News for 08 April 2017
All the news for Saturday 8 April 2017
Black Sticks to defend Hawke’s Bay Cup
Photo: www.photosport.nz
The Vantage Black Sticks Women will defend their title at the Vantage Hawke’s Bay Festival following a 2-1 win over USA in their final pool match.
The Kiwis were in second place coming into the match but needed to win to be sure of a berth in the final after Japan beat Australia earlier in the day.
New Zealand's Rose Keddell celebrated her 150th test cap while Rachel McCann played her 50th international.
USA made the early running and were rewarded in just the third minute when Caitlin van Sickle completed a well worked penalty corner.
The rest of the quarter and the early part of the second quarter belonged to USA as the Black Sticks struggled to string passes together and had to defend strongly to keep the visitors at bay.
Ten minutes from halftime the Black Sticks started to make more of their possession and in the 23rd minute a cross from Olivia Merry found Kirsten Pearce unmarked in front of gaol and she made no mistake with the shot.
New Zealand continued to attack strongly and forced three penalty corners in quick succession. The first two were cleared by the USA but the third, in the 28th minute, resulted in a clean shot for Brooke Neal which found the net.
The Black Sticks were unlucky not to score their third goal when Erin Goad fired over the top from close range just before halftime.
The 2-1 result sees the Kiwis top the pool in the double round robin competition with 11 points, Japan and Australia finish on 9 and the USA 4. Japan finishes second as they won three matches to Australia’s two.
The Hawke’s Bay Cup final will be a repeat of the 2016 final, with the Vantage Black Sticks up against Japan at 5:15pm tomorrow, with live coverage through Facebook.
VANTAGE BLACK STICKS 2: (Kirsten Pearce, Brooke Neal)
JAPAN 1: (Caitlin van Sickle)
Halftime: Black Sticks 2-1
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Japan defeats Australia 2 - 0
Final depends on outcome of NZL - USA
Holly MacNeil
Japan and Australia were fighting to make the final of the Hawkes Bay Cup in today’s match, with the pressure on from the minute the game began. Today it was Japan’s game, with the final score Australia 0 – 2 Japan.
Japan were first to get on the scoreboard with a scramble in front of the net and multiple attempts at goal giving Australian goalkeeper Ashlee Wells a lot of work to do, before Yuri Nagai managed to get one into the net giving Japan an early lead.
The Hockeyroos were up for their first chance at goal thanks to a penalty corner opportunity with just four minutes remaining in the first half of the game, however they stumbled on the trap, and Japan managed to save the shot on goal.
Japan turned up the heat in the third quarter, with Yuri Nagai managing to break away from the pack to score her second field goal of the game, extending Japan’s lead to 2 – nil in the process.
The Hockeyroos did everything they could to fight back in the final quarter, but it wasn’t to be, with Japan walking away with a 2 – nil victory.
Hockeyroos head coach Paul Gaudoin said: “It was a disappointing game for us, especially the first half. We were asleep and sluggish and we were deservedly on the end of the result.
“Ahead of our game tomorrow we have to have a good look at our last game against NZL, and take away a few things from today. We need a better mental attitude going into the game and need to use tomorrow as an opportunity to redeem ourselves.”
The outcome of who will play in the 1st v 2nd and 3rd v 4th games now depends on the outcome of the NZL v USA game which takes place this afternoon
The Festival of Hockey will be livestreamed via The Festival of Hockey Facebook page.
Hockeyroos Match Schedule
Sunday 9: Finals
3rd v 4th: 1pm AEST / 11am AWST
1st v 2nd: 3.15 AEST / 1.15 AWST
HOCKEYROOS 0 (0)
JAPAN 2 (1)
Yuri Nagai 6, 42 (FG, FG)
Hockeyroos team v JPN
Athlete (Hometown, State)
Kristina Bates (Port Melbourne, VIC) 6/0
Edwina Bone (Orange, NSW) *plays for ACT 133/3
Kirstin Dwyer (Mackay, QLD) 126/2
Ashlea Fey (Sunshine Coast, QLD) 12/3
Kate Hanna (Constitution Hill, NSW) 15/0
Jordyn Holzberger (Ipswich, QLD) 45/5
Stephanie Kershaw (Townsville, QLD) 12/2
Kaitlin Nobbs (Newington, NSW) 10/0
Madi Ratcliffe (Warnambool, VIC) 9/3
Emily Smith (Crookwell, NSW) 169/66
Ashlee Wells (Morwell, VIC) 89/0
Used Substitute
Laura Barden (Kew, VIC) 27/5
Jocelyn Bartram (Albury, NSW) 10/0
Jane Claxton (Adelaide, SA) 117/11
Georgia Nanscawen (Melbourne, VIC) 195/37
Gabi Nance (Kingscliff, NSW) *Plays for SA 54/3
Mariah Williams (Parkes, NSW) 62/7
Unused Substitute
Renee Taylor (Everton Park, QLD) 17/0
Hockey Australia media release
We have to convert penalty corners in the semi-final: Rani
WEST VANCOUVER: The Indian women's team captain Rani said that her side would need to convert the penalty corners if they want to win their semi-final match against Belarus in the Women's Hockey World League Round 2.
Even though the Indian eves are managing to win the PCs, they are not so successful in converting them. In the game against Belarus in the league stage, they earned as many as five PCs but their lone goal came from a field goal.
"It is an area of concern for us. We have to convert PCs in the semi-final game and we are putting in extra minutes specifically for PCs in our practice sessions here," she said on Friday.
Rani feels that they also have to be inch-perfect in their man-to-man marking in order to get the better of Belarus.
"We are quite upbeat and confident of a good performance against Belarus. They are a strong unit and to beat them we need to be at our best in man-to-man marking and also work on our scoring especially PC conversions," the striker said.
India had defeated Uruguay 4-2 via penalty shootout and Belarus 1-0 to top their Pool and make the cut, while Belarus defeated Canada 4-3 in the qualifier yesterday to earn their semi-final berth.
"We are very excited that we made the semi-finals. We had clear goals before coming here that we must make it to the final and win it if we want to qualify for the Women's Hockey World League Semi-Final. I think it is a realistic goal and we are prepared for a good match tomorrow," she Rani.
Though the Indian eves won both their matches in Pool A, Rani feels that they should have won their first game against Uruguay in regulation time itself.
"We should have played that match in a much better way. When we had our post-match team meeting, we agreed that we didn't play to our potential and marked out the mistakes we made. We could have avoided a penalty shootout situation. But I feel we improved in the second game and didn't make the same mistakes we did in our first outing," she insisted.
India will take on Belarus on Sunday.
The Times of India
Calypso Stickwomen face Canada in 7th spot playoff
Nigel Simon
T&T's senior women’s hockey team defender Sekayi Liburd, right, challenges Rachael Donohoe of Canada for the ball during their Pool B match in the FIH Women’s World League Round Two qualifiers in West Vancouver, Canada on Tuesday night. Canada won 12-0 and will also meet T&T today from 3pm for seventh spot. Photo: Courtesy. PanAmhockey.org
T&Ts senior women’s hockey team will be hoping for a big reversal of fortunes when they come up against Canada in their seventh spot playoff in the FIH Women’s World League Round Two qualifiers in West Vancouver, Canada from 3pm.
Today’s meeting between the host and T&T will be the second of the tournament after the Canadians recorded the biggest win of the tournament on Tuesday last, 12-0 over the Patricia Wright-Alexis-captained Caribbean women.
So far T&T coached by Brian Garcia is yet to pick up a win after also losing to Chile (9-1) and Mexico (5-0) in their round-robin Pool B matches while Canada also swept past Mexico 6-0 but was upended by Chile, 0-1.
Today, Chile will face South Americans Uruguay from 7.30pm in the second semifinal while Belarus battles India in the first semis from 5.15pm.
On Thursday night, it was a tale of two halves as Canada got too comfortable after a first -half lead and allowed Belarus four-straight second half goals on route to booking themselves a spot into the semifinals against India, courtesy a 4-3 win.
Bolstered by home field advantage, Canada came out crisp and composed, moving the ball with confidence and earning two early free play goals.
In the eighth minute Jordyn Faiczak’s baseline run resulted in a cross-circle pass where a waiting Stephanie Norlander tapped in for a 1-0 lead.
Three minutes later Canadian Brienne Stairs cut through the Belarussian midfield with ease and set up a streaking Hannah Haughn, who calmly flicked the ball to the far netting to double her team’s advantage. Canadian Rachel Donohoe cleaned up a rebound to net her fourth of the tournament and give Canada a 3-0 lead in the 20th.
It wasn’t until the third quarter that Belarus started to show their offensive flare. A penalty corner in the 35th minute was brilliantly executed as a sliding Volha Skryba deflected in to break Canada’s shutout to 3-1. Momentum drastically shifted and just five minutes later Belarus cut Canada’s lead to one. A hard ball was crushed in to the circle and an unmarked Maryna Nikitsina redirected past Williams to get Belarus within one, trailing 3-2. It didn’t stop there as another penalty corner chance allowed Yuliya Mikheichyk’s drag flick to level the game 3-3 in the 43rd minute, while captain Ryta Batura blasted home a penalty corner strike in the 51st to give Belarus the 4-3 lead. Canada had multiple penalty corner chances in the dying minutes but Belarus goalkeeper Maryna Navitskaya was outstanding between the pipes.
Earlier in the first quarterfinal Uruguay edged Mexico 2-1 to secure its place in the final four.
The Trinidad Guardian
Local stickwomen face Canada again
By Mark Pouchet
Trinidad and Tobago’s senior women’s hockey team will face hosts Canada in a 5th-7th playoff from 3 p.m. today in a re-match of their FIH Women’s World League Round 2 Pool B round-robin stage in West Vancouver.
That’s after Canada lost their quarter-final game 3-4 against Belarus on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Belarus earned a semi-final encounter against the tournament’s top-seed India from 5.15 p.m.
In the other quarter-final on Thursday, Uruguay edged Mexico 2-1 to advance to the second semi today against Chile from 7.15 p.m.
In their pool game Tuesday, Canada hammered captain Patricia Wright-Alexis’s Team TTO squad 12-0. It followed up on other heavy defeats for coach Brian Garcia’s team when they were walloped 9-1 by Chile in their opening game last Saturday and a 6-0 shutout to Mexico last Sunday.
If Team TTO loses against Canada today, they will finish in the last spot in the seven-team tournament. The competition is scheduled to conclude tomorrow with the winner of the Canada/Team TTO game facing Mexico in the 5th-6th playoff from 3 p.m. while the third-place playoff flicks off on 5.15 p.m. and the final from 7.15 p.m. The top two teams advance to the semi-final phase of the World League.
Today’s matches
5th-7th playoff
Team TTO vs Canada, 3 p.m.
Semi-final 1
India vs Belarus, 5.15 p.m.
Semi-final 2
Uruguay vs Chile, 7.30 p.m.
Thursday’s results:
Quarter-finals
Uruguay 2 (Janine Stanley 5th, Matilde Kliche 16th) vs Mexico 1 (Michel Navarro 47th)
Belarus 4 vs Canada 3
Trinidad & Tobago Express
Pan Am Whistles on the Rise
FIH World League R2 - Vancouver - April 1 to 9
Ali Lee
Photo: Yan Huckendubler
Every international tournament is an opportunity for umpires to gain experience on the world stage and just as players eagerly await selections to earn caps, so do officials. The Gryphon Hockey World League Round 2 women’s event in West Vancouver has offered seven PAHF umpires an opportunity to officiate throughout the nine-day competition.
The umpiring team operates similarly to the actual teams in competition. The Umpires Manager works closely with her group of umpires, much like a coach does with his or her players. They appoint the umpires to games, debrief umpires each game and discuss goals and focuses for the tournament and umpiring careers.
Umpire Manager Susan Gomes, from Trinidad and Tobago, is in charge of the nine umpires at this tourmament. Suzi Sutton (USA) and Veronica Villafane (ARG) are the two neutral officials. Sutton is one the most experienced at the tournament, with over 100 internationals, and in her seven years of international umpiring has logged two Pan American Games (2011 and 2015).
“People don’t always realize that the umpires come from all different countries and form a team that speak different languages and have different cultures for both life and sport,” describes Sutton. “(Umpires) have to quickly learn how to make the same judgements on the field (as players do), but we also have to learn how to support everyone’s off field experiences to endure the length of the tournament as a team of officials.”
For Villafane, her goals are simple – to enjoy every match and to increase her experience.
“I just want to overcome myself in the face of adversity,” said Villafane about her greatest challenge as an umpire.
Life with the umpiring team appears to very closely parallel the life of an athlete on their team. The moments they enjoy, the moments that challenge them, the moments where they fail or the moments where they rise to the occasion are all part of the journey for umpires who are moving up the international ladder.
“It’s so hard being an umpire because you worry about getting everything correct,” said Kecia Hosein, of Trinidad and Tobago. “Every decision you make affects the teams positively or negatively so the challenge is getting it correct and accepting that there are times where you didn’t get it right and you have to learn from it.”
Hosein had the duties of umpiring Belarus vs India in the Pool A match up that went 1-0 in favour of India. Hosein joined Canadian up-and-coming umpire Lelia Sacre for that match.
“Meeting new people only a few days before the start of the tournament and then expecting to be a cohesive team,” responded Sacre about one of her greatest challenges as an umpire. The HWL tournament in West Vancouver is the first home tournament for Sacre.
“My goals are to just keep up the work I’ve been doing lately and keep learning ways to control the game and keep it interesting and exciting,” said Chilean umpire Catalina Montesino Wenzel about coming to West Vancouver. Montesino Wenzel has banked several internationals already including the most recent 2016 women’s Junior World Cup in Chile, as well as the South American Championships in 2013 and South American Odesur Games in 2014.
Mexican umpire Diana Fuentes Castelo has only been officiating the past few years, but is focused on her goals for the tournament which are around improving game management and keeping up with the flow of the game.
And while it is so easy to judge the officiating at a hockey match, it only takes a few seconds to understand what umpires have given up to strive to be their best both on and off the pitch.
“Balancing the sacrifices you make in your life beyond the hockey pitch with the rewards of being a part of the international umpiring team,” adds Sutton about her biggest challenge as an umpire. “The sacrifices we make to facilitate the game include leaving family, missing important life events, leaving or changing our jobs to be able to accept appointments, training, and the list continues. There is simply an amazing reward to umpiring/facilitating hockey with a newly formed family that creates a unique balance to all the sacrifice and training.”
For Sutton (USA), Villafane (ARG), Fuentes Castelo (MEX), Hosein (TTO), Montesino Wenzel (CHI), Sacre (CAN) and Natalia Lodeiro (URU) this tournament presents nothing but opportunity and that clearly does not come without sacrifice and its challenges.
Just as players prepare for major tournaments, this group of PAHF umpires have been eagerly preparing and focusing for their performances in West Vancouver. The final classification games will be on 8 April, while the finals will be on 9 April. The stronger performances will likely get the higher-staked games, just as players vie for starting positions and more minutes played.
Pan American Hockey Federation media release
Malaysia to face champions Iran in the Indoor Asia Cup
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of eight teams will take part in the men’s Indoor Asia Cup hockey tournament in Doha, Qatar, from April 24-28.
In the draw released earlier this week, Malaysia are in Group A with defending champions Iran, Qatar and Oman. Group B consists of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Taiwan and Thailand.
The top two teams from each group will play in the cross-over semi-finals.
The women’s category – comprising defending champions Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uzbekistan, China and North Korea – will be a round-robin affair with the top two teams meeting in the final.
Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) chief executive officer K. Logan Raj said the national teams would use the Asia Cup as part of their preparations for the Aug 19-31 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.
“There are two golds at stake in indoor hockey at the SEA Games and we want to win both titles.
“We’ve a poor history in indoor hockey, that’s why we are making sure the teams are well prepared,” said Logan.
The men’s team are training in Kuala Lumpur while the women’s squad are on a playing tour of Australia.
The Star of Malaysia
'Sreejesh has raised the bar for hockey goalkeepers in India'
BENGALURU: Having received his first ever call-up in the Indian men's core probable group, young goalkeeper Suraj Karkera wants to make the most of this opportunity without getting too ambitious.
The 21-year-old from Mumbai is not thinking if he would be included in the squad for the forthcoming 26th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia.
"Thinking about my debut with the senior men's team is farfetched. Right now, all I want to do is focus on my basics, improve my confidence and understand the demands of playing hockey at this level," said the youngster who made his junior India debut at the Six Nation Volvo International Tournament in 2015.
For a youngster like him, being mentored by senior team goalkeeper PR Sreejesh is the highlight of his career so far.
"I have followed Sreejesh's game very closely. He has raised the bar for goalkeepers in India and youngsters like me are aware that we need to come at least close to his keeping skills if not match him to earn a spot in the team.
"I get to learn a lot from him and I watch him carefully in the camp. The way he treats the juniors is also very encouraging. I have never felt odd working with a senior of his stature," expressed Karkera.
Suraj joined the national camp on March 14 along with other goalkeepers Vikas Dahiya, Akash Chikte and PR Sreejesh.
Since his debut, Karkera was a regular member in the junior squad and represented the country at the England Tour, EurAsia Cup 2016 and also accompanied the team for the Four Nation Tournament in Valencia, Spain last year.
Though he missed out on making it for the Uttar Pradesh Hockey Junior World Cup 2016 in Lucknow where his compatriots Vikas Dahiya and Krishan Pathak were chosen ahead of him, he says he has no regrets of missing out.
"It was a 50-50 feeling. I knew these guys were better than me so I am not disappointed about not being part of the Junior World Cup winning team. But I am really excited Chief Coach Roelant Oltmans picked me for this camp. This past month has been a great learning experience for me," he said.
Working under the senior men's team chief coach Roelant Oltmans is not new for Karkera who was part of the Uttar Pradesh Wizards unit in the previous two editions of Coal India Hockey India League.
Oltmans was the coach for the Uttar Pradesh franchise.
"Working under him is excellent because he is very clear in what he expects out of you and despite being a very young member in the squad, he makes sure I am never under any pressure," said the Mumbai lad.
The Times of India
Men's & Investec Women's League Finals promotion battle begins!
This Sunday sees the first round of matches in the Investec Women’s Hockey League and Men’s Hockey League promotion tournaments.
These Play-offs feature the three Conference winners plus the ninth placed team in the Premier Division. They determine which two teams will play in the Premier Division and which two at Conference level in 2017-18.
Sunday 09 April 2017
1315 hrs - IWHL Play-Offs Match 1
Bowdon Hightown v Buckingham
1315 hrs - MHL Play-Offs Match 1
Sevenoaks v Team Bath Buccaneers
1530 hrs - IWHL Play-Offs Match 2
Brooklands Poynton v Wimbledon
1530 hrs - MHL Play-Offs Match 2
Canterbury v Durham University
Matches this Sunday take place at the Nottingham Hockey Centre, home of Beeston HC. There will be a charge for parking for spectators.
You can also follow the action with our live matchsheet function here.
The tournament concludes on 22-23 April along with the League Finals at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. For more details of this event and how to buy tickets click here.
Also on Sunday sees the second round of matches in the relegation play-offs.
The three ninth placed in the Conferences play off with the winner of the tournament retaining their league place and the two other teams joining the three teams who were bottom of the Conferences in relegation to the Regional Leagues.
Last weekend saw Exe (West) win 5-2 at West Herts (East) in the Investec Women’s League and Oxton (North) securing a 4-3 win at Indian Gymkhana (East) in the Men’s. If those teams also win this Sunday then their league status will be retained. Any other result and the third matches, to be played on 22 April will determine the outcome.
Sunday 9 April
IWHL Play-Off 2 - Exe (West) v Timperley (North), 1400 hrs
MHL Play-Off 2 - Oxton (North) v Fareham (West), 1330 hrs
Saturday 22 April
IWHL Play-Off 3 -Timperley (North) v West Herts (East)
MHL Play-Off 3 - Fareham (West) v Indian Gymkhana (East)
You can follow all the action from the weekend live here.
England Hockey Board Media release
Surbiton skipper seeks yet more success
Sarah Haycroft Surbiton,
Sarah Haycroft is hungry for success, be it with the national squad at the World Cup next year or at the League Finals and in Europe with her club Surbiton. But, while she is eager for a few more medals to adorn her shelves, the Great Britain and England star is also keen that excellence and talent is not centred around London and the south.
‘It’s not good for the game in this country if all the top players and successful clubs are centred around the South. For example, I really want Bowdon Hightown to stay up because we want hockey to be strong across the country. We don’t want a saturation in the south.
‘It’s a tricky balance because the centralised programme [at Bisham Abbey] is so strong but club hockey can suffer. We have to remember that the clubs are where we have all come from. I think we need to figure out a way to make hockey strong across the country. Ultimately, we want our club system to be so strong that everyone wants to come to the UK to play, as is the case in the Netherlands at the moment.’
But in the short-term, Haycroft and her team are absolutely focused on dominating hockey in England. She is captain of the all-conquering team that won the league by a clear nine points and, until they lost to Leicester earlier this season, had been on a 53-match unbeaten run.
‘It was fitting that we lost to Leicester as they were the last side to beat us before our winning run,’ says Haycroft generously as she reflects back on a fantastic season that sees her side in the final of the Investec Cup, the League Finals and the EHF European Club Championships.
‘In fact, the league is closer than you might think. We always have tough games against Leicester and Clifton ran us really close. The fact that Clifton didn't make it to the Finals shows just how close it all got. There is great talent and depth.’
Clifton will have their chance to de-throne Surbiton in the Investec Cup Final at the end of the April, but between now and then, Surbiton will be upping the ante to an even greater degree.
Head coach Brett Garrard is determined that his charges will have the weapons at their disposal to both seal their league performance with a win at the League Finals, before heading off to Europe to do battle with the finest teams on the continent.
‘We have been to Europe the last two years and not done as well as we had hoped,’ says Haycroft. ‘We were smashed if I’m honest, 6-0. But, I think that was an anomaly because so many of us had been away on international duty that our team suffered. We will do ourselves justice this year.’
Haycroft explains that to prepare his team for three competitions, Garrard has set the standards really high all season in both training and matches. Where the team might have slipped into complacency in the league, now there is a new focus on always getting things right. ‘We have set personal and team standards really high. That has helped us in all our league games,’ says the midfielder.
We do have such an inner belief at Surbiton. We were 2-0 down against Clifton [in the last league game of the season] and we knew we had to buck up our ideas. We knew that we had to stick to the things we had done in training and believe in our systems, and we won 4-3, but actually that tough match came at a really good time for us.’
And with Birmingham University their opponents at the League Finals weekend, all altruistic thoughts of sharing the spoils around the country have been put on hold by the Surbiton skipper.
England Hockey Board Media release
Scottish First Division titles up for grabs
The destiny of this season`s first division league titles should become a little clearer after thiscoming weekend`s games, Grange are in the driving seat for the men`s while leaders Edinburgh University, Grove Menzieshill and Milne Craig Western are all in with a shout for the women`s crown.
Just two home games and six points to go before Grange can open the champagne corks in celebration of their first division triumph, and on Saturday they face Hillhead in the opening leg of the league denouement.
Grange are that crucial single point ahead of Bromac Kelburne and only a slip-up can prevent the trophy resting at Raeburn Place.
Coach David Knipe is anxious to play down the occasion, claiming that instead he is striving to improve his charges` performance in each game rather than get involved in pointless speculation. That might be an interesting aspiration given that he watched his squad put ten past Watsonians last weekend.
On paper the Hillhead encounter should be a simple affair, they have only taken one point from their last eight outings that is until last weekend when they beat Edinburgh University 3-2 at Peffermill. However, to be fair to Hillhead, injuries have been a contributory factor to the lack of progress.
Kelburne will sit in the wings hoping for a Grange slip-up with coach Gordon Shepherd emphasising the need to take the three points from Saturday`s encounter with Watsonians at Glasgow Green. That should not really be an issue, last time out it was 5-0 with Jack McKenzie scoring a hat-trick.
Western Wildcats could make fourth spot their own with a home win over an Edinburgh University side that are also going through a torrid time at the moment.
The automatic relegation spot at the foot of the table involves a head to head between Clydesdale and Gordonians at Titwood. The Aberdonians have given themselves a lifeline after two straight wins, but the Glasgow side have a single point advantage and also have a catch-up game against Grove Menzieshill on Sunday.
Although it could be argued that Menzieshill have little to play for at Titwood, they are already well established in third spot, Coach Chris Anderson will be anxious to build up a bit of form before the forthcoming play-offs which will also determine the clubs that will represent Scotland in Europe next season.
Last weekend was a mixed bag for the Taysiders, they went down 1-0 to Gordonians on the Saturday after dominating proceedings for most of the game, then beat Uddingston 4-3 the following day, Paul Martin finished top scorer with a double.
The destiny of the women`s first division title presents a fascinating scenario, Edinburgh University lead Grove and Milne Craig Western by one and three points respectively, but both have a game in hand of the students.
On Saturday, University have their second encounter with Grove, a repeat of last weekend`s 4-1 victory on Tayside would suit coach Sam Judge perfectly. Edinburgh were on the back foot in the first half, but took total command after the interval and scored four in the process.
Western will almost certainly make up some ground with a home fixture against bottom side CALA.
On Sunday the focus moves to Titwood where Western take on Grove in a catch-up fixture, the winner here could well take over pole position depending on other results. There is no form to guide the pundits, the sides have yet to meet this season, but traditionally this is always a close affair.
Fourth placed Wildcats have already booked their place in the play-offs and should see off Erskine Stewart`s Melville in Edinburgh to pick up their eleventh victory of the season. The Auchenhowie side were 2-0 winners in the first encounter in November, Emma Johnston and Kareena Cuthbert were on target.
The Watsonians v Dundee Wanderers clash could go some way to decide who finishes fifth in the table, at the moment the latter hold that position by a single point. The Taysiders certainly had the upper hand in the first fixture played last Sunday with a 6-1 victory.
Scottish Hockey Union media release
Police clash with Greensharks
By Elizabeth Mburugu
Kenya Police's (left) Calvin Kanu and Kevin Oduor of KCA University during Kenya Hockey Union League at City Park Stadium on Sunday, Oct 8, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]
Former champions Kenya Police will lock horns with bitter rivals Greensharks in a Kenya Hockey Union men’s Premier League match to be played tomorrow at City Park Stadium.
The 2013 champions are seeking to reclaim the title they lost to Butali Sugar Warriors in 2014 and have been chasing in vain for the last three years.
The law enforcers began the chase for the title on a promising note winning their first two encounters and a victory against Sharks will better their chances of reclaiming the trophy.
Sharks also had a good start and currently top the table standings with seven points from two wins and a draw.
Police assistant Captain Oliver Echenje said that they will approach the match with caution because Sharks are a very good side and top contenders for the crown.
“Sharks are undoubtedly a strong side and top challengers for this crown. We have beaten them before but past results will count for nothing because this is a different day and match hence the need for us to be cautious,” Echenje said.
Police triumphed against Sharks in their previous two encounters winning 4-3 in third place league playoffs and 2-0 at the group stage.
Today, Kenya College of Accountancy University (KCAU) take on Chase Sailors in another men’s Premier league tie. KCAU will be out to secure their first victory having gone down 3-1 to Police in their season opener while Sailors will be hopeful for a second victory.
The bankers were off to a flying start beating debutantes Technical University of Kenya 2-0.
In another Premier tie, Kenyatta University Vultures will prey on Wazalendo in quest for their first win. Wazalendo will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run and remain among the frontrunners for this year’s gong.
In the men’s National League it will be a battle of newcomers as Gorilla take on Wazalendo Masters in Pool A.
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology will travel to Kisumu.
They will play Bay Club today then tomorrow face off with Kisumu Youngsters in their pool B. In Nairobi Karate Axiom will play University of Nairobi in another men’s lower tier
The Standard Online
JHL: PJCC Tigers 2 UniKL 1
By Jugjet Singh
PETALING JAYA City Council (PJCC) Tigers beat Univeriti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) Young Guns 2-1 in Division One of the Junior Hockey League Friday.
It was PJCC's first match of the season, and they got their goals off Mahathir Rathuwan (17th) and Nur Asyraf Ishak (33rd) while the UniKL goal was scored by Izzwan Arif (45th).
"We were poor and no excuses for the defeat as we did not play up to mark," conceded UniKL coach Arul Selvaraj.
"We created enough chances but did not convert them and this is one area that I was concerned about.
"As I said PJCC have experienced players, and that was the difference between the two teams."
RESULTS -- Division One: UniKL Young Guns 1 PJCC Tigers 2.
Division Two: Group A -- MSN Young Lions 1 USM 0, USM Juniors 4 MSS Kedah 2, MSSP Stinger 6 MISCF-UFL Penang 0; Group B: MCKK 2 SSMS Resilient 11, Felda Juniors 5 MISCF-UFL 1, Andersons 4 MSSWPKL 1.
Group C: Datuk Bentara Luar 1 TBSS Tampin 2, Datuk Taha 1 SSTMI Juniors 2, MBMB Warriors 9 Young Hurricanes 1.
SATURDAY: Women's Group A: MSN Kedah v CBN (Lela Pahlawan, 5pm), KLSS Wipers v USM Juniors (KLHA, 5pm); Group B: MSSPK v Zaaba (Gunung Rapat, 5pm), USM v Uniten (USM, 5pm).
SUNDAY: Division One -- UniKL Young Guns v Johor Juniors (KLHA, 5pm).
Division Two: Group B -- MSSWPKL v MISCF-UFL (KPM, 5pm), Terengganu Juniors v MCKK (Batu Buruk, 5pm), Felda Juniors v SSMS Resilient (UPSI, 5pm); Group C: TBSS Tampin v Johor Baru HA (Seremban II, 5pm), Young Hurricanes v Datuk Taha (Bukit Serindit, 4pm), MBMB Warriors v Datuk Bentara Luar (Bukit Serindit, 6pm).
Jugjet's World of Field Hockey
Poor finishing cost UniKL victory
by S. Ramaguru
KUALA LUMPUR: Poor penalty conversion and profligacy has cost former champions Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) dearly.
Two glaring late penalty corner misses stood out glaringly as the university side slumped to a 2-1 loss to Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) in a Division One match of the Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL) at the KL Hockey Stadium yesterday.
MBPJ took the lead in the 17th minute when Mahathir Rathuwan deflected in a cross from the left after a defensive error by UniKL.
They then doubled their lead in the 33rd minute through a Mohd Nurasyraf Ishak penalty corner goal.
UniKL pulled a goal back through Izwan Ariff in the 45th minute.
Then came the two late penalty corner misses.
But credit to MBPJ as it was their first game of the season. Their opening match against AHP-MSP Thunderbolt was postponed last weekend.
UniKL, who began their campaign with a 2-0 win over BJSS Juniors, were looking at collecting another three points from yesterday’s game.
“We were poor and there are no excuses for the defeat ... we did not play up to mark,” conceded UniKL coach A. Arulselvaraj.
“We created enough chances but did not convert them ... this is one area I’m concerned about.
“MBPJ have experienced players and that was the difference between the two teams.”
The Star of Malaysia
JPOL is Set to Kick Off with More Than 60 Clubs Representing 8 Regions and Canada
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Junior Premier Outdoor League (JPOL) that runs under the umbrella of Junior Premier Hockey (JPH) was created by Nigel Traverso and Rachael Bloemker in 2011. Its objective is to run organized, competitive outdoor leagues in each region whereby youth clubs and their membership have the opportunity to compete against each other on a regular basis.
This league is played annually during the spring months starting in April with the Championships held on the first or second weekend of June. Participation is open to all youth clubs in the North America. Clubs will be participating within their Region in two divisions, U-16 and U-19, as well, as an invitation only U-14 division.
"Freedom loves being a part of JPOL!," said Sarah Dawson, Freedom HKY Director and Head Coach. "It has created an opportunity for our players to compete on a consistent basis against good competition. It is exciting to see our players' and teams' growth from the beginning to the end season. We are lucky to have such a great league in place and hope to see it keep growing!"
In 2017, JPH would like to welcome clubs from the New England, New York and Canada Region (Region 1–4) that will be playing in a one weekend pilot tournament. They will continue to discuss various JPOL models that will be the best fit for clubs in the vast expanse of Region 1-4, as JPH is very much aware that each region has different scheduling concerns with spring sports, Futures, Regional Club Championships and various showcases.
“Our club, and everyone in our region, is so excited for the opportunity to participate in the inaugural Region 1-4 outdoor tournament at William Smith College," said Dalton Beaver, WNY Whalers FHC Director and Head Coach. "Junior Premier Hockey has been fantastic to work with, and we are honored and privileged to be a part of this close-knit hockey community (Rachael, Nigel, Lurah and Dean, et. al.) as they expand their offerings."
The U-14 division is in its second year and will be played in the same format as 2016. It will be a one-pool format of twelve Clubs (12), representing four different Regions (Regions 4, 5, 6 & 7). These clubs will travel over six dates, including the Championship, participating at venues in three of the Regions (Region 5, 6 & 7) to compete against each other. Each club will play a total of eleven (11) pool games plus two (2) on the Championship date for final ranking.
The following Regions and Clubs are participating in the 2017 JPOL:
Region 5 (Pennsylvania):
Alley Cats - Harrisburg, Pa.
Central Penn FH - Dillsburg, Pa.
Electric Surge FHC - Dallas, Pa.
Horizon FHC - Drexel Hill, Pa.
Mystx FHC - Perkasie, Pa.
NXT FHC - West Chester, Pa.
Philly HC - Dublin, Pa.
Souderton Strikers - Hatfield, Pa.
Vipers FHC - Collegeville, Pa.
X-Calibur FHC - Elverson, Pa.
Region 6 (New Jersey):
Jersey Intensity FH - Monmouth Beach, N.J.
Lasting Legacy FHC - Huntington, N.Y.
Mid Jersey Knights FHC - Highland Park, N.J.
New Heights - Essex Fells, N.J.
Princeton HC - Princeton, N.J.
Rapid Fire Elite - Edison, N.J.
South Jersey Edge FHC - Erial, N.J.
Spirit of USA FH - Cherry Hill, N.J.
Total Dutch FH - Somerset, N.J.
Uprise FHC - Moorestown, N.J.
Xplosive HC - Mt. Laurel, N.J.
Region 7 (Chesapeake):
Freedom HKY - Annapolis, Md.
H2O - Middletown, Del.
Howard Stampede - Ellicott City, Md.
Oranje-Gottaloveit - Millsboro, Del.
Southeast Storm - Crofton, Md.
SPark- Severna Park, Md.
The Gaels FHC - Severna Park, Md.
TNT FH–Cockeysville, Md.
Warhawks FH - Elkridge, Md.
Washington Wolves - Clarksburg, Md.
Region 8 (South):
757 FHC - Virginia Beach, Va.
Focus FH - Williamsburg, Va.
Hawks Premier FHC - Yorktown, Va.
High Voltage FH - Fredericksburg, Va.
Metro HC - Bethesda, Md.
Potomac Rapids FH - Broadlands, Va.
Rampage FH - Centerville, Va.
Saints FHC - Henrico, Va.
Southeast Storm - Crofton, Md.
TCOYO FH - Virginia Beach, Va.
Typhoon Elite FH - Fredericksburg, Va.
Undertow FHC - Richmond, Va.
Region 9 & 10 (Midwest):
Aim FH - St. Louis, Mo.
Fer de Lance - Ann Arbor, Mich.
FH Life - Oxford, Ohio
IFHCK - Louisville, Ky.
Milwaukee FHC - Mequon, Wis.
Pinnacle FH - Ann Arbor, Mich.
Stealth FH - Louisville, Ky.
Texas Pride - Houston, Texas
Windy City FH - Northbrook, Ill.
U-14 Division:
Alley Cats - Harrisburg, Pa.
Central Penn FH - Dillsburg, Pa.
Freedom HKY - Annapolis, Md.
High Styx – Phoenixville, Pa.
Lasting Legacy FHC - Huntington, N.Y.
Mystx FHC – Perkasie, Pa.
Princeton HC - Princeton, N.J.
South Jersey Edge - Erial, N.J.
Spirit of USA FH - Cherry Hill, N.J.
Total Dutch FH - Somerset, N.J.
Uprise FHC - Moorestown, N.J.
Xcalibur FHC - Elverson, Pa.
Region 1- 4 (New England / New York / Canada) - NEW:
ADK - Round Lake, N.Y.
Buffalo Hurricanes - East Aurora, N.Y.
Halton FH - Ontario, Canada
Strong Island FH - Farmingville, N.Y.
Syracuse FHC - Syracuse, N.Y.
Syracuse Surge - Syracuse, N.Y.
WHY Whalers - Williamsville, N.Y.
JPOL is a USA Field Hockey Sanctioned Event. Participation in JPOL will provide athletes and coaches with a high level of competition on a regular basis that will prepare them and their club for success at the Regional Club Championships, National Club Championship, National Hockey Festival, as well as, any and all domestic and international competition.
“Potomac Rapids Field Hockey loves having JPOL in our region giving our high school club players the opportunity to play 11 v 11 games during the spring," said Lurah Homgrain, Rapids Field Hockey. "It's a terrific way for the girls to be ready for high school tryouts and preseason.”
JPOL's title sponsor World Camp USA and SportEuroTour, fieldhockey.us.com, is in their second year of a three-year sponsorship and they hope you all will support them in any way you can.
Should your club be interested in participating in the JPOL in the future or need additional information about this year’s event, please go to their website at JuniorPremierHockey.com or contact Rachael Bloemker, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or Nigel Traverso, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
JPOL invites you to join them and attend one or many games in your region.
Good luck to all participants and clubs!
USFHA media release
FIH CEO Video Update: Executive Board Meetings
The first of a series of updates from International Hockey Federation (FIH) CEO Jason McCracken on matters relating to FIH and the hockey world. This edition features updates from the recent FIH Executive Board Meetings.
If you have any questions for Jason or the FIH, tweet them using the #HockeyQuestions.
View the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vwKMmqSzsg
FIH site
Home & away league, hockey's latest trick up its sleeve
Rutvick Mehta
India could host as many as eight teams from 2019 across country (Getty Images)
This move – which will be for both men and women teams – will not only add more meaning to bilateral series between hockey-playing nations but also increase spectator interest in the sport
World hockey is set to undergo a transformation come 2019, and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) is banking on it for two things: to bring in more context as well as fans into the sport.
From January 2019, the FIH will introduce a home and away league system in hockey, wherein teams will play each other in home and away series – much like how it is in cricket now – every year.
This move – which will be for both men and women teams – will not only add more meaning to bilateral series between hockey-playing nations but also increase spectator interest in the sport, with the home team playing throughout the year against various opponents.
"This is being done to increase hockey's popularity," FIH president Narinder Batra told DNA. "For example, even though India hosts a World Cup, the stadium is half empty if India are not playing a match. What is the use of hosting and playing in big events if half of your stadium is empty? This gets very demotivating for everyone associated with hockey.
"We want to bring in a system where everybody gets involved, and this home and away series is one big way of doing it. This way, your home country is always playing," Batra added.
Every series will have a points system that will add on to the current FIH rankings, which will eventually play a part in the qualification of major events like the World Cup and Olympics.
That's where the added context to every match and series will kick in, something that isn't quite the case now in bilateral hockey tours.
"This will give more meaning to every game that a country plays, and not just at a major event. The points in these series will act as a qualifier for Olympics as well as World Cup," said Batra, who took over as FIH chief in November last year.
India, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Korea, The Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa and Spain have so far shown interest in this home and away series for both their men's and women's teams, with a few countries giving their nod just for one.
Batra said this list will be pruned based on various criteria and the final list of countries will be decided by the FIH soon.
"So, if India gets selected, a total of eight countries will come to India and play against India every year. Same way, India will go to each of those eight nations every year," Batra said.
The former Hockey India (HI) president is hopeful that this idea not only spreads hockey internationally, but also within a vast country like India, where the sport is popular mostly in certain pockets.
"In a country like India, let's say eight cities are playing hosts to one bilateral series. That will only bring more people into the sport and into the stadium, which is what we want eventually. So this home and away series will be across the country, and not just in India but other nations as well," Batra said.
Interested countries
FIH has accepted the applications of the following nations for the home and away league system of their men and women national teams...
Both men's and women's teams: India, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain
Only men's team: Pakistan, Malaysia
Only women's team: China, Italy, USA
DNA