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All the news for Sunday 9 September 2018

Hockey Series Open - Lousada 2018 (Men) - Day 5
Lousada (POR)

Results 8 September

TUR v BLR (RR)     1 - 7
SCO v RUS (RR)     1 - 4
POR v GIB (RR)     2 - 2

Pool standings

FIH Match Centre

Defeat to Russia in penultimate Hockey Series Open match



Scotland men were defeated 4-1 by Russia in their penultimate match of Hockey Series Open in Lousada. The Blue Sticks have one match remaining in the Hockey Series Open and will play Belarus tomorrow at 12:30.

It was a very fast opening to the game with both teams looking to attack and create chances from the first whistle.

Russia had the first shot on goal, and prompted a comfortable save by Tommy Alexander with his leg guards at the near post.

Scotland also looked dangerous and some good play down the left set up Rob Harwood for an opportunity, but his powerful effort blasted over the bar.

The opening goal came as the first quarter end came into sight, and it was Russia who took the lead with Pavel Golubev scoring a rebound after a save by Alexander. The ball was looped forward over Willie Marshall; a good take by the forward allowed a shot, which was saved low by the diving Alexander. Golubev, however, was on hand to knock the rebound high into the net for 1-0.

The second quarter action was end-to-end with both teams creating opportunities. Scotland came close to an equaliser when the ball zipped across the Russia goal but Kyle White couldn’t connect at the far post.

Russia then went 2-0 up from the penalty spot in the second quarter. Semen Matkovskiy sent Alexander the wrong way to score into the bottom left corner.

It nearly went to 3-0 soon after when a slack pass in midfield allowed Russia to run through on goal, but Alexander was out quickly to send the forward wide of the goal and harmlessly out of play.

Alexander was called into action a number of times in the second quarter and produced an excellent save at a Russian penalty corner, it allowed Scotland to tear forward through Harwood, but he couldn’t link with White or Callum Duke and the danger was cleared.

After half time Scotland pulled one back through Luke Cranney. The Blue Sticks worked their way into the Russian D and good control by Cranney set himself up for a powerful finish on the reverse. 2-1.

In what seemed like an endless stream of Russian penalty corners, Alexander pulled off a number of great saves, including one at the top right corner

Eventually Russia made one of them count and a low penalty corner from Matkovskiy made it 3-1 to Russia.

Russia added a fourth as the game reached a close through a low powerful shot into the bottom left corner after Scotland couldn’t clear the danger. Marat Khairullin the scorer to give Russia a big win in Hockey Series Open.

Schedule

September 4 2018 | 14:30 | Scotland 7-2 Turkey
September 5 2018 | 16:30 | Scotland 2-0 Portugal
September 6 2018 | 14:30 | Gibraltar 0-2 Scotland
September 8 2018 | 14:30 | Scotland 1-4 Russia
September 9 2018 | 12:30 | Belarus v Scotland

Scottish Hockey Union media release

Scottish National League 1 delivers on opening weekend action


The men`s National League 1 programme started at Bothwell Castle Policies on Friday evening with Uddingston`s 4-2 win over newly promoted Watsonians. Photo by Mark Pugh

The visitors seemed to have the better of the first half with the opening goal from Roddy Craig. But the stuffing was soon knocked out of them with a four-goal blitz from Uddingston`s Aussie Brad Hughes to give the home side a comfortable 4-1 lead. Ally Dougall pulled one back for the Edinburgh side with two minutes to go but little more than a consolation by then.

Grange started off the defence of their National League 1 title with a stirring 6-1 win over Aberdeen Standard Gordonians at Peffermill. The champions put the Aberdonians to the sword in the first half, the highlight being a hat-trick from Frank Ryan, Austrian Clemens Rufnjak along with Aussie Dylan Bean adding the others for a 5-0 lead.

Adam Walker pulled one back for Gordonians in the second half but Bean added another from a set piece to complete the scoring.

In the other contest Hillhead and Clydesdale fought out a 1-1 draw. After a goalless first half Sam Hayes put the Titwood-based side ahead only for Ewan Campbell to level for Hillhead.

In the women`s competition Wildcats recorded a comfortable 4-0 win over Grange at Fettes, the goals came from Heather Aitken (2), Alex Stuart and new recruit Kate Holmes.

Grove Menzieshill returned to winning ways with a 3-0 win over newly promoted Glasgow University. The Taysiders took a single goal lead into the interval, Jude McMullan was on target. Penalty corner expert Sam Sangster was the catalyst in the second half, her first shot was deflected home by Lucy Smith while her second effort was forced home by Lauren Kingston on the rebound.

Hillhead played host to Dundee Wanderers but it was the Taysiders who came away with the points. A 3-0 victory for Wanderers gave two wins from two as the season gets underway.

Clydesdale Western were 3-1 winners at GHK.  The highlight appeared to be GHK`s goal, under-18 international Lucy Williamson shrugged off several defenders to then slam a reverse stick shot into the Clydesdale net. Western`s three goals all came from penalty corners.


8 September 2018 at Old Anniesland. Scottish League Division 1 match – GHK v Clydesdale Western – photo by Duncan Gray

Scottish Hockey Union media release

Murugappa cup: Secretariat holds defending champ ONGC

Gritty CHA draws with former titlist PSB

K. Keerthivasan


In fine position: Shilanand Lakra, left, opens ONGC’s account against Central Secretariat. Photo Credit: R. Ravindran

Each and every match in the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup 92nd all-India hockey tournament here on Saturday, had its fair share of excitement and was of top-notch quality, with the favourites emerging largely unscathed.

However, two teams did really well to enliven the proceedings and make quite a strong impact.

While Chennai Hockey Association (CHA), making its debut, did well to hold former champion Punjab & Sind Bank (PSB) 1-1 in Pool B, Central Secretariat, formed three years ago, played out an engrossing 3-3 draw with defending champion ONGC in Pool A.

On the other hand, it was a relatively easy outing for Indian Railways (Pool A) and IOC (B) as it posted wins over Indian Army (5-1) and Hockey Bengaluru (7-4) respectively.

Comprising just two Internationals in Ajitesh Rai and Pradeep Mor to a galaxy of Internationals (senior and junior), Secretariat matched the champion on all fronts.

Secretariat showed its fighting spirit as it came back every time it was in arrears. After Sumit Kumar pushed one into the net off a lovely lob from Gurjant Singh to give ONGC a 3-2 lead, Secretariat equalised within a space of 10 minutes.

Jayesh Yadav drilled one past the ’keeper Dhananjoy Meetei off a pass from Mohit Kumar, much to the joy of those in the bench including coach Olympian Rahul Singh.

It has to be admitted that ONGC had more circle penetrations and more penalty corners (7) to Secretariat’s (2), but the latter grabbed the few chances that came its way.

In fact, Secretariat had made its debut in the Murugappa tournament only last year and went on to lose all its league matches. This time, it could well be a bit different.

The results:

Pool A: Indian Railways 5 (Karan Pal Singh 6 & 69, Harsahib Singh 18, Kunwar Dilraj Singh 60, Pardeep Singh 66) bt Indian Army 1 (Sanjay Toppo 41).

ONGC 3 (Shilanand Lakra 27, Mandeep Antil 48, Sumit Kumar 50) drew with Central Secretariat 3 (Mohit Kumar 30, Pawan Kumar 33, Jayesh Jadhav 59).

Pool B: PSB 1 (Gaganpreet Singh 35+) drew with CHA 1 (Veera Thamizhan 50).

IOC 7 (Roshan Minz 2 & 24, Bharat Chikara 13 & 33, Gurjinder Singh 22 & 60, Arman Quereshi 38) bt Hockey Bengaluru 4 (Sandeep Kumar Singh 45, Pratap Lakra 51, M.G. Poonacha 63, Sharda Nand Tiwari 70).

The Hindu

Down to two as finalists book Under 21 IPT spots

An enthralling round of semi-final action saw the finalists decided in both the South African Men’s and Women’s Under 21 IPT’s in Pretoria. Starting with the ladies’ section the opening semi-final saw the KZN Raiders take on Western Province.

In an ill-disciplined match it was Western Province who took the lead through Lenta Cullinan striking in the third minute. Raiders continued to fight back but were unable to test Maboloke Serage with regular occurrence in the Province goal. Their discipline cost them in the final quarter as they looked to restore parity but received three yellow cards robbing them of 15 minutes’ worth of players. Rebecca Kaps then popped up with the goal that settled the match and put Province into the final.

The second semi-final between the hosts the Northern Blues and North West was an absolute classic. Jean-Leigh du Toit fired home a penalty corner to give the Pretoria side a lead just before half-time but Sulette Damons side fired back immediately with Anneke Beukman scoring to keep it level at 1-1 at the interval.

The third quarter belonged to the hosts though as the St. Lucia Lakers striker Megan Anderson regained the lead for the Blues who extended it with the final play of the quarter through Hanrie Louw. North West refused to be defeated and surged forward looking for a way back in and found it through the in-form Candice Silent pulling a goal back in the 48th minute. They continued to try and find a gap and with 100 seconds left on the clock Silent popped up again to silence the home faithful. The goal sent the game to the shootout. Silent of course scored in the first round for North West but that was the only goal until the final round of the shootouts as Melicia van Loggerenberg and Caitlin Grant denied all strikers.

In the final round the Blues pulled level when Megan Anderson beat Grant brilliantly, but all eyes were on Anneke Beukman who had the chance to put North West into the final. And. She. Did. It. The captain sent van Loggerenberg the wrong way and her own team into jubilation!

Ladies Under 21 IPT Results – Day 6 – Semi-Final Day

9-12 Playoffs

Mpumalanga 2-1 Eastern Province

5-8 Playoffs

Southern Gauteng 2-0 WP Pens
Free State 1-2 SG Witsies

Semi-Finals

Western Province 2-0 KZN Raiders
North West (2) *3-3 (1) Northern Blues

Ladies Under 21 IPT Final

North West vs. Western Province

In the Men’s semi-finals the two favourites secured their spot in what will be a mouth-watering final. Southern Gauteng were too good for the Northern Daisies winning 5-0. Brendon Spence was the star of the show scoring a hat-trick with a goal in the first, second and third quarters. Rayner York, who was so good for the Maropeng Cavemen at the CTM Premier Hockey League, continued his fine form with the fourth and another form player Delpiarro Langford made it 5. Coach Miguel da Graca was delighted at an opportunity to change his IPT and PHL silvers into a gold!

The defending champions Western Province were always going to be in a tough battle against the star studded Northern Blues. Steven Paulo and Brad Sherwood both scored in the opening quarter and then the defensive class of Sizwe Mtembu in goals ahead of a superb backline marshalled by Tyson Dlugnwana kept the Province strikers at bay and secured a final spot for Guy Elliots men.

Men’s Under 21 IPT Results – Day 6 – Semi-Final Day

9-12 Playoffs

Mpumalanga 0-2 Free State
Eastern Province 5-0 Border

5-8 Playoffs

WP Pens 4-2 SG Witsies
North West 4-1 KZN Raiders

Semi-Finals

Northern Daisies 0-5 Southern Gauteng
Western Province 0-2 Northern Blues

Men’s Under 21 IPT Final

Southern Gauteng vs. Northern Blues

SA Hockey Association media release

Title Glory for Western Province and Northern Blues at Under 21 IPT

After a week of hockey action in Pretoria, the champions of the South African U21 IPTs have been decided.

North West had secured their spot in a dramatic fight back against Northern Blues and the Potchefstroom ladies were up for the final against Western Province. It was two teams packed with some great quality with the likes of Dunell van Taak, Charne Maddocks, Mia Barnard, Courtney du Preez and Kelsey Minnaar all having CTM Premier Hockey League experience for North West, while Western Province had Stephanie Botha, Caitlin Odendaal and indoor hockey national player Jamie Southgate. They could also call on Ammaarah Hendricks who has just been confirmed to take part in the Youth Olympic Games.

It was Western Province who struck first when Lida Kotze, a Wineland Wings player, struck in the 20th minute through a well-worked field goal. Once again though it was Anneke Beukman who pulled level on the stroke of half-time for North West.

The second half was played in normal final efforts as both teams looked for the gap, but it was Western Province that found it when Kotze popped up as the hero for the Cape side. They held on to the result to the delight of coach Ryan Pillay and the team.

Ladies Under 21 IPT Results – Day 7 –Final Day

9-10 Playoff

Mpumalanga 0-2 Northern Blues

7-8 Playoff

Free State 6-1 WP Pens

5-6 Playoff

SG Witsies (3) *0-0 (1) Southern Gauteng

Bronze Medal

Northern Blues 2-1 KZN Raiders

Final

North West 1-2 Western Province

Ladies Under 21 Individual Awards

Top Goal scorer: Lizanne Jacobs (Free State) & Candice Silent (North West)
Best goalkeeper: Cheree Greyvenstein (KZN Raiders)
Player of the Tournament: Megan Anderson (Northern Blues)

The Men’s final offered the tantalising prospect of the best two teams playing off for the title. The star studded Northern Blues vs. the superbly talented Southern Gauteng. It offered the battle of Chris Makaba vs. Tyson Dlungwana, Tristan Le Forestier vs. Michael Forrest, Courtney Halle vs. Sam Mvimbi and Rayner York vs. Jared Cass amongst others.

It was always going to be a high-intensity and 10 cards in the final showed that. After an incredibly tough opening half the game’s opening goal came through South Africa U21 star Mark Chong, who has also been named in the greater SA Hockey Men’s squad. They didn’t have to wait long for the second when inspirational captain Tyson Dlungwana made it 2-0.

Southerns laid siege to the Northern Blues goal in the last quarter and despite the man advantage they had for more than 10 minutes could only breach the goal once through Michael Newland-Nel. Guy Elliot was the successful coach and the crowd was delighted as the title landed in the Northern part of Gauteng.

Mens Under 21 IPT Results – Day 7 –Final Day

11-12 Playoff

Mpumalanga 3-4 Border

9-10 Playoff

Free State 2-4 Eastern Province

7-8 Playoff

SG Witsies 0-1 KZN Raiders

5-6 Playoff

WP Pens 4-1 North West

Bronze Medal

Northern Daisies 0-4 Western Province

Final

Southern Gauteng 1-2 Northern Blues

Mens Under 21 Individual Awards

Top Goal scorer: Carlyle Volmink (KZN Raiders)
Best goalkeeper: Sizwe Mtembu (Northern Blues)
Player of the Tournament: Chris Makaba (Southern Gauteng)

SA Hockey Association media release

Doesn’t matter if you concede goal at start or end: PR Sreejesh

Reubyn Coutinho


PR Sreejesh India hockey captain and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh (right). (Inset) Drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh , PTI

Having seen India concede quite a few crucial goals in the closing stages including in the semifinals of the Asian Games, India captain and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh said here that it did not matter whether a goal is conceded in the beginning or at the end.

Sreejesh said here at an event on Friday: “It doesn’t matter if you concede in first or last minute. What matters is what scoreline reads at end of match. Our aim should be to ensure that no opportunities arise for people to point out mistakes when you get a chance to score a goal, you should just score it.”

When asked about what motivated him, Sreejesh said that everyone searches for his own motivation, which can be anything. “After we lost the semifinals, I came across a video where a 75-year-old lady lost everything in the Kerala floods and she said, “mai harungi nahi, mai abhi jeet ke dikhaungi sabko (I will not concede defeat and will show that I can win). If a 75-year-old can be that strong and believe, it led me to think ‘why not us’. But, we had something to gain (bronze medal).”

Sreejesh added: “The team deserved a lot of credit for the way it bounced back (from semifinal loss) within two days, and that too in a crucial match. You know, India-Pakistan match is full of emotion. The whole world watches India-Pakistan match, that too a bronze medal match.”

A pre-tournament concern was India’s penalty corner conversion rate. India converted just one penalty corner against Japan in the group stage. They failed to convert multiple penalty corners in their semifinal loss to Malaysia. Sreejesh said, “Just like India, the opponents also analyse the strengths of other teams so that it will help them to defend.”

‘Simple hockey easier’

India defender and drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh said that “playing simple hockey will be easier for the team” and that it will be the key to entering the opponents’ ‘D’ during any part of the match.

Singh added that the team has lost some matches despite playing well. “Such experience will be used by us in practice for World Cup so that we don’t regret later.”

On competition for spots in team, he said, “I won’t say there is pressure, it’s not our task to think about the team that’ll be selected. We just focus on our task (of playing).”

Daily News & Analysis

I love to represent the country in this hockey jersey: Rupinder Pal Singh

Aashin Prasad


Rupinder Pal Singh   -  K. Murali Kumar

The hockey ace says that if he were to die and come back, he wouldn’t want to change a thing.

Earliest memory of playing hockey?

I used to go to the field with my elder brother while I was in school.

Who got you your first hockey stick?

My cousin Gagan Ajit Singh.

Funniest fan mail/proposal?

Not funny, but I remember a cute letter which touched my heart when a small kid from my city sent me a hand-written letter telling me that he loves me. It was heart-touching.

One player you dread seeing approaching you with the ball?

Thomas Briels from Belgium.

Your favourite sporting moment?

The 2014 Asian Games final against Pakistan, where we won the gold medal!

Your inspiration?

My mom.

If not a hockey player, what would you do?

I don’t know really, but I would’ve done something related to studies. I could have built a career with a good education.

What is it that you dislike the most?

Losing a challenge on the field, and losing a match. Even in practice.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

I wouldn’t want to change a thing. I love to represent the country in this hockey jersey.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Hockey!

The craziest thing you have ever done?

I used to sneak out from hostel for late-night movie shows with my hostel mates.

Your favourite book?

Legacy by James Kerr.

Favourite teammate?

Mandeep Singh.

Questions most asked by the public and the media?

How I’m this tall.

Sportstar Live

Easy group for Malaysia in Youth Olympics

By Jugjet Singh


PIC: Malaysian High Performance Director Terry Walsh (left) and men's hockey 5s coach Wallace Tan (right)

KUALA LUMPUR: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) Friday released groupings for the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires on Oct 7-14, and Argentina are expected to give Malaysia the toughest time in Group A.

The other teams in Malaysia's way are Mexico, Poland, Vanuatu and Zambia.

In Group B are defending champions Australia, silver medallists Canada, Austria, Bangladesh, India and Kenya.

Malaysian men's coach Wallace Tan did not reply to text messages, or answer phone calls.

According the the FIH website: "Taking place in the Youth Olympic Park in the southern area of the city, the Hockey 5s events are set to take centre stage with hosts Argentina expected to attract large numbers of local fans, renowned for their passionate support of the sport.

"The last edition of this event in Nanjing, China in 2014, saw Australia win gold and Canada silver in the men’s event, with China winning gold and Argentina bronze in the women’s event."

The Malaysian women failed to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games, while the men will be making their debut.

In the Bangkok Qualifier, Malaysia men edged South Korea 5-4 in a sudden-death penalty shootout after regulation time in the semi-finals ended 4-4.

Malaysian girls lost 4-2 to India in the semi-finals. Only the finalists qualify automatically for the finals in Buenos Aires.

The men will open accounts against Vanuatu on Oct 7, followed by Mexico, Zambia, Argentina and Poland.

Top-four in each group qualify for the quarter-finals, and going by form, Malaysia are expected to play in the knock-out stage.

Jugjet's World of Field Hockey

Princeton's MaryKate Neff scores game-winning goal to help No. 6 Princeton defeat No. 4 Duke 3-2


Princeton field hockey

When you beat the No. 4 and No. 5 field hockey teams in the country in the same week in early November, the prize is a trip to the NCAA Final Four.

When you do it in early September, the stakes aren't quite as high, though it still feels really good.

MaryKate Neff's acrobatic goal with 16:38 left was the game-winner as No. 6 Princeton defeated No. 4 Duke 3-2 in a dramatic home opener on Bedford Field Friday afternoon. The Tigers trailed 1-0 at halftime and 2-1 in the second half before rallying for the win.

The victory came three days after Princeton beat No. 5 Penn State 2-1 in double overtime in State College. The wins didn't have the impact they would have in the NCAA tournament, but they did make a resounding statement on the national scene for the Tigers.

Princeton and Duke have now combined to play nine games this season, and all nine have been against ranked opponents. Princeton is now 3-1 on the season, with the only loss a 1-0 defeat in the opener against No. 2 North Carolina.

On a day when the teams were so evenly matched that they both had nine shots and four penalty corners, the difference was Neff's goal, which came after Duke goalie Sammi Steele made a tough save on a Sophia Tornetta drive off one of those corners. The rebound came in front to Neff, who tapped it up in the air and then swatted it in, making it 3-2.

The Tiger lead stood up for the final 16:38, which brought the total amount of time that Princeton had the lead to 16:56.

Duke scored the only goal of the first half on a rip from Margaux Paolino, and Princeton would tie it when Carlotta von Gierke sent a long pass down the middle to Clara Roth, who faked right and then tucked a shot just inside the far post.

That goal came with two minutes gone in the second half, and that lead would last for exactly 18 seconds before the Blue Devils went up 2-1. Princeton tied it again when Maddie Bacskai blasted one into the back of the cage of a corner. Neff's winner came two minutes later.

Princeton is back at it Sunday at Rutgers at 11 am before returning home next weekend to host Monmouth Friday the 14th and then Delaware Sunday the 16th.

NCAA