to steal an unlikely draw close to the final whistle, when a shot from a penalty corner hit the Black Sticks goal post and rebounded away.
At the end of four rounds Australia top the points table with eight, the Black Sticks have climbed to second with seven, the early leaders Japan are on six and the USA have one.
The top two teams after round robin play will compete for the Hawke's Bay Cup on Sunday.
The New Zealand Herald
Hockeyroos defeat USA 3 - 1
Holly MacNeil
The Hockeyroos have found their form at the Hawkes Bay Cup in Hastings, New Zealand, with a 3 – 1 defeat of the USA today.
The goals began early with Jane Claxton scoring a field goal in the seventh minute of play to give the Hockeyroos an early lead which they held on to for the first half of the game.
In the final minutes of the third quarter, the USA scored the equaliser after being awarded a penalty corner opportunity which Kathleen Sharkey converted for the team.
The Hockeyroos came back fighting in the final quarter, with Emily Smith reclaiming the lead with a field goal, before Ashlea Fey secured victory for Australia with a penalty corner conversion.
Hockeyroos head coach Paul Gaudoin said: “It was a very pleasing win today, we were dominant for most of the game and it was nice to get a few goals which we haven’t been able to do so far in the competition.
“We were able to implement what we have been talking about in training into today’s game, and although we had a win today, we still have learnings which we can take away and use as an opportunity to develop our play.”
The Hockeyroos next play NZL on Thursday, April 6 at 3.30pm AEST / 1.30pm AWST. Keep up to date with the score by following @Hockeyroos on Twitter.
The Festival of Hockey will begin livestreaming on Thursday, April 6 via The Festival of Hockey Facebook page.
HOCKEYROOS 3 (1)
Jane Claxton 7 (FG)
Emily Smith 48 (FG)
Ashlea Fey 50 (PC)
USA 1 (0)
Kathleen Sharkey 43 (PC)
Hockeyroos Match Schedule
Thursday 6 April: AUS v NZL 5.30pm NZST / 3.30pm AEST / 1.30pm AWST
Saturday 8 April: AUS v JPN 3pm NZST / 1pm AEST / 11am AWST
Sunday 9: Finals
Hockeyroos team v USA
Athlete (Hometown, State)
Laura Barden (Kew, VIC) 25/5
Kristina Bates (Port Melbourne, VIC) 4/0
Edwina Bone (Orange, NSW) *plays for ACT 131/3
Jane Claxton (Adelaide, SA) 115/11
Ashlea Fey (Sunshine Coast, QLD) 10/3
Georgia Nanscawen (Melbourne, VIC) 193/37
Gabi Nance (Kingscliff, NSW) *Plays for SA 52/3
Kaitlin Nobbs (Newington, NSW) 8/0
Emily Smith (Crookwell, NSW) 167/66
Ashlee Wells (Morwell, VIC) 87/0
Mariah Williams (Parkes, NSW) 60/7
Used Substitute
Jocelyn Bartram (Albury, NSW) 8/0
Kirstin Dwyer (Mackay, QLD) 124/2
Kate Hanna (Constitution Hill, NSW) 13/0
Jordyn Holzberger (Ipswich, QLD) 43/5
Stephanie Kershaw (Townsville, QLD) 10/2
Madi Ratcliffe (Warnambool, VIC) 7/2
Renee Taylor (Everton Park, QLD) 16/0
Hockey Australia media release
Australia Dents USWNT's Chances of Top Placing at the Vantage Hawke's Bay Cup
Photo Courtesy of Ned Dawson/Vantage Hawke’s Bay Festival of Hockey
HASTINGS, New Zealand - April 4, 2017 - Australia was too good for the U.S Women's National Team as the Vantage Hawke’s Bay Cup competition entered its fourth day of competition in Hastings, New Zealand.
Australia came into the match unbeaten with a win and two draws, while the USA had just a draw and two losses to show from the first three matches of the four team competition.
Australia was first on the board after seven minutes when captain, Jane-Anne Claxton pushed the ball into the goal after a scramble in front of the net.
The rest of the half was even with both teams forcing good saves from the respective keepers.
Seven minutes into the second spell and the USA was down to 9 players when Michelle Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.) and Taylor West (Pocomoke, Md.) received green cards.
Australia forced a number of penalty corners and dominated possession during this period but was unable to convert the player advantage into goals.
Shortly after both USA players returned to the turf, Kathleen Sharkey (Moosic, Pa.) scored from a penalty corner and the match was locked up 1 all.
Into the final quarter and Australia made the telling blow with goals in the 48th and 50th minutes.
Emily Smith got on the score sheet after she slapped a bouncing ball into the net and the nail was driven home by Australia when Ashlea Fey finished from a penalty corner to make the score 3 – 1.
The top two teams after double round robin play will compete for the Vantage Hawke’s Bay Cup on Sunday April, 9, 2017 (NZ time).
Half time score: Australia 1, USA 0
Final score: Australia 3 (Jane-Anne Claxton, Emily Smith, Ashlea Fey), USA 1 (Kathleen Sharkey)
The USWNT will be back on the pitch Thursday, April 6 to take on Japan at 3:30 p.m. local time (Wednesday, April 5, 11:30 p.m. EST). This game will be live streamed on Vantage Festival of Hockey's Facebook page. To receive a notification prior to the start time of upcoming matches, just “LIKE” the Vantage Hawke’s Bay Festival of Hockey Facebook page.
Article Courtesy of The Hawke's Bay Cup
USFHA media release
Malaysia will go to England for World Hockey League Semi-Final
by S. Ramaguru
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will play the men’s World Hockey League Semi-Final in England.
Coach Stephen van Huizen’s side will join three other Second Round qualifiers – Canada, China and Scotland – in the 10-team tournament at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London from June 15-25.
Malaysia also have automatic qualifiers – Olympic winners Argentina, European champions Holland, Pakistan, South Korea, Asian champions India and hosts England – for company.
The second Semi-Final will be held at the Wits Hockey Club in Johannesburg, South Africa, from July 8-23.
Qualifiers Ireland, Japan, France and Egypt with be joined by World Cup champions Australia, Olympic silver medallists Belgium, Germany, New Zealand, Spain and hosts South Africa.
Only the top eight teams from each of the Semi-Final qualify for the 2018 World Cup Finals in Bhubaneswar, India.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH), however, have yet to finalise the teams for the women’s World League Semi-Final in Brussels, Belgium, from June 21-July 2 and Johannesburg from July 8-23.
Malaysia are one of the qualifiers after finishing runners-up in the Second Round in Kuala Lumpur in January.
The Star of Malaysia
Azlan Shah great chance for youngsters to shine: Manpreet
The upcoming Sultan Azlan Shah Cup is a great opportunity for youngsters to showcase their mettle ahead of the men's Hockey World League Semifinal to be held in London in June this year, says India hockey team midfielder Manpreet Singh.
With the senior men's team for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup scheduled to be announced next week, Manpreet feels the tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia is a great platform to see where the side stands ahead of the HWL Semifinal.
"Teams like England and Australia will play with a young squad. We are awaiting the final team selection but I feel this is a great tournament for the youngsters. The atmosphere is good with lots of spectators and top teams play here so there is tough competition," Manpreet said.
"Since this is the first tournament we play this year, we can see where we stand and what are the changes that need to be made moving forward," stated the midfielder, who was recently appointed as Deputy Superintendent of Police by the Punjab Government.
In this year's edition of Azlan Shah Cup, defending champions Australia, England, New Zealand, Malaysia, Japan and Korea will vie for top honours along side runners-up India.
After having missed the top spot last year, India players are determined to return with a gold this time around.
"Last time we lost in the final but this time definitely the aim is to win the title. We have had really good sessions in the national camp and with youngsters in the mix, there are options to try out different combinations," Manpreet said.
"Our results will be based on how well we execute our plans," he added.
Manpreet feels the Azlan Shah Cup will be a big learning curve for the youngsters.
"Players like Mandeep Singh, Harjeet Singh and Harmanpreet Singh have played in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup before.
They could also understand the demands of senior level hockey.
"Likewise, I feel some of the other youngsters too can learn a lot from this tournament if they are selected and also if they perform well then it's great for the team as we can have a fresh approach and outlook in the upcoming tournaments like men's Hockey World League Semifinal and Asia Cup," he added.
DNA
‘NZ, Australia series great learning experience for Pakistan’
Mohammad Yaqoob
LAHORE: Pakistan hockey team’s recent tour Down Under has been termed as a good learning experience for the players by head coach Khawaja Junaid. He, however, remains mindful of the challenges the national side would face in near future and admits that “qualifying for next year’s World Cup is still an uphill task.”
Talking to Dawn on his arrival from the tour, where after initially clinching the five-match Test series 2-1 against New Zealand, the Greenshirts lost all the four Tests against Australia, Junaid said: “Much as we played against better teams in terms of FIH rankings, my boys played well and learned oodles which not only made tour Down Under a successful one but was a good learning experience for the youngsters.”
Australians are world number one while New Zealanders are ranked 8th compared to Pakistan lowly 14th place in the FIH rankings. The head coach laid emphasis on Pakistan sides playing regularly against top hockey nations. “We were able to play a series Down Under after almost 20 years which is awful. We need to play Test series against top teams like Holland, Germany, Spain regularly to bring improvement in our skills,” said Junaid who was all praise for the entire Pakistan side.
“Though the entire team played like a unit, upcoming Abu Bakar – who registered a hat-trick against New Zealand — and the experienced Umar Bhutta, Hammad Butt, captain Haseem Khan and Azfar along with both goalkeepers in Amjad Ali and Mazhar were quite impressive with their performances,” remarked the head coach.
The head coach, though, admitted that Pakistan’s show Down Under was not impressive but was quick to add in the same breath that the gulf between both teams was not unbridgeable. “Pakistan improved their performance gradually and fought tooth and nail in the last match against the Aussies,” he observed.
Pakistan lost the opening game to Aussies 1-6, the second game 0-3 wand the third match 0-2 followed by a 5-3 defeat at the hands of Australians in the final match.
“Australia managed to score the fifth goal in the last match in the last 30 seconds and till then it was a thrilling fight with the scores being 4-3,” commented the head coach.
Junaid, however, was realistic about the challenges at hand for Pakistan players. “We will have to work really hard to eliminate the gulf between the big teams,” admitted the coach. “Australians are excellent in skill and mental approach, much better in executing the game according to the situation apart from being proactive.”
“But the good thing for us was that Pakistan succeeded in converting three short-corners against Australia and two against New Zealand.”
Talking about the future Test series, Junaid said the PHF was in negotiation with France and Spain to play Test series before featuring in the World League. “But there is some issue of dates which are clashing as far series with France and Spain are concerned.
“Actually, we want to play the series in the last week of May against France but they want to hold it in the first week of June,” disclosed Junaid. “I want to give 10 to 15 days break to boys before the start of the World League. Hopefully, dates will be settled with France,” he added.
Dawn
Grunwald Poznan win Podillia Cup in Ukraine
WKS Grunwald Poznan won games against HC Minsk and Vinnitsa and lost one against Stroitiel Brest en route to winning the Podillia Cup in Ukraine.
The competition formed a key part of their preparations with 10 days to go to their date with Real Club de Polo in Eindhoven in the EHL KO16.
They won the tournament overall and also picked up a couple of individual prizes with Tomasz Dutkiewicz the MVP while the top scorer was Artur Mikula.
Speaking about the touanment, Waldemar Serowski said: “Being in Ukraine, we took part in perfectly organized tournament, played on a perfect pitch in a beautiful town with interesting history and full of friendly and very nice people” before inviting Vinnitsa back to Poznan for a return tournament.
Euro Hockey League media release
Wimbledon's Game winners key to success
Henry Weir of Wimbledon
The Wimbledon players will be throwing everything into their preparations ahead of the dual challenge of taking on the best of Europe’s clubs in the EHL KO16 and then holding off all challengers to lift the title of top club in England at the League Finals weekend.
For Great Britain and Wimbledon star Henry Weir, the team from south London will be taking a very new mentality into their game.
We will be going into the end of the season with a lot more expectation on our shoulders. We went in [to EHL KO16] last year as the underdog, we didn’t even go as league winners. This year we are winners in the league and we have that extra experience of playing in Europe. We will be putting a lot of pressure on ourselves to do well. The last two years we played with an underdog mentality but now we have to play with confidence.
‘We are still a bit of an unknown to the European clubs so that does gives us an advantage, and on our day, we have a good enough team that we can beat anyone in Europe,” adds Weir, although he also concedes, “Are we going to be the best team at that tournament, probably not.”
The strength in the Wimbledon side lies in two key areas, says Weir. On the one hand, it is the depth of ability that runs through the squad. While Weir and his fellow international players were off on international duty in South Africa, the team played Reading and East Grinstead, winning both matches.
The results didn’t surprise the defender: “We have game winners throughout the squad. We have full-time athletes like myself and we provide the core of the squad but the strength of Wimbledon is throughout the squad. We have game winners all over the pitch so, even if we are playing badly, we can still win games.”
The second key to success, says Weir, is the man-management of the large squad of players. “Unlike many other clubs in the Men’s Hockey League, we would never pressure anyone to take time off work for hockey. I think one of the reasons that we have been successful is that at Wimbledon, unlike a lot of other clubs – especially London clubs – the coaches, Ben Hawes and Ben Marsden, understand that people have other lives and responsibilities. Many coaches at other clubs will says ‘you have to be here’ [for training], and they demand that 100 per cent commitment. We have a good enough team to make it to play-offs and then, when we make it, we step it up a notch and say ‘look, we need to really work hard now.”
Wimbledon’s preparations for their two challenges took a bit of a hit as they cancelled a couple of pre-League Finals fixtures, so tournament preparation is limited to squad training and a friendly against fellow League Final hopefuls Hampstead and Westminster. This again indicates the Wimbledon management’s approach to accommodating the needs of the players. The team was due to play Durham University at Lee Valley but the coaches decided that asking players to travel across London after a full day’s work was too much of an ask.
With the EHL KO16 just under two weeks away and the League Finals, a fortnight later, Weir and his colleagues will need to repay their coaches’ conciliatory approach. The GB star admits the team has not been in the best run of form of late, but is sure they will hit the next few weeks with all cylinders firing. “We are very excited about playing in the KO16 and if we take our A-game to Europe, we will do well.”
And for the League Finals? “We are the team to beat and that has to be our new mentality. We know we can beat all the other three teams, but strangely, the team I am most worried about is Hampstead and Westminster [Wimbledon’s opponents] – they play differently to any other team in the league and they can do the unexpected. But, I think we will win, when we fire on all cylinders, we are unstoppable.”
England Hockey Board Media release
Lily Owsley inspires the next generation
Lily Owsley at Kilburn school
It wasn’t your average Thursday PE lesson for some pupils at Elsley and Kilburn Primary school when Rio gold medalist Lily Owsley popped by to take the sessions!
PE leader Alex Wilke was grinning from ear to ear when we spoke to him; ‘The children were really excited and as you can see so was I. It has been really inspirational for all the children to see that hard work does pay off. I feel that was the strongest message Lily gave to us. It was also very inspiring to our young female players to see there is a career path for female athletes and it is not just male dominated world.’
Alex continued; ‘I find hockey a really inclusive sport, it doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or an expert, everyone is welcome and included. For the children in our school I feel they learn a lot about sportsmanship, it is not just about technical skills hockey teaches them, it helps them to be better people as well.’
Lily Owsley at school visit
Lily Owsley took two coaching sessions followed by a school assembly with questions from the young pupils. ‘It was an amazing day, they made my job quite easy as they are just so enthusiastic. They haven’t played that much but their passion they have for it was inspiring itself.
I love doing things like this, we train day in and day out which is brilliant but sometime you lose a bit of perspective but days out like today is just amazing how much you can touch other people and how others can be inspired by our story. To get out to schools like this, it is really special. I just hope I can inspire one kid let alone a big group of them.’
One the kids couldn’t stop smiling after meeting their hero; ‘It was really exciting, I couldn’t get any sleep last night thinking about what we was going to do today.'
This is just one of the many school visits our athletes have been doing up and down the country, celebrating and inspiring young people to play hockey.
England Hockey Board Media release
Asian School Hockey Championship: Malaysia defeat China 14-0
BHOPAL: Malaysia on Tuesday trounced China 14-0 in the inaugural match of the 5th Asian School Hockey Championship.
Malaysia scored the first two goals within four minutes after start of play. Malaysia scored another four goals in the 14th, 27th, 28th and 33rd minute to take a 6-0 lead till the half time.
After the break, Malaysia netted 8 more goals to register a whooping 14-0 win. Abu Kamal was adjudged the man of the match for scoring four goals.
The Times of India
Scotland U16 and U18 squads announcement
Over the Easter weekend of 2017, from 14 - 16 April, the Dutch Field Hockey club HDM in The Hague will have its 21st edition of the International Youth Field Hockey Easter Tournament for Boys and Girls U17/U19. Scotland U16 Girls will be competing and have announced their squad for the tournament.
Nea Craig – Loretto – CALA EHC
Lucy Bliss – St Columba’s – Kelburne HC
Kirstin Cannon – Glasgow Academy – Western Wildcats
Emma Forrest – Glasgow Academy – Western Wildcats
Michaela McCarthy – Kilgraston – Grove Menzieshill
Isla McRobbie – High School of Dundee – Grove Menzieshill
Charlotte Simmers – Glasgow High School - GHK
Katie Swanson – Balerno High School - Inverleith
Tori Williamson – George Watson’s College – Watsonians HC
Sophie Atherton – Mary Erskine School – Erskine Stewart’s Melville
Nina Constable – Mary Erskine School – Grange HC
Grace Drummond – Mary Erskine Stewart’s Melville – Inverleith
Izzy Lamotte – Loretto – CALA EHC
Ellie Mackenzie – Mary Erskine School – Grange HC
Amber Murray – St George’s School for Girls - Watsonians
Ellie Rutherford – Currie High School – CALA EHC
Eilidh Seedhouse – Robert Gordon’s College – Granite City Wanderers
Holly Shepherd – GALA Academy – Fjordhus Borders Reivers
Scotland will also have all four youth squads travelling down to Cardiff on Friday 14th April to Sunday 16th April to play matches. Both U16s teams will play Wales and the U18s teams will play Wales and Switzerland.
On Friday 14th April Scotland U16 girls’ will play Wales at 18:30, and Scotland U16 boys’ will also play Wales at 20:00.
On Saturday 15th April Scotland U18 girls’ will play Switzerland at 11:00 and Scotland U18 boys’ will also play Switzerland at 09:00. Scotland U16 girls’ will play their second encounter against Wales at 13:00, before the U16 boys’ play the Welsh at 15:00. Scotland U18 girls’ will then play Wales at 19:00 and the U18 boys’ will meet the Welsh at 17:00.
On Sunday 16th April Scotland U18 boys’ and girls’ will both play Switzerland at 08:30 before both U16 girls’ play Wales at 10:15, and the U16 boys’ play Wales at 11:45.
U18 girls’ squad
Lexi Sabatelli – Glasgow School of Sport – Clydesdale Western
Mairi Fletcher – Hutchesons’ Grammar – Clydesdale Western
Rachel Bain – Glasgow School of Sport - Kelburne
Emma McDiarmid – Glasgow Schools of Sport – Western Wildcats
Kathryn Meenan – St Columba’s - Kelburne
Imogen Davies – St Columba’s - Kelburne
Millie Skidmore – Robert Gordon’s College – Granite City Wanderers
Rhona Gowans – Galashiels Academy – Fjordhus Reivers
Emily Cross – Mary Erskine School – Watsonians
Lorna Crawford – Loretto - CALA
Izzy Kyle – Kelso High – Fjordhus Reivers
Georgia Smith – Dollar – Grove Menzieshill
Hanna Mckie – Mary Erskine School – Grove Menzieshill
Ellie Wilson – George Watson’s - Watsonians
Katie Stott –Kilgraston – Grove Menzieshill
Katie MacCallum – George Watson’s College – Watsonians
Emily Dark – Kilgraston – Dundee Wanderers
Tara Aitchison – Kelso High – Fjordhus Reivers
Iona Colquhoun – Cults Academy – Bon Accord
Aspen Cumming – King’s School Rochester - Holcombe
U16 Girls’ squad
Jessica Buchanan – Hutchesons Grammar – Clydesdale Western HC
Rachel Strachan – High School of Glasgow – Grove Menzieshill
Anna Hoolaghan – St Aloyisius – Clydesdale Western HC
Annabel Ballantyne – Glasgow Academy – Clydesdale Western HC
Bronwyn Shields – Glasgow School of Sport – Clydesdale Western HC
Cailin Hart – George Watson’s College – Watsonians
Corrie Hay – High School of Dundee – Grove Menzieshill
Ellie Stott – Kilgraston – Grove Menzieshill
Emily Simmers – George Watson’s College – Watsonians
Eve Pearson – Dollar Academy – Watsonians HC
Georgia Crooks – High School of Glasgow - GHK
Innes Wilson – George Watson’s College – CALA EHC
Jessie Cuthbertson – St Columba’s – Kelburne HC
Lucy Williamson – Glasgow High School - GHK
Olivia Bell – Mary Erskine School – CALA EHC
Ruth Blaikie – Perth High – Dundee Wanderers
Susannah Godfrey-Faussett – Glenalmond – Grove Menzieshill
Tia Mansbridge – Hutcheson’s Grammar – Clydesdale Western HC
U16 Boys' squad
Matthew Taylor – Edinburgh Academy – Inverleith
Seth Van-Rensburg – Loretto
Alex Riddell – Knox Academy - Grange
Ralph Weissen – Fettes College - Grange
Andrew MacAllister (VC) – Glasgow School of Sport – Western
Robbie Croll – Stewart’s Melville College - Grange
Scott Menzies – Glasgow School of Sport – Western Wildcats
Sam Hill – Robert Gordon’s College – Gordonians
Ritchie McCluskey – Dean Community High School - Grange
Fraser Moran – Glasgow School of Sport – Western Wildcats
John Stephen (C) – Glenalmond – Perthshire
Jonathan Hawley – Loretto - Grange
Andrew Lochrin (VC) – St Andrew’s & St Brides HS – Uddingston
Fraser Heigh (VC) – George Watson’s College – Watsonians
Finlay Halliday – St Columba’s HS – Kelburne
Struan Walker – Hutcheson’s Grammar – Clydesdale
Jamie Golden – Dundee HS – Grove Menzieshill
Euan Menzies – Jordanhill HS – Hillhead
Jake Inglis – Edinburgh Academy - Inverleith
Daniel Pearson – Dollar Academy – Dunfermline Carnegie
U18 Boys’ squad
Duncan Gladwin
Jack Jamieson
Euan Lindsay
Andrew McConnell
Chris Moon
Bradley Park
Lewis Pyke
James Stuart
Matthew White
Cameron Golden
Owen Jenkins Garcia
Patrick Longmate
Callum Miller
Robert Nimmo
Ben Pearson
Ali Richmond
Sam Weissen
Kyle Wright
Scottish Hockey Union media release