News for 19 March 2018
All the news for Monday 19 March 2018
Bloemendaal and Kampong tie in frosty Dutch topper
©: Frank Uijlenbroek/world Sport Pics
Bloemendaal and SV Kampong drew the topper in the Hoofdklasse in a match eventually played on pitch four due to the cold weather in the Netherlands.
Indeed, weather issues were the order of the day around Europe with the Belgian and French leagues all cancelled along with the Irish Senior Cup while a number of games in England also fell foul of the conditions.
As for the Dutch tie between the leading two teams, the game was originally due to be shown live on television but the freezing conditions led to the game eventually being switched away from the main pitch.
Martijn Havenga opened the scoring from a corner for Kampong in the 20th minute before Thierry Brinkman, pictured, levelled the scoring with 22 minutes to go for a 1-1 outcome.
The result keeps Kampong top of the table with two points to spare over Bloemendaal with both sides having played 16 of their 22 games.
AH&BC Amsterdam are third after their 7-1 win on Sunday over Almere, backing up a 3-2 Friday night win over Den Bosch.
Against Almere, Justin Reid-Ross ran up a hat trick while Mirco Pruyser got another couple to go with two goals on Friday.
Oranje-Rood’s game with SCHC fell victim to the weather as did Den Bosch’s game with Rotterdam and Tilburg against HGC.
Rotterdam did, however, record a 3-2 away win on Friday at Tilburg with Simon Egerton’s late goal proving the difference. Nick Catlin and Jeroen Hertzberger had earlier given Rotterdam a 2-0 lead only to be pegged back with 21 minutes left.
They remain in fifth place with six points to make up on Oranje-Rood.
Euro Hockey League media release
Herakles hitting form in the Belgian league
Jeremy Duncan’s winning goal continued Herakles good recent form as they beat Daring 4-3 to move up to seventh place in the Belgian league on Thursday evening.
They did fall behind to Rémy Schoonjans’ ninth minute opening goal with back post tap in. Victor Donck levelled from close range six minutes later only for Alex Rasmussen to put Daring back in front when he rounded the goalkeeper and fired home.
Jacob Smith equalised when his shot spun in off the goalkeeper, making it 2-2 at half-timeTanasu Perez Vasquez put the local team in command with a powerful shot but Tanguy Cosyns equalised from a penalty corner.
But Irish international Duncan served a great piece of skill and then smashed home from the top of the circle for the victory.
It was their second win in a row and puts them within five points of the playoff places, hoping they can make a late charge for a playoff place.
Round 16 was an interesting series in the Belgian league with leaders the Waterloo Ducks drawing 2-2 with Braxgata. Racing Club de Bruxelles drew 4-4 at home against lowly Leuven.
KHC Dragons moved closer to the WatDucks with a comfortable 5-1 win over Pingouin while Royal Leopold got an important 3-2 win against Oree.
Euro Hockey League media release
Three Rock claim fourth trophy of the season with Mills Cup success
©: Adrian Boehm
Three Rock Rovers won their fourth trophy already this season as they beat Corinthian 4-2 on St Patrick’s Day in the Leinster Senior Mills Cup final.
The Irish side – who will play Saint Germain in the EHL KO16 – have already won the regional Neville Cup title as well as Ireland’s National Indoor Trophy and gold at the EuroHockey Indoor Club Challenge II in Georgia.
In this final, Rovers had a number of struggles early on against a side who play a level below them in the regional league despite taking the lead in the third minute via Daragh Walsh. Stephen Reid scored twice for the reds to put them in front 2-1 after 15 minutes but a quick Rovers burst of goals before half-time won the game.
John Mullins slotted home from mid-circle before Ross Canning scored a penalty stroke. Kevin Mullins then deflected in a cross from Conor Empey in the second half to complete the win.
Corinthian did have their chances with goalkeeper Conor Quinn – stepping in for Irish international Jamie Carr – making a number of good saves.
And TRR coach Niall Denham said afterwards it was not the perfect performance but it was nice to add another piece of silverware: “Corinthians played very well and made it very tough for us and created more than enough chances themselves to maybe get something out of it.
“We are probably not as happy as we could be with our processes [in going behind] but it showed a bit of character to step up when we had the setbacks.
“We created quite a few chances in the second half so we were glad to take one of them. Maybe we left a few more on the pitch but we are never happy as coaches!”
Three Rock still have a couple more competitions on their agenda. They were due to play Cork C of I on Sunday in the Irish Senior Cup but the weather led to its postponement to Monday.
They also have five games left to play in the national EY Hockey League.
“We are in a very busy period and the weather is not really helping. We have a big game against Banbridge next week before we go off to Europe which is something we are all looking forward to. We are battling on all fronts; in the league, we need a few favours [to have any chance of winning the league] and we still have to secure a top four spot.”
Euro Hockey League media release
Muckross magic secures Leinster title after 21-years of downs and ups
First half goals from Sophie Barnwell and Clodagh Ferry propelled Muckross to their first Leinster Division One title since 1997 as they beat nearest rivals Corinthian 2-0 last Thursday night.
It marks another milestone on their comeback trail having dropped down through the divisions, only returning to the top tier in the province in 2015.
Fittingly, captain Barnwell – who was only one year old the last time they won the title – set the ball in motion as she picked up the ball wide on the left inside her own half, embarking on a solo run into the circle.
The ball slipped from her stick a couple of times but she battled to win it back and flicked in on her backhand. Clodagh Ferry then swept home first time from a switch left corner for 2-0 at half-time.
The reds had their chances in the second half, winning a number of corners, but Muckross held on to move six points clear with a game to go.
Muckross coach Sarah Scott said afterwards to Dublin City FM’s Declan Hughes: “It’s a fantastic feeling; we have worked so, so hard over the year. To finish with a win over Corinthians who have been unbeaten all year.”
It settled an epic three-horse race this season in Leinster with Old Alex the long-time leaders, making for a great title battle.
“We’ve all taken points off each other; the three teams try to play the same attacking style of hockey, all have youth in the side. It’s been a really close battle and I am just thrilled for my team who are deserved winners.”
The victory guarantees Muckross a place in IHL2 next season and means they also bypass the first stage of the EYHL promotion process. Given the make-up of Scott’s panel, avoiding that first playoffs weekend, is vitally important for her side.
“We have four Under-18 internationals and an Under-21 international who have a very busy period over Easter. Winning the title will give us the chance to have a really good rest and then give the last weekend a really good go.
“There’s a bit of planning to do but it is brilliant having only one weekend to focus on. It’s been a really full-on season. All these kids come to play their club matches after school matches so it’s a really big ask of them. This break will let us sort out our patterns of play.”
For Corinthian, they are assured of an EYHL promotion shot but, should they miss out on moving up, their IHL2 qualification is now out of their hands, depending on how relegation works out the national division.
Coach Ralph Billings paid tribute to their opponents on the league outcome: “Congratulations to Muckross, they were the better team tonight. Muckross wanted it more, particularly in the first half.
“They came out of the blocks at 100 miles an hour while we were sleeping and got two goals. The second half was a bit better. We were just a little bit hesitant and we feel we have a bit more in the tank than what we showed tonight.
“We do have the playoffs to look forward to, the first time in the club’s history, so we will regroup and go again.”
Two days later, Corinthian followed up with a 3-2 win in the Jacqui Potter Shield final, beating Old Alex II on St Patrick’s Day in chilly conditions.
The reds found the corner touch that had evaded them against Muckross with two goals coming from Lauren and Jessica McGrance before Nicola Torrans finished off a sublime team move.
Alex kept fighting and got two goals back to give an edge to the game in the closing minutes but Corinthian held on for the win. The title marks a first for Carol McGowan after 18 years playing in the first team.
Corinthian with the Jacqui Potter Shield
The Hook
Perak on course for second round after slim win
By Kng Zheng Guan
KUALA LUMPUR: Favourites Perak stayed on track for the second round of the National Under-16 boys hockey tournament after picking up their second straight win.
The defending champions however were not as dominant as they could be after a 1-0 win over Negri Sembilan in a Group A match at the National Hockey Stadium, Bukit Jalil, yesterday.
Unlike their previous match against Perlis where they left it late to score, Perak found the early goal this time.
It took them just three minutes to find the net as Mohd Redzuan Nor Mohd finished off a move from open play.
But that was as good as it gets as they were unable to breach the Negri defence after that.
The slim win means Perak are tied on top of Group A with six points with Johor.
The southern state also produced their second win of the tournament by beating Sarawak 2-0.
Alfarico Lance Liao Jr converted off a penalty corner in the ninth minute before Mohd Shafiq Sani sealed the win with a field goal in the 48th minute.
In Group B, Terengganu were handed the win after their match against Melaka was abandoned while leading 1-0 due to inclement weather.
In the girls’ event, Pahang were the big winners of the day after thrashing hapless Negri Sembilan 8-1 in Group A.
Nurul Fatin Fatiah bagged a hattrick (14th, 36th, 49th min) while Umi Nur Alya added a brace (38th, 50th min). The other goals were bagged by Zawiatul Akma (4th min), Nur Nabila Alia (32nd min) and Nur Shazwani Zakaria (53rd min).
The Star of Malaysia
Hockey fan writes song for Black Sticks teams ahead of 2018 Commonwealth Games
Jane Matthews
Lyricist Ted Normanton has written a song dedicated to the Black Sticks ahead of the Commonwealth Games. GRANT MATTHEW/STUFF
One of New Zealand hockey's biggest fans has shown his love for the country's sides by writing them a song ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Ted Normanton, who has dementia, said he had no trouble remembering tunes he'd written for the Black Sticks hockey teams. His latest work Dedication Song to our Black Sticks Teams is his second.
Normanton wrote his olympic games song Ode to the Black Sticks for the women's Black Sticks in 2015. This year's song is in support of the women's and men's hockey teams as they head off to the games on the Gold Coast next month.
"Poetry's my thing - the words, the tunes," Normanton said. "I remember them even though I've got dementia."
The lyricist made his way to musical fame when his first hockey song was picked up by The Crowd Goes Wild and passed on to the women's Black Sticks team. Normanton said he received national praise, and couldn't help but write another song that honoured the men's team too.
Peter Galvin and Ted Normanton performed Normanton's latest tune 'Dedication Song to our Black Sticks' Teams'. GRANT MATTHEW/STUFF
"My younger brother thinks this song is better."
Normanton has spent the past three months writing his latest song, which he has worked to the tune of There's a Tavern in the town.
"I spent a lot of time on it," he said. "Sometimes I get up in the middle of the night if something comes to me."
Normanton said writing songs helped him, and he was very good at remembering music and its writers.
A couple of years ago he was in a New Plymouth show called Stiff and he can still act out his whole first part.
"I can still remember that like it was yesterday."
Normanton has always liked hockey, which is why he keeps writing songs dedicated to the Black Sticks.
"I played representative hockey," he said. "I made a comeback at the age of 50-something."
Normanton performed the song for Stuff with full-time musician Peter Galvin on the ukulele.
The song talks about how the teams will play and finishes up singing about how representing New Zealand is a great honour.
"Kia kaha, kia kaha, be strong. Whakarongo to this tino pai song, all kiwis will get with them in spirit. Come on Black Sticks teams, let's do it."
Stuff