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All the news for Sunday 28 April 2019

FIH Men's Series Finals Kuala Lumpur 2019 - Day 3
Kuala Lumpur (MAS)

Results 27 April

AUT v CAN (Pool A)     1 - 2   
WAL v BLR (Pool A)     2 - 1

Upcoming matches (GMT +8)

28 Apr 2019 18:05     BRA v ITA (Pool B)
28 Apr 2019 20:05     CHN v MAS (Pool B

29 Apr 2019 14:05     CAN v BLR (Pool A)
29 Apr 2019 16:05     WAL v AUT (Pool A)
29 Apr 2019 18:05     BRA v CHN (Pool B)
29 Apr 2019 20:05     MAS v ITA (Pool B)

Live streaming and full game replay on https://fih.live (Geo blocked if there is TV coverage)

Pool standings

Pool A

 Pool B

FIH Match Centre

Canada back to winning ways

By Jugjet Singh


Austria’s Benjamin Stanzl (right) slides while attempting to block Canada’s Gordon Johnston during their match in the FIH Series Finals at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil earlier today (Saturday). (PIC BY MOHAMAD SHAHRIL BADRI SAALI)

KUALA LUMPUR: Canada waited for the right moment to pounce on Austria for a slim 2-1 win in Group A of the FIH Series Finals at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil earlier today (Saturday).

The Canadians made up for their opening disappointment of losing 3-1 to Wales, as the highest ranked team in the tournament exerted their intent on the ongoing campaign.

“We knew that if we kept pushing while being patient at the same time, we would be able to get the desired result,” said Canada’s coach Paul Bundy.

“I don’t appreciate the fact that we conceeded six penalty corners in the first half, but on the other hand, we defended well.

“Being the World no 10 team means nothing when we play determined, lower ranked teams as Wales showed. That’s why we take 15 minutes at a time, as we know that the opportunities will come.”

Canada will play Belarus in their last group match.

“We have played Belarus before and they are a defensive side unlike the Asian teams we played in the Azlan Shah Cup. It will be another tough game, but we are ready for it,” said Bundy.

Austria, who are indoor World Champions, included nine players from that team for this Series Finals.

“Austria have 12 players who play with top teams in Europe and I think they also have a top player in Benjamin Stanzl to rely on in defence.

“And their indoor players are also good in short play and that’s why it took so long to score,” said Canada skipper Scott Tupper.

James Wallace (31st) and Keegan Pereira (42nd) scored for Canada while

Leon Thornblom (53rd) delivered for the Austrians.

New Straits Times

Keegan makes the difference for Canada as they edge Austria

KUALA LUMPUR: Keegan Pereira starred for Canada in a hard-fought 2-1 win over Austria in the FIH Series Finals at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

He came alive in the last two quarters of the Group A match yesterday to set up one goal and score the other - and that earned him the man-of-the-match award.

World No. 10 Canada badly needed a win over Austria yesterday to stay in contention for a crossover semi-final spot after losing 1-3 to Wales on Friday.

But the former Pan American champions flopped in the first two quarters when they muffed up a few good chances to sound the board.World indoor champions Austria, who are tied with three points, after one win and a defeat to Canada, showed more tenacity and determination in the first half.

But a pep talk by coach Paul Bundy during the breather did the trick as the Canadian players returned with extra fire in their bellies and went on a rampage to net two goals in 11 minutes.A pass from Pereira was well taken by James Wallace as the latter slammed the ball past goalkeeper Mateusz Szymczyk in the 31st minute to put Canada in the lead.

Canada increased the lead in the 42nd minute when Pereira netted the second goal from the top of the semi-circle.

A determined Austria managed to reduce the deficit with Leon Thornblom scoring from close range in the 53rd minute but that’s as far as they went.

Bundy gave credit to Austria for playing a solid defensive game.

“Their player Benjamin Stanzl is one of the best playmakers in the tournament and he made life difficult for us,” said Bundy.

“We were lucky to win as we conceded six penalty corners in the match.

“Fortunately, we played a much smarter game in the last two quarters to collect full points,” said Bundy.

Star

Malaysia need not fear

By Jugjet Singh


Malaysia coach Roelant Oltmans knows the score all too well as he prepares his charges for the match against China tomorrow (Sunday) at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil. (PIC BY BERNAMA)

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia have nothing to fear when they square off against China in Group B at the ongoing FIH Series Finals at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil tomorrow (Sunday).

That confidence is derived from statistics from 2009 onwards, as both teams have met 12 times before, with Malaysia earning 11 wins while China have only tasted victory just once before.

Only one match went to a shoot-out, and Malaysia won that too.

However coach Roelant Oltmans and his men should leave nothing to chance, as China are wounded and would fight ferociously like a wounded tiger.

China were delivered a surprising blow when the lowest ranked team in the tournament, World No 32 Italy, shocked them to the core and beat them 2-1.

China now need to beat Malaysia as well as Brazil to keep their sights firmly on the semi-finals.

“My biggest mistake was that I did not know anything about the Italians as China’s coach, and even with South Korea, I have never played the Italians,” lamented China coach Kim Sang Ryul.

“They came at us from every corner, and I am shocked as well as surprised by their tenacity,” said the South Korean master coach.

But China as well as Sang Ryul are well versed not only with Malaysia but also the strengths and weaknesses of individual players.

“Yes (laughing), I know Malaysia very well, as I have coached China as well as South Korea against Malaysia many times.

“We know each other, and that could turn out to be an advantage or disadvantage,” said Sang Ryul.

In the three recent encounters, Malaysia won 7-1 in the Asia Cup and 5-1 in the World League semifinals.

And in the final of the Asian Cup, the match ended 2-2 and Malaysia won the shoot-out 5-3.

All those three matches were in 2017.

Malaysian coach Roelant Oltmans knows the score all too well.

“China will be coming out strongly to make up for the defeat to Italy, but like I have said many times before, this is not an easy tournament like many were predicting,” stressed Oltmans.

TODAY – GROUP B: Brazil v Italy (6.05pm, Pitch I), China v Malaysia (8.05pm, Pitch I)

New Straits Times

Wounded China willbe hard nut for Malaysia to crack

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will face their acid test when they take on wounded China in the FIH Series Finals today.

National coach Roelant Oltmans warned his players not to get carried away with the convincing 6-0 win over lowly Brazil in their Group B match on Friday.

China, who are ranked a rung lower than Malaysia at 14th in the world, were stunned 2-1 by Italy - the lowest ranked team in the tournament (32nd).

Oltmans said his boys can expect a tough match on their hands as China would definitely want to make amends and keep their Olympic qualification hopes alive.

The tournament is one of the routes to qualify for the Tokyo Games next year.

“The defeat to the Italians is not a true reflection of China’s real strength. They had a bad day on Friday,” said the Dutch coach.

“They are a formidable team and have proven themselves in the World Cup (in India last December) where they gave splendid performances to hold world No. 7 England (2-2) and world No. 10 Ireland (1-1).

“China will come charging at us and the challenge for my boys will be to keep their composure and to create our own chances on the break,” said Oltmans, who was very pleased with Malaysia’s penalty corner conversion rate against Brazil.

“Our rate was 42% which is quite good as we converted three of the seven penalty corners.

“I hope we can maintain or surpass this in our other matches,” said Oltmans, who was in a cheerful mood.

China coach Kim Sang-ryul was annoyed with his defenders.

“They made numerous errors and some players took the match lightly, and we paid the price,” said the South Korean.

“The pressure is on us to bounce back against Malaysia and stay in the hunt for a semis spot.

“It’s never easy playing Malaysia in their backyard. They have a solid team and are riding high after winning their opening match.

“They also have the psychological advantage as they have beaten us twice in the last two meetings.”

At the Dhaka World League Round Two in February, 2017, Malaysia won the final when they beat China 5-3 in the penalty shootout after both teams failed to break the 2-2 deadlock.

In the World League Semi-finals in London four months later, Malaysia won 5-1 in the group match.

The Star of Malaysia

Great Britain women claim bonus point against USA in London



Great Britain women were held to a 1-1 draw by USA in their first FIH Pro League match on home soil, but emerged with two points from a possible three after winning the shoot-out on a windy day at the Lee Valley Hockey & Tennis Centre in London.

The hosts - 3-1 winners against the Americans in Pennsylvania last month - were frustrated for long periods before Giselle Ansley opened the scoring ahead of half time, but Lauren Moyer’s third quarter strike prove to be enough to deny GB an outright victory before reserve goalkeeper Amy Tennant came off the bench to help the home favourites earn a bonus point in the one-on-ones.

The result leaves Great Britain sitting sixth in the FIH Pro League standings, although they have improved their points percentage to 33.33, narrowing the gap on fifth-placed New Zealand. Despite  earning a valuable point on the road, USA remain bottom of the table with 14.81 percent.

The best chances of what was a nervy opening quarter went the way of Great Britain (FIH World Ranking: 2), with Player of the Match Lily Owsley crafting a chance out of nothing with a surging 40 metre run that was let down by a tame shot easily cleared by USA (WR:12) goalkeeper Kelsey Bing. The American shot-stopper looked certain to concede in the final minute of period when Erica Sanders sent a fine pass across the face of the USA goal, with both Hannah Martin and Laura Unsworth perfectly positioned but somehow failing to get that crucial touch in front of goal.

The second quarter was far more even than the first, with penalty corners opportunities being wasted at both ends of the field before a dramatic final minute of the half. Giselle Ansley triggered a huge roar from the watching fans at Lee Valley when she slammed home a low, powerful penalty corner drag-flick, a lead that was almost cancelled out seconds later when Lauren Moyer had the goal at her mercy but hesitated with her shot, allowing Great Britain to take a 1-0 lead into the break.

The hosts were largely dominant in the third quarter and so nearly doubled their lead through Tessa Howard, who showed brilliant improvisation to smash a backhand volley towards the USA goal only for Bing to produce a spectacular save, diving to he left to push the ball away to safety. However, it was the Americans who levelled the scores, with Moyer on hand to tap in from close range from a second phase penalty corner.


Great Britain came closest to a winner in the final quarter when Ansley smashed a backhand effort that clipped the left corner of the goal. The hosts had been a couple of centimetres away from winning the contest, but instead now faced a shoot-out to determine which nation would claim the bonus point. 


The goalkeepers were the stars of the shoot-out, with USA’s Bing making three saves but Amy Tennant - who replaced regular time goalkeeper Sabbie Heesh for the one-on-ones - only conceded once, with goals from Tessa Howard and Anna Toman sealing a 2-1 win to give Great Britain the bonus point.

“We are disappointed as we felt like we stopped playing a little bit,” said Anna Toman after the match. “The main thing is we have to lift ourselves as a team and go out there and, thankfully, [Amy] Tennant did the job for us. A few of us scored which was really good to get the two points.” 


Reflecting on stepping into the contest from the bench specifically for the shoot-out, Great Britain goalkeeper Amy Tennant said: “It’s great being fresh. It is something I had to mentally prepare for, and I felt ready for it so that was really good."

The FIH Pro League continues on Sunday (28 April) with two matches in Germany at Mönchengladbach’s Hockeypark, with Die Danas facing China’s women before Die Honamas take on the men of Great Britain.

FIH Pro League

27 April - London, England

Result: Women’s Match 38
Great Britain 1, USA 1 (2-1 after shoot-out)
Player of the Match: Lily Owsley (GBR)
Umpires: Michelle Meister (GER), Celine Martin-Schmets (BEL) & Alison Keogh (IRL - Video)

#FIHProLeague

Official FIH Pro League Site

Britain take two points against USA in first ever FIHPL home game


Great Britain's women in the FIH Pro League

Great Britain's women came away with two points from the first ever FIH Pro League game in London.

Goalkeeper Amy Tennant's heroics in the shootout earned a bonus point, with Giselle Ansley on target in normal time in a 1-1 draw.

A 4,000-strong crowd went away with positive memories of this first ever home game, with the drama of a shootout concluding an intriguing match.

Lily Owsley was player of the match after a top drawer display, while 18-year-old Alex Malzer became the first GB international born in the 2000s.

While Mark Hager would of course have preferred all three points, it was a positive start to run of eight home games out of ten matches. Next up are China on Friday evening as his side looks for all three points on home soil.



Full report
The first shot on goal came on seven minutes as Lily Owsley went on a forceful run, but didn't fully catch her effort on the backhand.

Just before the end of the first quarter, Giselle Ansley saw a penalty corner well saved, and then Laura Unsworth couldn't quite connect as the ball flashed across the USA goal.

Into the second period and again GB went close from a corner, Jo Hunter almost deflecting goalwards. Then down the other end Unsworth and 'keeper Sabbie Heesh did well to clear Kathleen Sharkey's strike.

Britain were turning the screw, and their territory turned into a goal just before half time, Ansley slamming home the first ever FIH Pro League goal in London.

Into the third quarter, GB continued to have the upper hand, young Alex Malzer and Tess Howard both trying their luck inside the D but off target. USA had scrapped to keep the game at 1-0, and got themselves level when Lauren Moyer scored from close range from a corner.

It was Britain who looked most likely to find a winner, and Ansley was agonisingly close when hitting the angle of post and bar with only a couple of minutes to go.

With one point apiece for the draw, so it went to a shootout which ebbed and flowed dramatically. It was the USA who took first blood, and with Britain missing their first three efforts, they were hugely thankful to Amy Tennant for her heroics in goal. With Tess Howard and Anna Toman finding the net, Tennant denied Taylor West and earned Britain an important bonus point.

It was a positive end to an encouraging display from Britain, and the passionate crowd went home upbeat after this first ever FIH Pro League game in London. With China next on Friday, there is plenty of excitement ahead in this new global league.

Great Britain 1
Ansley (30', PC)

Great Britain Hockey media release
Moyer (44', PC)

Great Britain win 2-1 on shootout

GBR: Heesh (GK), Tennant (GK), Ansley, Pearne-Webb (C), Unsworth, Costello, Toman, Balsdon, Neal, Howard, Jones, Petty, Hunter, Sanders, Evans, Owsley, Malzer, Martin

Shooutout: Sanders, Pearne-Webb, Martin (all missed), Howard, Toman (scored)

Great Britain Hockey media release

USWNT Comes from Behind to Tie Olympic Champions, Falls in FIH Pro League Shootout


Image by FIH/Getty Images

LONDON, England - April 27, 2019 - A packed, nearly sold out stadium at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London, England, welcomed the No. 12 U.S. Women’s National Team to the turf to face No. 2 Great Britain. Although the hosts converted at the end of the second quarter, USA came from behind to tie the match late in the third as the game went into a shootout. USA struck first but it was Great Britain who scored in the final two rounds for a 1-2 shootout win and extra point.

Windy conditions were present throughout the match as the first quarter saw USA immediately apply a high press against Great Britain’s defense. It took a period of time for either team to get comfortable and find positive possession. The hosts tallied the first shot of the game in the 7th minute when Lily Owsley broke through two of USA’s defenders, got the ball on her backhand side and swept it toward goal, but USA’s goalkeeper Kelsey Bing (Houston, Texas) was there to make the standing save. Play was static for a period but just before the quarter break, Great Britain earned a penalty corner and a follow up attempt but found no result.

Scoreless heading into the second quarter, Great Britain continued to use their quick passing and pressure to test USA’s defense. In the 17th minute, the hosts earned a penalty corner and the drag effort went wide. The red, white and blue was quick to respond with several minutes of control as Mackenzie Allessie (Mount Joy, Pa.) worked it into the circle and grabbed a penalty corner in the 19th minute. This was followed up by two chances when Danielle Grega (Kingston, Pa.) crossed the ball that was saved over the end line and Alyssa Manley (Lititz, Pa.) picked it up at the top of the circle and her push toward goal was cleared by Great Britain’s goalkeeper Sabbie Heesh. USA continued to fight and stayed persistent as Kathleen Sharkey (Moosic, Pa.) earned a penalty corner but the initial shot and second attempt were both unsuccessful. Great Britain immediately took momentum the other way and got in the circle but Ashley Hoffman (Mohnton, Pa.) was there to make the stop. The hosts regained possession, and after a referral, earned a penalty corner. Although the first attempt was deflected over the end line, Great Britain set up for a second chance and in the 30th minute converted when Giselle Ansley sent a low drag into the right corner to give Great Britain a 0-1 lead. USA didn’t stop and in the final seconds a quick restart on a free hit outside the circle by Linnea Gonzales (Bel Air, Md.) found Lauren Moyer (York, Pa.) who was unable to get a clean shot off. The halftime score stood 0-1 to Great Britain.

Great Britain held possession for majority of the third quarter and continued to test USA’s defensive line. The first threat of the period came in the 38th minute when a hard backhand shot by Tessa Howard was saved by a diving USA goalkeeper Bing. The red, white and blue remained poised on defense and when able to work it into their attacking end made the most of their chances. In the 44th minute, the hosts were in the middle of a buildup but Anna Dessoye (Mountaintop, Pa.) picked up a slow pass and put it ahead to Moyer who earned a free it. The ball was passed to Allessie, who also earned a free hit, and a quick restart earned a penalty corner as Great Britain was not 5 yards and approached the play. Off the chance, Hoffman’s drag was blocked and the rebound follow up by Julia Young (Yorktown, Va.) went to Caitlin Van Sickle (Wilmington, Del.) who crossed it to Moyer who finished at close range to tie it at 1-1 to close out the quarter.

Any team’s game for the taking, there were multiple scoring chances that went unfinished in the final quarter. USA had two close attempts in the opening minutes when Taylor West (Princess Anne, Md.) was on the run and found Gonzales on the support who entered the circle, but her backhand shot was blocked. This was followed by Sharkey working it in on the right baseline and dumping it back to the stroke mark, but it was cleared by Great Britain. Within a 5-minute span, the hosts earned back-to-back penalty corners and a close chance when Ansley had room, got a backhand shot off that hit the upper corner of the crossbar. The final two minutes of regulations were action packed. A great intercept by Ali Froede (Burke, Va.) was sent to Amanda Magadan (Randolph, N.J.) who passed it off to Allessie. Magadan continued forward, got it back and used her strength to get a shot of that was saved by Great Britain goalkeeper Heesh. This was followed by Hannah Martin getting in the circle and being met by a solid tackle from Hoffman. USA has one final run on the left side through West, but she was unable to get a shot off as the game went into a shootout.

Per the FIH Pro League structure, each team earns one point for the tie but the winner of the shootout earns an additional point. The first round saw Bing come up with a great save while Sharkey converted to put USA up 1-0. Neither team produced in the second and third rounds. In the fourth round, Great Britain’s Howard found the back of the goal to tie it at 1-1 and Magadan scored against Great Britain's goalkeeper Amy Tennant but time had already expired when the ball crossed the goal line. Great Britain’s Anna Toman beat Bing to make it 1-2 as all pressure was on West as USA’s final shooter, but she did not score.

Following the match, Owsley was named Player of the Match.

The U.S. Women’s National Team has their final FIH Pro League game in Europe this Tuesday, April 30 when they travel to Mönchengladbach to play No. 5 Germany at 1:30 p.m. ET.

USFHA media release

Great Britain earn extra point after Amy Tennant heroics

By The Hockey Paper


Lily Owsley moves forward for Great Britain against USA ©: Frank Uijlenbroek / World Sport Pics

Great Britain came away with two points from the first women’s FIH Pro League game in London – but this would have felt like a point dropped. Giselle Ansley was on target with a well-directed first-half penalty corner, before Lauren Moyer slotted home from a PC in the second-half. Amy Tennant’s efforts in the shoot-out culminated in four USA misses, while Tess Howard and Anna Toman kept their cool late on after early GB failures.

Debut display

With only four Rio Olympians on show, Alex Malzer, an 18-year-old from Sussex, was the latest to receive a debut cap. An EDP graduate, Malzer looked far from nervous, with several neat touches and flicks as well as some incisive tackles.


Alex Malzer, left, enjoyed a superb debut PIC: England Hockey

“She played pretty well for her first game. She is an exciting young player,” admitted coach Mark Hager. “She made some errors but she also made some fantastic steals and she will get better with each game.”

Owsley on the prowl

Lily Owsley‘s Pro League form has been undeniable. Wherever she’s played across the globe, she has produced some eye-catching performances. On Saturday, she once again shone with her central runs and dribbling. But for all her efforts, it felt that her telling runs weren’t being finished with the required results. “Lily was good again and created a lot of our attacks and we have to support her more,” admitted Hager.

Turnover ball

Great Britain slowly took control of the match in the first-half and USA never looked threatening. In the third quarter, GB squeezed the visitors and looked far more composed going forward, with long spells of possession play and swift interchanging. Yet, they were guilty of losing the ball on several occasions and USA pounced via a penalty corner, which GB couldn’t clear.
Calm shoot-out heads

Step forward Amy Tennant, who took over from Sabbie Heesh in the GB goal. GB missed their first three attempts and the signs didn’t look good. But Tennant stood her ground brilliantly while Howard and Toman both looked assured. Even though this was for a bonus point, GB’s celebrations almost made this look like a tournament knock out win. Could this be the catalyst now for GB?


©: Frank Uijlenbroek / World Sport Pics

What’s next?

Sunday: Germany men v Great Britain

Friday: Great Britain women v China

Hager said: “China will be a tough team, they’re getting better with each game. They’ve had some good results of late so they’ll be a tough team to play.”

After nearly two years away, we are back as a regular print product for readers – and we need your help to keep growing.

Our concept was first conceived thanks to several meetings and plenty of laughs with respected journalist Graham Wilson, who sadly passed away before the first issue was published.

And it is now a thrill to return subscription-only as we chart GB’s Olympic defence ahead of Tokyo 2020 next year.

The relaunch is again in Graham’s memory. We hope you can join us on the journey.

The Hockey Paper

Great Britain claim shootout bonus point against USA

Great Britain's women had to settle for a shootout bonus point after they were held to a 1-1 draw by the United States in the FIH Pro League in London.

The Olympic champions led through Giselle Ansley before Lauren Moyer levelled for USA.

Britain's first three one-on-ones - taken by Erica Sanders, Hollie Pearne-Webb and Hannah Martin - were saved.

But Tess Howard and Anna Toman scored and keeper Amy Tennant saved three one-on-ones as GB won the shootout 2-1.

USA, ranked 12 in the world, took a point from the tie, while GB claim two for winning the shootout.

Britain, playing their first Pro League match at home, beat USA in March in what remains their only victory from seven games in the tournament.

They also have two draws and two shootout bonus points, leaving them seventh in the table, above only China and USA.

Britain play their next three matches at home. They play China on Friday before facing Argentina on 18 May and Belgium on 19 May.

In the inaugural FIH Pro League season, eight men's and nine women's teams play home and away fixtures, with the top four in each league progressing to the Grand Final stage.

The top four teams also earn a place in the two-legged Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifiers, but Great Britain are seventh out of nine in the women's standings.

BBC Sport

What did Mark Hager make of the women's team's performance?


Mark Hager and Great Britain's women in the FIH Pro League

Head Coach Mark Hager had reasons to be optimistic after his team's two points against the USA - but admitted he would have much preferred all three.

Mark led the women's side for the first time on home soil, seeing his team pick up two points; one for the 1-1 draw and then an extra bonus point for a 2-1 shootout victory.

He said, "It was good in the end to get the win in the shootout, but disappointing how we let the US get back into it.

"We should have been a couple up by half-time but we weren’t quite clinical enough in that area. In the second half we lost shape, we lost what we were trying to do.

"It’s good to get two points, although I would have preferred three. But the crowd were fantastic, the support was very good.

"From my point of view we’ve got to play better hockey for consistent periods, we need to be smarter when we do and don’t have the ball. There’s a few areas we need to look at closely to make sure we’re better next time."

After six games across the globe, it was great for Mark's players to be back on home soil and he commented, "They were pretty happy to be home at last. The first five or six minutes they were a bit nervous, a bit tentative but then once we got into the game in the first half we were quite good. But for some reason we kept turning the ball over too much."

Next up now is China at home on Friday evening, with Hager's side looking for all three points."China will be a tough team, they’re getting better with each game. They’ve had some good results of late so they’ll be a tough team to play."

Great Britain Hockey media release

Ansley on FIHPL result, her goal and the role of the crowd


Giselle Ansley in the FIH Pro League for Great Britain's women

Goalscorer Giselle Ansley reflects on the first ever FIHPL home game in London....

On the result:
“I’m pleased to come away with two points rather than none, but obviously a bit disappointed we let a 1-0 lead slip. But credit to the girls who stood up in the shootout and finished it off for us.”

On her goal:
“I guess scoring is my job for the team so I should be scoring, that’s what I’m meant to be doing when I’m stood at the top of the circle! It always gives you a bit more confidence when the ball goes in and hopefully there’ll be plenty more of those to come.”

On the crowd:
“We come here after being on the road where there’s not really anyone cheering for you, then coming here there’s thousands of people and it makes a huge difference and gives you that extra bit of energy. It’s a prou

Great Britain Hockey media release

China and Spain next up in London for Great Britain's teams


Great Britain's women in the FIH Pro League

The FIH Pro League continues apace with two games over the first weekend in May:

Friday 3 May: GBR women vs China, 7:30pm
Saturday 4 May: GBR men vs Spain, 12pm

Both games take place at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, with world class hockey and a great day out for fans of all ages.

Tickets start from only £5 to see our Olympians in action.

As well as watching the best players in the world you can also:

-Play on the pitch after the game
-Get autographs and selfies with the players following the match
-Enjoy top class food & drink and exclusive GB retail

To secure your seat, go to http://hockey.seetickets.com

Great Britain Hockey media release

Gripping finale to Investec Women’s Masters Championship Finals


Investec Women's Masters Championship Finals

The Investec Women’s Masters Championship Finals came to a gripping conclusion at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre with the matches being played around Great Britain’s women’s FIH Pro League match against the USA.

In the first match of the day, Canterbury comfortably defeated Bretforton in the Investec Women’s Over 45s T2 Championships Final. Leading 2-0 at the half-time break, thanks to goals from Jackie Laird and Nikki Triggs, Canterbury’s dominance continued into the second-half.

Triggs bagged her brace in the 50th minute before Wendy Cameron finished off a well-worked field goal with just over ten minutes remaining. Erian Fox put the icing on the cake by converting from a penalty corner in the last minute of play to seal a 5-0 victory and the trophy for Canterbury.

More goals followed in the second match of the day as Sutton Coldfield defeated St Albans 3-2 to lift the Investec Women’s Over 45s T1 Final trophy in a dramatic match.

Sutton Coldfield took a slender 1-0 lead with just over half-an-hour played, an advantage that was cut shortly into the second-period. With the scores level, a quick double from the Midlands side put them in the driving seat and, despite St Albans pulling one back with just under ten minutes remaining, was enough to secure a 3-2 victory.


Sutton

Following a dramatic FIH Pro League match that saw Great Britain dramatically top the USA in a shootout, Canterbury met Trojans on Pitch 1 at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in the Investec Women’s Over 35s T1 Masters Finals.

After the success of the Over 45s earlier in the day, it was to be another victory for the team from Kent as Canterbury put their opposition to the sword with a 3-0 victory, Mel Clewlow scoring in between a Moira Clewes brace.


Canterbury Masters

Epsom emphatically defeated Oxford Hawks 5-0 in the Investec Women’s Over 35s T3 Final. Three goals inside ten first-half minutes put Epsom in a commanding position and they looked unstoppable from that point onwards as Oxford struggled to find a way through a resilient defence.

An additional two strikes in the second-half from Jude King and Georgina Sydenham, who scored in both halves, added gloss to the score as the team from Surrey lifted the trophy.


Oxford

In the final match of the day Ipswich narrowly defeated St Albans 1-0 in a well-fought encounter in the Investec Women’s Over 35s T2 Masters Final.

Captain Sarah Bamfield scored the only goal of the match with twenty minutes on the clock as her side defended well to secure the title and bring a close to the day's action.


Ipswich Masters

England Hockey Board Media release

Goals, goals, goals as Grange and Grove Menzieshill book their men’s Scottish Cup Final places



The men’s Scottish Cup final will be a huge match-up between Grange and Grove Menzieshill after both put in goalscoring displays to ease through the semi-finals.

It was a lightning start to the match for Grove Menzieshill against Edinburgh University and they were rewarded by two early goals. The first came from an Aidan McQuade penalty corner that was perfectly placed into the bottom right corner. This was followed up by a powerful shot by Luke Cranney after some good work by Ben Cosgrove to make it 2-0.

Grove Menzieshill continued to attack in waves and a lovely turn and shot in the D by Ben Wilson made it 3-0. Before long it was 4-0 and McQuade bagged his second with a drag flick that found its way through the goalkeeper on the line.

Jamie Golden struck a fifth for the Taysiders just before half time.

Edinburgh University started the second half well and managed to pull one back through Jack Jamieson.

The result was never in doubt and the scoring was completed near the end when Cammy Golden popped up at the far post for a tap in to make it 6-1.

Grange were on top form against Western Wildcats and struck the net eight times in a great performance.

Robbie Shepherdson opened the scoring with a powerful low shot to make it 1-0. He nearly had a second when his penalty corner struck the bar.

Grange wouldn’t be denied a second for long and it was Dan Coultas who sent a drag flick that was deflected into the net by Duncan Riddell. 

Western Wildcats stepped up to the challenge and pulled the contest back to 2-2. First Rob Harwood scored at the second attempt from a penalty corner and Adam McKenzie then struck the equaliser.

Jacob Tweedie got the final touch on a Riddell shot to make it 3-2 to Grange before Coultas again with a drag flick struck to make it 4-2.

Into the second half and Fraser Calder sent a fierce reverse shot into the roof of the net to pull it back to 4-3 before Coultas completed his hat-trick for Grange to go 5-3 ahead. 

Further goals from Frank Ryan; Alan Johnston; and Cammie Fraser made it 8-3 at full time and a fine performance from Grange.
 
Full results

Men’s Scottish Cup semi-finals

Edinburgh University 1-6 Grove Menzieshill
Grange 8-3 Western Wildcats

Men’s Scottish Plate semi-finals

Highland 2-2 (1-0) Granite City Wanderers
Dunfermline Carnegie 8-2 University of St Andrews

Men’s District Cup semi-finals

Grove Menzieshill 2s 2-2 (2-3) Kelburne 2s
Grange 2s 2-0 Watsonians 2s 

Men’s District Plate semi-finals

University of St Andrew’s 2s 1-6 Glasgow University 2s
Fidra Lions 0-9 Hillhead 2s

Men’s Reserve Cup semi-finals

Grange 3s 2-2 (3-1) Hillhead 3s
Grange 4s 3-1 Kelburne 3s

Men’s Reserve Plate semi-finals

Western Wildcats 3s 5-0 Clydesdale 3s
Kelburne 4s 2-1 Glasgow University 3s

Scottish Hockey Union media release

Franchise league for hockey promised

Incumbent Bangladesh Hockey Federation general secretary Abdus Sadeque said on Saturday he will launch a franchise-based league if he is elected on April 29 elections.

Sadeque is leading a panel in the elections that are facing a strong challenge from a panel led by Mohammedan Sporting Club councillor AKM Mominul Haque Shaeed.

Shaeed-led panel already unveiled an ambitious plan for hockey, throwing a big challenge for their rivals to come up with an equally good promise.

Sadeque said their panel will roll out an election manifesto on Sunday evening, around a 12- hour before the voting starts.

‘If we can win in the elections, we will run franchise-based league for hockey,’ Sadeque told New Age, adding that they were confident of a win.

‘In our manifesto, what we will announce at Dhaka Club on Sunday evening, our priority will be spreading out the game at grassroots level, ‘said Sadeque.

‘Among our other visionary targets, those we have set up, we will send three national teams - Senior, Under-21, and Under-18 – for higher international training.

We will extend programmes for women’s hockey to confirm female team enters into the international stage. We will also run indoor hockey in the country,’ Sadeque said.

The opponent panel, led by Shaeed, pledged to ‘save the hockey’ and prepare Bangladesh team to play in the semi-final stage in the Asian Hockey 2025.

They also promised to help Bangladesh qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

The elections were originally scheduled on April 8, but the election commissioner postponed it following a High Court rule over a councillorship of Shishu Kishore Sangha representative Taraque A Adil.

Taraque A Adil was allowed to run in the elections as the appellate division on April 23 stayed an order issued by the High Court in this regard.

National Sports Council announced the revised elections schedule on April 11 and some 12 councillors from Shaeed-led panel withdrew their candidacy from several posts on April 16.

Following their withdrawals, there remained 56 candidates - including one independent vice-president candidate.

Shaeed-led panel gave 25 candidates, including 16 executive members, to run in the election while Sadeque-led panel gave 30 candidates with 21 executive member aspirants.

New Age

Former Olympians lament step-motherly treatment towards national sport hockey

Pakistan hockey Olympian Hasan Sardar has said that Pakistan’s national game of hockey is country’s identity across the globe, urging the government to pay attention towards its appalling condition. Expressing support for the accountability of the federation authorities, Sardar, while speaking to the media here Saturday, said that accountability of all should be done. “Everyone should be held accountable but our focus should be on promoting the national sport. A positive message to the world will be disseminated due to Uzbekistan’s team arrival in Pakistan. The other teams should also be invited to Pakistan,” he added.

He was well supported by former Olympian Tauqeer Dar, who said: “Either provide hockey with funds or stop the game that has won three Olympics and four World Cups for Pakistan.” He said apart from the national hockey federation, all the Olympians also need to play their roles. “Attention should also be paid to the Dar and the Rana Zaheer Academies in Lahore.” He also suggested that hockey should be made once again made a part of the curriculum. “Restoring hockey in the educational institutions is important. We all made it to the national teams from our hockey school. School hockey has ended now. It will be difficult to improve the things without a revamp of the system.” Tauqeer said that the cricket ‘virus’ has already affected the national game hockey, while the government is also not paying attention to it. “Unlike cricket, hockey is not played in 10-12 countries. It is an Olympic sport, which is popular in more than 136 countries. The present condition, if not improved, will push us back making it impossible to revive Pakistan’s hockey. The cricket ‘virus’ has already brought a great deal of loss to the national game, since now only a few people are striving to save the game, so please pay attention towards it,” said Tauqeer.

The Daily Times