News for 22 February 2019
All the news for Friday 22 February 2019
Excellent performance but Scotland women lose final series match against Italy in Rome
Despite a valiant effort and excellent Scottish performance in the third and final series match against Italy in Rome, it was the hosts who came away with a 3-1 win, and series victory. Bex Condie won her 50th Scotland cap on the occasion and took captaincy for the final match in Rome.
The first chance of the match went the way of Italy and a direct attack down the right saw the ball fired into the D and deflected against the Scotland post.
A minute later and Italy took the lead. Chiara Tiddi scored for the hosts when she slammed a penalty corner low and left against the backboard.
An excellent double save stopped the score going to 2-0 a short time later as Italy piled on the pressure.
Scotland soon struck back however, and it was Charlotte Watson who provided the goal. McKenzie Bell broke down the right and picked out Watson at the near post for a deflection past the goalkeeper and into the net. 1-1.
Scotland were on attack mode and came close to scoring a second after good work by Sarah Jamieson, but were denied by a double save in the Italian goal. Then Fiona Burnet was denied when she deflected a zipped Watson pass against the goalkeeper’s leg guards.
Against the run of play, it was Italy who would score next and again the strike came from a penalty corner; this time a lovely deflection by Pilar De Biase in front of the goalkeeper saw the ball pop up into the roof of the net for 2-1.
Scotland came out strong in the second half and Italy’s goalkeeper, Giorgia Piras, was instantly called into making a succession of excellent saves to deny Scotland an equaliser.
The next goal however came from the Italians and it was Federica Carta who struck for the hosts. Scotland took off their goalkeeper for an outfield player and when possession was won in midfield by Italy it allowed them to break on goal, and Carta rolled the ball into the open goal for 3-1.
Scotland looked to respond instantly and a thunderous Emily Dark penalty corner was well saved by Piras in goal for Italy. A comeback wasn’t to be and it was Italy who came away with the victory in a competitive three match test series in Rome.
Scotland women’s Head Coach Jen Wilson said, “It was an incredible game of hockey. I’m obviously disappointed at the result but I’m so pleased at the performance. The progress we’ve made over the three games has been fantastic – everyone is starting to see the incredible potential we have.
“We were half asleep for the first few minutes and got punished by the opening goal. Then we took over and dominated the first quarter and scored a really good equaliser.
“We created lots of chances, played some excellent hockey – and for periods of time with eleven outfield players. It’s a defeat but the progress in such a short space of time is really pleasing.
“It was great to see Bex Condie win her 50th cap, Bex is a solid contributor in the team and is doing a great job. The preparation work behind the scenes from Vikki Bunce and Chris Duncan has been fantastic over the games, so it’s been a really worthwhile series for the coaching staff and the players.”
Scottish Hockey Union media release
2019 FIH Pro League (Men) - 22 February
Weekend fixtures
22 Feb 2019 21:00 (GMT - 3) ARG v GER (RR) - Cenard, Buenos Aires
24 Feb 2019 16:00 (GMT - 3) ARG v NED (RR) - Cenard, Buenos Aires
FIH Match Centre
2019 FIH Pro League (Women) - 22 February
Weekend fixtures
22 Feb 2019 18:30 (GMT -3) ARG v GER (RR) - Cenard, Buenos Aires
23 Feb 2019 14:00 (GMT +8) CHN v GBR (RR) - Wujin Hockey Stadium, Changzhou
24 Feb 2019 18:30 (GMT -3) ARG v NED (RR) - Cenard, Buenos Aires
FIH Match Centre
Male Coach of the Year 2018: Shane McLeod
As 2017 Male Coach of the Year – an honour he shared with the Netherlands Max Caldas – Shane McLeod had enjoyed a good 12 months with his team in 2017. But not even he could have envisaged just how successful his team would become a year later.
Mcleod led the Belgium Red Lions to a gold medal at the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup and, in doing so, moved them to the top of the FIH Hero World Rankings, leapfrogging perennial top-ranked Australia and the 2016 Olympic champions Argentina in the process.
McLeod began his international coaching career with the New Zealand men’s team, leading them to the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. The move to Belgium saw him work with several club sides and the women’s U21 team before he took up an appointment with the Red Lions in 2015.
“I am blessed to work with an amazing group of athletes that are inspiring the next generations. I thank them for their ambition and commitment to excellence.”
- Shane McLeod
Modest, understated and meticulous in planning, McLeod now has a new challenge – to maintain top spot and to keep one step ahead of the chasing pack. With two wins and two draws from four games, Belgium currently sit top of the FIH Pro League table: so far, the coach is matching that challenge.
On receiving the award, McLeod said: “It is a great honour to receive such an award. It is recognition of the work of many people and one that I will gladly share with my excellent coaching staff and players.
“The World Cup win has brought the spotlight onto hockey in Belgium and I am very proud to be involved with the way the hockey is growing in this country.
“With so many talented coaches in world hockey today it is a real privilege to receive this award. It is also special to see some of the greats that have received this honour in the past.
“Lastly, I am blessed to work with an amazing group of athletes that are inspiring the next generations. I thank them for their ambition and commitment to excellence.”
#HockeyStarsAwards
FIH site
Additions Made to Junior U.S. Women’s National Team and Development Squad Rosters
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After a joint training camp was held this past weekend for the U.S. U-17, U-19 and U-21 Women’s National Teams and U.S. Women’s National Development Squad in Durham, N.C. and Chapel Hill, N.C., the USWNT High Performance staff has named eight additions to the rosters.
Added to the U-17 USWNT is Macy Szukics (Malvern, Pa.) and to the U-19 USWNT are Maddie Orobono (Macungie, Pa.), Kathryn Peterson (San Diego, Calif.), Abby Pitcairn (Apsinwall, Pa.), Sofia Southam (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and Paityn Wirth (Thompsontown, Pa.).
Both squads have two more training camps in March until they travel to their respective Germany tours. From April 14-22, the U-17 USWNT will head to Cologne to play Germany’s U-16 Team and Belgium’s U-16 Team. The U-19 USWNT will travel to Dusseldorf to take on Germany’s U-18 Team and Belgium’s U-18 Team. Additionally, for the first time, the U-19 USWNT will take part in the Young Women’s National Championships from June 14-18, 2019.
There was one addition per team for the U-21 USWNT and U.S. Women’s National Development Squad. Rachel Robinson (Mount Joy, Pa.) will join the U-21 side and Nina Klein (North Haven, Conn.) has been added to the development team.
The U.S. U-21 Women’s National Team will meet two times in March for training camps in preparation for their international tour to Germany from April 14-22. In Mönchengladbach, the U-21 USWNT will take on Germany’s U-21 Team and Great Britain’s U-21 Team.
Similar to the U-21 USWNT, the U.S. Women’s National Development Team will have two training camps in March as they prepare for their trip to The Netherlands from April 13-22. There they will compete against the Scotland Women’s National Team and Belgium’s U-21 Team.
This past weekend, all three Junior U.S. Women's National Teams and the U.S. Women's National Development Squad were in attendance at the USWNT's first home FIH Pro League match against The Netherlands in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Click here to view the full Junior USWNT rosters. Click here to view the full U.S. Women's National Development Squad roster.
USFHA media release
PREVIEWS: English Men's Hockey League
East Grinstead face two important matches in two days in the Men’s Hockey League Premier Division this weekend, as they bid to seal a spot in the play-offs.
They entertain Holcombe on Saturday and then Brooklands MU on Sunday. Two victories and they will leapfrog Holcombe into the play-off zone, while two defeats could land them in the bottom four.
“We are very much looking forward to this weekend as it will give us a very good idea of where we stand in the league,” said East Grinstead’s Head Coach Glenn Kirkham.
“With Holcombe two points ahead and Brooklands two points behind us these are two games that we need to win if we want to be in with a good chance of qualifying for the play offs.
“We are buoyed by the return of David Condon but will be missing our other three internationals due to injury and enforced rest. We are also without Andy Piper through injury.”
Elsewhere, Holcombe also face an important weekend. As well as the East Grinstead clash on Saturday they go to leaders Surbiton on Sunday.
In Saturday’s other top flight match Wimbledon play host to Reading, while on Sunday second-placed Hampstead & Westminster are at home against bottom of the table Sevenoaks and the University of Exeter have a tough home game against third-placed Beeston.
In the Men’s Conference East leaders Old Georgians go to second-placed Oxted as they look to maintain their ten-point gap, while Southgate are third and go to Teddington.
Havant and Cardiff & Met both have two matches this weekend in the Men’s Conference West, which could prove crucial to both side’s ambitions.
They face each other on Saturday afternoon, but then 24 hours later Cardiff & Met play Fareham, while Havant have another home game against Team Bath Buccaneers.
And in the Men’s Conference North leaders Bowdon are at home against Preston on Sunday, while second-placed University of Durham head to Doncaster.
FIXTURES
Men’s Hockey League (Saturday, 23 February 2019)
Men’s Premier Division
East Grinstead v Holcombe
Wimbledon v Reading 14:00
Men’s Conference West
Havant v Cardiff & Met 13:30
Men’s Hockey League (Sunday, 24 February 2019)
Men’s Premier Division
East Grinstead v Brooklands MU 12:00
Univ of Exeter v Beeston 12:30
Hampstead & Westminster v Sevenoaks 13:30
Surbiton v Holcombe 14:00
Men’s Conference East
Teddington v Southgate
Canterbury v Old Loughtonians 12:45
Oxted v Old Georgians 12:45
Cambridge City v Brighton & Hove 13:30
Richmond v City of Peterborough
Men’s Conference West
Cardiff & Met v Fareham 12:30
Chichester v Univ of Birmingham 13:00
Olton & West Warwicks v Univ of Bristol 13:30
Havant v Team Bath Buccaneers 14:00
Oxford Hawks v Isca 14:00
Men’s Conference North
Univ of Nottingham v Leeds 13:00
Belper v Sheffield Hallam 14:00
Doncaster v Univ of Durham 14:00
Loughborough Students v Alderley Edge 14:00
Bowdon v Preston 14:30
England Hockey Board Media release
The hosts make a statement on day one
The 2019 South African Indoor IPT got underway in blistering hot Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday, just four months after the completion of the 2018 Indoor IPT. The change is a positive one that sees the tournament played during the various indoor hockey seasons so raises the quality. Another positive is that there are a remarkable 14 teams in the women’s competition, highlighting the excitement and interest in the game of indoor hockey in South Africa.
And that’s where we will start. The women’s A section got underway with a solid 3-0 win for the hosts against Mpumalanga. They are being coached by Eloise Walters, the South African international is currently injured, but they were led superbly by Amy Greaves in a comfortable display.
The SPAR KZN Raiders, the defending champions, were tested brilliantly by the Northern Blues, inspired by the return of Celia Evans. The Raiders though were at the best as Calvin Price’s team got the victory with goals from Kelly Reed, Jess Lardant and a superb goal set up by Jess O’Connor and finished by SA Captain Cindy Hack. 3-1 the final score.
Western Province, led by the promising AJ Spieringshoek, were workmanlike in a good opening victory against the KZN Mynahs. The extremely exciting Kayla de Waal getting 2 of the goals for the Cape side in a 3-1 win.
Southern Gauteng themselves made their mark with their intention to improve on their silver medal from last year and inspired by 17-year-old Cloe de Souza’s hat-trick secured a 6-1 win over the Western Province Pens.
In the B Section the KZN Robins and Namibia played out a pulsating 2-2 draw, North West made their intentions for promotion clear wit ha walloping of Eastern Gauteng and Witsies stole a sensational 5-4 win against Inland B.
In the men’s section Western Province got a good victory for coach Ross Willis to start their campaign, 5-3 against KZN Inland B. There were five different goal scorers for WP including both Cassiem brothers who both received awards in the recent Hockey 24 Seven Indoor Hockey Awards.
Arguably the game of the day came in the least high profile one as Mpumalanga led EP 3-2 into the final minute, but Ignatius Malgraff, known more for his outdoor play, popped up with a double to see them home 4-3.
The defending champions the KZN Raiders were not at their best, missing Greg Last, but did thanks to Jarryd Jones hat-trick, to see off the threat of SG Witsies. The game was poised at 3-3 at half time before Jones and Eustice took the champs home.
Namibia, who are superbly coached by Trevor Cormack, were inspired by Brynn Cleak in their comfortable 6-2 win against Eastern Gauteng, although they were given a fright by going 2-0 down to early goals by Bradley Nunn and Kyle Cameron.
Bradley Sherwood and Adriaan Odendaal will the scorers as David Joshua’s Northerns overcame a spirited performance by the KZN Mynahs in a 2-0 win.
The final match of the day had blockbuster written over it as Southern Gauteng, silver medallists from the last couple of years, took on the hosts. South African world cup skipper Matt Fairweather was the star for the hosts netting all four in thrilling 4-2 win and a massive statement that the last winners before the current Raiders run are keen to make a challenge for the title.
SA Hockey Association media release
Favourites emerge in the heat of Pietermaritzburg
It was another scorching day in Pietermaritzburg as the women’s A section Quarter Finals were confirmed, while North West and Namibia made their charge in the B section. In the Men’s Tournament Raiders, Namibia, Inland and Western Province maintained their 100% record to sit as front runners for the semi-finals.
Starting in the Women’s B section it was Shaun Hulley’s North West, the 2017 semi-finalists who have taken charge of the tournament. They did it with two clean sheets in a 2-0 win against SG Witsies and a 3-0 win against the Inland B side. That’s zero goals conceded in the tournament so far for the team only in the B section because they missed the 2018 tournament.
Namibia put their own challenge forward with two wins on the day beating KZN Inland B 5-1 and a solid 9-1 win over Eastern Gauteng. While the Robins will also still have a say in this tournament drawing 3-3 with Witsies after a good 5-1 win over the Eastern Gauteng side.
In the A Section top spot in Pool A was decided by the evening fixture between SPAR KZN Raiders and Western Province after both sides won their morning fixture. Raiders 3-1 against their “B” team the Mynahs, while Province beat Northerns 4-1.
The top of the table clash was a tense affair with Jess O’Connor breaking the deadlock for the Raiders just on the verge of half-time. In the second half the game was made safe by a brace from Cailynn Den Bakker before a late consolation goal for the exciting Kayla de Waal.
Pool B also featured a top spot shootout between Southern Gauteng and KZN Inland after they beat Mpumalanga 5-0 and WP Pens 4-0 respectively.
Lilian du Plessis looked like she wanted to put the game to bed against the hosts with two goals in the opening 8 minutes either side of a goal by Southerns captain Robyn Johnson. Alex Kavanagh was herself having another good game as Southerns held onto the victory to see themselves secure top spot and theoretically the easier quarter final.
In the Men’s tournament it was the KZN Raiders who put their hand up highest in Pool A with a good 6-2 win over the Mynahs before running riot in a 12-0 win against KZN Inland B Side, including four goals from Keagan Robinson, back from his knee injury.
Closely behind them was Western Province who had a comfortable 6-1 win in the opening game against Witsies before having to work for a 3-2 win against a well-coached Northern Blues. Mustapha Cassiem was the hero with a final minute winner completing his brace!
In Pool B it’s a sprint for top spot between the hosts and Namibia. Namibia were in a bullish mood in the morning winning 8-1 against EP and consolidated it with a 4-1 win over Mpumalanga in the afternoon game. They sit second on goal difference to the hosts to won 4-1 against Mpumalanga and put 10 past Eastern Gauteng. Ayden Shrives and Justin Domleo both earning hat-tricks.
Tomorrow will be the final two group games before the final and semi-finals take place on Saturday.
SA Hockey Association media release
2019 South African Indoor IPT - Day 2
Results and Pool standings from the South African Indoor IPT
Men
Results 21 February
WP v SGW (Pool A) 6 - 1 (2 - 0)
NAM v EP (Pool B) 8 - 2 (6 - 1)
SG v EG (Pool B) 5 - 0 (1 - 0)
NG v KZNIB (Pool A) 8 - 1 (6 - 1)
KZNC v KZNM (Pool A) 6 - 2 (4 - 0)
MPU v KZNI (Pool B) 1 - 4 (1 - 2)
SG v EP (Pool B) 8 - 7 (3 - 2)
KZNC v KZNIB (Pool A) 12 - 0 (6 - 0)
NAM v MPU (Pool B) 4 - 1 (2 - 1)
KZNM v SGW (Pool A) 5 - 2 (3 - 0)
NG v WP (Pool A) 2 - 3 (1 - 1)
EG v KZNI (Pool B) 0 - 10 (0 - 4)
KZNM v KZNIB (Pool A) 5 - 2 (3 - 1)
SG v MPU (Pool B) 7 - 1 (4 - 0
NG v SGW (Pool A) 7 - 2 (3 - 0)
Pool standings
Pool A
| Rank | Team | Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KZN Raiders (RSA) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 5 | 18 | 9 |
| 2 | Western Province (RSA) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 9 |
| 3 | Northern Blues (RSA) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 6 |
| 4 | KZN Mynahs (RSA) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 10 | -3 | 3 |
| 5 | SG Witsies (RSA) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 16 | -10 | 0 |
| 6 | KZN Inland B (RSA) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 25 | -21 | 0 |
Pool B
| Rank | Team | Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KZN Inland A (RSA) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 15 | 9 |
| 2 | Namibia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 5 | 13 | 9 |
| 3 | Southern Gauteng (RSA) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 6 |
| 4 | Eastern Province (RSA) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 19 | -6 | 3 |
| 5 | Mpumalanga (RSA) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 12 | -7 | 0 |
| 6 | Eastern Gauteng (RSA) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 21 | -19 | 0 |
Women A Section
Results 21 February
SG v MPU (Pool B) 5 - 0 (1 - 0)
KZN v KZNM (Pool A) 3 - 1 (1 - 0)
KZNI v WPP (Pool B) 4 - 0 (3 - 0)
WP v NG (Pool A) 4 - 1 (2 - 0)
KZNM v NG (Pool A) 3 - 5 (1 - 3)
MPU v WPP (Pool B) 2 - 0 (2 - 0)
KZN v WP (Pool A) 3 - 1 (1 - 0)
SG v KZNI (Pool B) 4 - 0 (3 - 0)
Pool standings
Pool A
| Rank | Team | Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spar KZN Raiders (RSA) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| 2 | Western Province (RSA) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 6 |
| 3 | Northern Blues (RSA) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 10 | -3 | 3 |
| 4 | KZN Mynahs (RSA) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 11 | -6 | 0 |
Pool B
| Rank | Team | Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Gauteng (RSA) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 14 | 9 |
| 2 | KZN Inland (RSA) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| 3 | Mpumalanga (RSA) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 3 |
| 4 | WP Peninsula (RSA) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 12 | -11 | 0 |
Women B Section
Results 21 February
KZNR v EG (Pool A) 5 - 1 (2 - 1)
NAM v KZNIB (Pool A) 5 - 1 (1 - 0)
SGW v NW (Pool A) 0 - 2 (0 - 1)
EG v NAM (Pool A) 1 - 9 (1 - 6)
SGW v KZNR (Pool A) 3 - 3 (1 - 2)
NW v KZNIB (Pool A) 3 - 0 (0 - 0)
Pool standings
| Rank | Team | Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North West (RSA) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 9 |
| 2 | Namibia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 4 | 12 | 7 |
| 3 | KZN Robins (RSA) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 5 |
| 4 | SG Witsies (RSA) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 4 |
| 5 | KZN Inland B (RSA) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 0 |
| 6 | Eastern Gauteng (RSA) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 23 | -21 | 0 |
SA Hockey Association media release
Punjab-A, KP-A enter Pakistan's National U-19 Hockey semifinals
ISLAMABAD - Punjab-A and KP-A moved into the semifinals of the National U-19 Hockey Championship 2019 after registering contrasting victories against their respective opponents in the quarterfinals played here at Olympian Shahnaz Sheikh Stadium, Rawalpindi on Thursday.
In the first quarterfinal, Punjab-A defeated Punjab C by 4-2. Zulqarnan, Rizwan Ali, Ghazanfar Ali and Ali Raza scored a goal each for the winning team, while Muhammad Rabiaul Hassan and Abdur Rehman scored a goal each for the losers. In the second quarterfinal, Punjab-B beat Sindh-A by 2-1. Muhammad Abdullah and Abuzar scored one goal each for the winners, while Arslan Haidri scored consolation goal for Sindh-A.
In the third quarterfinal, KP-A thrashed Sindh-B by 6-0. Usman scored a superb hat-trick while Ali, Asad and Jibran Hamza scored one goal each for the winning team. In the fourth and last quarterfinal, KP-B beat Balochistan 2-1. Zareen and Ismail scored one goal each for the winning team while Younus scored the only goal for Balochistan.
The semifinals will be played tomorrow (Saturday) where Punjab-A will take on Punjab-B in the first semifinal while KP-A will vie against KP-B in the second semifinal.
The Nation
Leman receives OBE for services to hockey
Richard Leman
Seoul 1988 Olympic gold medalist Richard Leman has been recognised with an OBE, which was presented by the Prince of Wales, for his outstanding contribution to the sport after being named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2018.
Leman became President of Great Britain Hockey in 2007, spending a decade in the role, and oversaw a period of success with GB winning a first Olympic medal in 20 years, his tenure culminating in a first ever Olympic gold for England’s women at Rio 2016.
As an athlete, Leman won bronze at the 1984 Olympics before claiming World and European medals in 1986 and 1987, then going on to win gold with Great Britain at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, which was the nation’s first in the sport at that level since 1948.
Heavily active at club level, Leman spent his entire playing career with East Grinstead Hockey Club and, after retiring as an athlete, set up and became the Chairman of East Grinstead Sports Club from 2003 to 2010.
Leman played his 106th England match at the 1990 World Cup, which put made him the country’s most capped player at the time. He also represented Great Britain 70 times and won 40 further caps for England at indoor internationals. Leman retired as an athlete after that World Cup having accumulated a record 228 international appearances, winning two Olympic medals, a 1986 World Cup silver and a 1987 European bronze.
Upon being presented with an OBE by the Prince of Wales, Leman discussed his pride in being honoured: “It is a great privilege to have been awarded an OBE, but I see this as a further recognition for hockey as a sport and everything that has been achieved over the last two decades. We are very lucky to have so many capable people working and volunteering in hockey and I see a great future for all involved. Without the wonderful support from them and my family it would not have been possible for me to receive this honour and I would like to express my gratitude and thanks to them all.”
Great Britain Hockey media release