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All the news for Sunday 2 June 2019

2019 FIH Pro League (Men) - 2 June

2 Jun 2019 13:30 (GMT +2)     BEL v GER (RR)     Wilrijkse Plein Antwerp, Antwerp
2 Jun 2019 16:00 (GMT +2)     NED v GBR (RR)     HC Oranje-Rood, Eindhoven

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

FIH Match Centre

2019 FIH Pro League (Women)

1 Jun 2019 18:00     NED v GBR (RR)     2 - 0     HC Oranje-Rood, Eindhoven
1 Jun 2019 19:00     USA v NZL (RR)     0 - 3     Spooky Nook Sports, Lancaster
2 Jun 2019 15:30     BEL v GER (RR)     Wilrijkse Plein Antwerp, Antwerp
2 Jun 2019 16:00     CHN v AUS (RR)     Wujin Hockey Stadium, Changzhou

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

Unofficial Pool Standings

The FIH inexplicably and confusingly use a system not used in any other sports League in the World, of making the Percentage more important than Points until the end of the League when they will revert to Points only. Fieldhockey.com prefers to use the conventional Points and so the Unofficial Pool Standings on this site are reflected in this manner.

FIH Match Centre

Netherlands press all the right buttons to beat battling Great Britain



A combination of goals from Frederique Matla and Marijne Veen and a highly successful press were enough to give the Netherlands their ninth victory in the FIH Pro League and move them even closer to securing a place in the FIH Pro League Grand Finals at the end of June.

The result leaves the Netherlands at the top of the FIH Pro League table with an 88.89% win rate. Great Britain remain in seventh place, with a win rate of 30.56%, ahead of China, who play tomorrow (2 June) and USA.

A full house of predominantly orange-clad fans were rocking the stadium in Eindhoven as Great Britain (FIH World Ranking:2) stepped up to take on the might of a full strength Netherlands (WR:1) team.

Alyson Annan and her team were looking for a ninth win in the FIH Pro League to move them a step nearer to qualifying for the FIH Pro League Grand Final in Amstelveen at the end of the month. Before the match was even underway, her words would have sent a shudder through the Great Britain supporters. “This is the first time we have had every player available for the Pro League, so I am very excited about what the squad can achieve today and what this summer holds for us,” said the Head Coach.

Great Britain’s Head Coach Mark Hager said his team had been through some “soul searching” after their 4-1 defeat at the hands of Belgium earlier in the week and they would be looking to put in a good performance against the world number one side. But, he conceded, this was going to be a very tough match for a team that has shown inconsistent form over the course of the competition - with just two wins from 11 matches.

That said it was Great Britain who started slightly the stronger, winning the first penalty corner of the match. The shot eluded Anne Veenendaal in the Dutch goal but the ball was blocked on the line by Marloes Keetels.

That was the wake up call that Netherlands needed and with just three minutes left before the quarter break, Player of the Match Frederique Matla put her side ahead after she latched onto a cross from Malou Pheninckx and slotted the ball neatly into the corner of Sabbie Heesh’s goal.

While the Netherlands have been firing in numerous goals over the course of their Pro League campaign, a less commented upon but equally important factor to their success has been their disciplined defence and it was on full display here. Despite Great Britain having a good amount of possession, the wall of orange shirts meant the visiting side had no forward options against the press.

The second goal for the Netherlands came off the back of that solid defence. A steal in midfield saw Margot van Geffen speed down the right-side of the pitch. Van Geffen’s cross hit a Great Britain foot and the ball sprang up for Marijn Veen to slap home.

Caia van Maasakker nearly made it three as her trade-mark drag flick penalty corner was heading goalwards. Giselle Ansley was on hand to bat the ball off the goal-line, keeping the score to 2-0 going into the break.

“I was happy with how we played but we were punished for two defensive errors. If we can keep those to a minimum then we can stay in this game,” was Hager’s verdict at half-time.

The second half saw the game pattern continue in the same vein. Great Britain had a greater share of possession but were unable to do anything meaningful with it. The Dutch in comparison, worked to make sure every turnover resulted in a shot at goal.

Matla nearly doubled her tally as she burst into the Great Britain circle but fired wide and seconds later Xan de Waard cruised into the circle with effortless guile, displaying a range of 3D skills before winning her side a penalty corner, that ultimately yielded no reward.

The third quarter saw no further goals although Tessa Howard came close to halving the deficit when she fired a speculative backhand at Veenendaal’s goal. The Netherland’s keeper was up to the challenge and palmed it to safety.

The final quarter saw the world number one side up the pressure from the first whistle. Lidewij Welten, who had a quiet game by her own standards, wove a web around the Great Britain defence but her shot flew just wide. Seconds earlier and Lauren Stam had also been creating havoc in the circle but her ingenuity on the ball also came to nothing.

Unusually for the Netherlands, the penalty corner routines were not firing. A total of seven penalty corners were won but neither the fire power of van Maasakker or the many variations available to Annan’s team yielded any goals.

With five minutes left, Hager removed his goalkeeper. Great Britain’s attacking power was further enhanced when Maria Verschoor was sent from the field for five minutes for a clumsy tackle. The teams set up for a very different game – Netherlands looking to defend in numbers and Great Britain seeking that all-important breakthrough.

It is perhaps a measure of where these two teams currently stand that the Netherlands saw out the passage of play with some disciplined defence and passing play, while Great Britain lost possession too early and too easily as they pushed for a goal.

“Our performance today was better than against Belgium," said captain of Great Britain Hollie Pearne-Webb. "Two mistakes really cost us but it was a much better performance than against Belgium. We can’t afford to make those mistakes but we will learn from that again.”

Frederique Matla said: “It was an exciting game and good to get back together as a squad, after we have all been playing each other in club hockey. We came together very well. We had a new press and that was what we were getting used to. That went well but we must analyse it and get better.”

The busy weekend of FIH Pro League action continues as USA welcome New Zealand to the Spooky Nook Sports Complex in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (19:00 EST). Then on Sunday 2 June, China women play host to Austrailia in Changzhou (16:00 CST). The action then returns to European soil as Belgium men play Germany (13:30 CET), Netherlands men face Great Britain (16:00 CET) and Belgium women take on Germany (15:30 CET).

FIH Pro League

1 June - Eindhoven, Netherlands
Result: Women’s Match 51


Netherlands 2, Great Britain 0

Player of the Match: Frederique Matla (NED)

Umpires: Laurine Delforge (BEL), Michelle Meister (GER) and Jakub Mejzlik (CZE - video)

Official FIH Pro League Site

Netherlands take deserved win but encouraging signs for women


Great Britain's women in the FIH Pro League

Netherlands took a deserved 2-0 win over Britain's women in the FIH Pro League in Eindhoven, although Mark Hager's side will have been boosted by a spirited display, particularly in the second half.

Britain started well and fashioned an early corner, but Frederique Matla scored with a nice finish inside the first quarter to break the deadlock. When Marijn Veen made it two in the second quarter, it looked like the all-conquering Dutch would go on to score more, but Britain proved stoic in the face of pressure.

While not creating the chances they would have liked, Britain had good passages of play and dug in against the strongest XI that the Dutch have yet fielded in the league so far.

Qualification for the top four looks like it may now be a step too far in this first ever FIH Pro League season, but there were positives signs for our women on the road - and an honourable mention must go to Sarah Evans for her 100th international appearance.

Captain Hollie Pearne-Webb said, "The performance was 100% better than when we played Belgium on Thursday, which is a massive positive. But, we made two mistakes and they cost us. At the top level we've got to cut them out but overall it was much better."

Full report

Britain started well in Eindhoven, and Grace Balsdon forced the Dutch to defend well from the first penalty corner of the game as Marloes Keetels stopped her goalbound effort on the line. Down the other end, Lidewij Welten was an early threat on the reverse but Sabbie Heesh saved well.

Soon though the Dutch found their rhythm, and Frederique Matla finished expertly with 12 minutes gone after Malou Pheninckx did well down the right. Then not long after the quarter break, with Britain down to ten players, Marijn Veen doubled the advantage with a very cute finish after a cross was deflected by a British defender. Britain had their moments in the first half but couldn't cut through decisively, and Heesh saved from a Dutch corner not long before the break.

After a delayed start to the second half, the game lost a little of its urgency and cutting edge; Heesh well placed to prevent Welten from scoring a third from a corner. Balsdon then had a sight of goal from a corner but the Dutch stood very firm. Moments later Tess Howard stung the palms of the home 'keeper as Britain ended the quarter positively.

Into the final quarter and again Britain's defence did well to repel Dutch corners early on in the period. Laura Unsworth then had a sight of goal for Mark Hager's side, but shot wide from a narrow angle. With five minutes to go, Britain dispensed with goalkeeper Heesh in search of a goal, but the chance unfortunately never came.

Netherlands deserved to win, but Hager's women will have been boosted by their display of resilience, especially in the second half.

Netherlands 2
Matla (12' FG)
Veen (19' FG)

Great Britain 0

Great Britain: Heesh, Costello, Balsdon, Unsworth, Toman, Ansley, Pearne-Webb (c), Robertson, Jones, Neal, Petty, Sanders, Defroand, Hunter, Evans, Howard, Martin
Unused: Cochrane

Great Britain Hockey media release

Great Britain women outclassed by Netherlands


Marijn Veen (fourth from left) celebrates scoring the Netherlands' second goal

Great Britain further damaged their hopes of reaching the FIH Pro League last four after a 2-0 loss to fellow Rio 2016 finalists the Netherlands.

The women are now seventh from nine teams with the top four assured of a place in June's semi-finals.

The Dutch looked dangerous in attack throughout the match and took the lead when Frederique Matla swept in.

Marijn Veen then tapped in from close range for the world number one side and current Pro League leaders.

Great Britain's next match is against Germany on Friday, 7 June at 19:30 BST. The men play the Netherlands in Eindhoven at 15:00 BST on Sunday.

BBC Sport

Black Sticks keep Grand Final hopes alive with 3-0 win over USA



New Zealand continue to push for a place at the FIH Pro League Grand Finals, which take place at the end of June, as they beat USA to record a fifth win out of 12 games.

The Black Sticks, with new Head Coach Graham Shaw in charge, put on a display of tireless running, incisive passing and hard-working defence. USA for their part were equally industrious all over the pitch and created many scoring chance – finishing was the key difference between the two teams.

This was a meeting of two end-to-end teams who could be relied on to leave absolutely everything on the pitch. The FIH Pro League match between USA (FIH World Ranking:12) and New Zealand (WR:6) had all the makings of a physically demanding and uncompromising encounter. The host nation are renowned for their work rate and resilience, while their opponents have a speedy attack that, when at its best, is one of the best in the world.

Graham Shaw, fresh from leading Ireland women to silver at the Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup, has had just two weeks with his team but said he was impressed by the fantastic work rate of the players, particularly Black Sticks captain Stacey Michelsen. In a pre-match interview Shaw said he was looking for a “big game” from Michelesen, and the New Zealand stalwart answered the call in some style, winning Player of the Match for her efforts.

For USA Head Coach Janneke Schopman it has been a difficult preparation period as the team has lost some players through injury in recent days. The Dutch coach said she was very aware of the danger posed by their opponents: “New Zealand are one of the most dangerous teams in the world. They attack very well but they leave gaps in defence so we will be looking to exploit that.”

The last time the two teams met in the FIH Pro League, New Zealand won 3-1. This time around, New Zealand needed the win in order to keep their hopes of reaching the FIH Pro League Grand Final alive.

With that aim in mind, New Zealand were nearly off the mark early in the game when they won their first penalty corner but Alyssa Manley was on hand to calmly clear off the line.

As the quarter played out, New Zealand began to spray the ball all over the pitch. Architect of many moves was Michelesen and the midfielder was able to find Olivia Merry, Rose Keddell and Alia Jacques deep in the USA defence with some visionary passes.

For their part, USA were looking for quick turnovers and the speed they moved the ball up the pitch was enough to cause consternation among the higher-ranked team’s defence. Grace O’Hanlon was called on to come out and meet the play on several occasions.

The deadlock was broken midway through the second quarter when Tarryn Davey fired in a reverse stick shot and it pinged into the goal past a wrong-footed Kelsey Bing in the USA goal.

USA went straight back into the attack but found the New Zealand defence in obstinate mood as they got bodies back behind the ball no matter what USA threw at them.

Captain Kat Sharkey thought she had scored the equaliser but the shot was judged to have been dangerous and New Zealand maintained their advantage into the half-time break.

“It is a game that we expected,” was Schopman’s assessment of the first half. “New Zealand want to go forward and we are dealing with that. We have created opportunities ourselves. I think both teams are scared of each other’s counter attacking abilities but we need to have confidence in our own skills and attack that defence a bit more.”

In fact it was New Zealand who found the gap in the USA defence just one minute into the second half. Michelsen took the ball into the USA circle and her reverse stick shot forced a save from Bing. Shiloh Gloyn was able to pounce on the rebound and tap home.

Despite the two-goal deficit, USA didn’t stop playing their quick, attacking style. Margaux Paolino and Mackenzie Allessie were particularly active down the USA left side. The problem was finishing, something which has been USA’s downfall for much of their Pro League campaign.

USA’s quest for goals was not helped by the fact that O’Hanlon was in sparkling form in the Black Sticks’ goal. Her most agile save involved a double save from a penalty corner towards the end of the third quarter. Over the course of a goalmouth scramble, the keeper had to save low to her left before twisting 180 degrees to save the rebound as it went to her right.

The final 15 minutes saw both teams ramp up the pace as USA continued to push for goals and New Zealand responded to the rise in intensity levels.

Olivia Merry added a third goal and extended her position as top scorer in the FIH Pro League with nine goals in total. The goal was beautifully created by Michelesen, who sprinted with the ball out of her own defence before releasing a pass that led to Merry finding herself in possession with only the ‘keeper to beat. Merry was calmness personified as she finished a move that was straight out of the top drawer of hockey.

“It was really important for us to focus on counter-attacking and we did that today,” said Michelsen. “A huge part of our game is understanding the options ahead of us.”

“We have worked hard on maintaining the focus on the game,” she said, explaining how the team has retained focus despite the recent coaching changes. “We wanted to do better in the second half of the Pro League because we didn’t start well.”

A busy weekend of FIH Pro League action continues on Sunday 2 June as China host in-form Australia in Changzhou. Later the same day the action switches to Europe as Belgium host Germany in a double header – the men's match takes place at 13:30 CET, with the women's match at 15:30pm. In Eindhoven, Netherlands men play host to Great Britain men. That match takes place at 16:00 CET.

FIH Pro League
1 June Lancaster, USA
Result: Women’s Match 52

USA 0, NZL 3
Player of the Match: Stacey Michelsen (NZL)
Umpires: Celine Martin-Schmets (BEL), Jung Hee Kim (KOR) and Ayanna McClean (TTO - video)

#FIHProLeague

Official FIH Pro League Site

Black Sticks Women clinical in win over USA



The United States were coming off their best performance to date in the FIH Pro League after beating China and were looking to build on this performance against the Vantage Black Sticks Women who were looking to impress in Graham Shaws first match in charge of the national side.

The Vantage Black Sticks Women have put together a complete performance to secure a 3-0 win over the USA Women. The New Zealand side put themselves in front early in the match and never took their foot off the throttle as they didn’t allow the USA team any significant chances to get themselves back into the match.

Stacey Michelsen commented after the match “We were able to get in behind the opposition and executed well tonight in the front third of the field. The next few games are going to be important if we are going to make the top four and grand final weekend”.

The Vantage Black Sticks started the match confidently going forward with good numbers and looking to put the United States Women under immense pressure at the back. The New Zealand Women earned the first penalty corner of the match and used a different variation, however the United States defender was up to the challenge and pulled off a spectacular goal line save. After one quarter the two sides couldn’t be separated, the kiwi women enjoyed a great deal of possession and circle entries but couldn’t turn this into a scoreboard pressure.

The New Zealand side started the second quarter with good confidence and not allowing the United States Women much space to get the ball out of their half. Eventually the Black Sticks were able to turn this possession and territory into an outcome when Tarryn Davey put a nice reverse pass across the goal which clipped a United States stick and past Kelsey Bing in goal. The United States were able to regroup and apply some pressure themselves as the quarter wore on. The kiwi defence was solid and managed to keep their one goal lead heading into the second half.

New Zealand started the second half in a positive fashion and were rewarded when Stacey Michelsen put a reverse pass across the goal where Shiloh Gloyn deflected through the United States goalkeepers legs. The US found some reserves in the third quarter and applied some significant pressure on the Vantage Black Sticks Women. The New Zealand team managed to scramble in defence and keep the USA team scoreless as we entered into the final quarter.

The Vantage Black Sticks looked to secure the win when Olivia Merry received a great cross pass from Rose Keddell, Merry kept her composure and swept the ball into the goal. The Black Sticks then tightened up their defence as they looked to keep the USA team off the score sheet and secure the 3-0 win.

Vantage Black Sticks Women 3 (Tarryn Davey 20 min, Shiloh Gloyn 31 min, Olivia Merry 51 min)

United States Women 0

Hockey New Zealand Media release

New Zealand Tops USWNT for Second Time in FIH Pro League



LANCASTER, Pa. – The U.S. Women’s National Team opened up the month of June with their fourth consecutive home game in the FIH Pro League. Looking to build off the momentum of their first win just two weeks ago, USA faced No. 6 New Zealand for the second time. The two squads tested each other early and often inside the circle in the opening 15 minutes, but the Blacks Sticks were able to score once in each remaining quarter to take the match 3-0.

Danielle Grega (Kingston, Pa.) opened the game with a quick-footed attempt to get inside the circle but was met by Brooke Neal to take away the opportunity. New Zealand responded with their first penalty corner in the third minute after a takeaway near midfield. The initial shot was stopped by Alyssa Manley (Lititz, Pa.) in the goalmouth before Holly Pearson made a second attempt that gave  Kelsey Bing (Houston, Texas) her first save of the night. After a green card was issued to Taylor West (Princess Anne, Md.) in the 5th minute, the Black Sticks looked to take advantage with a cross by Kirsten Pearce who was looking for a tip in but was stopped by the stick of Mary Beth Barham (Fairfax, Va.). Moments later, after an intercept near midfield by Margaux Paolino (Villanova, Pa.), Mackenzie Allessie (Mount Joy, Pa.) found a scoring chance in front of the goal but could not lift the ball over the pads of goalkeeper Grace O’Hanlon.

New Zealand threatened with multiple entries to open the second quarter which included a quick reverse shot by Pearson that was but was halted by Ashley Hoffman (Mohnton, Pa.). Still on offense, Tarryn Davey took a reverse shot on the line of the circle in the 20th minute. Bing made the initial save but a high bounce went in to the goal. USA asked for a video referral on the play saying the shot came from outside the circle, but was upheld as New Zealand took a 1-0 lead. After multiple chances by Paolino and Kathleen Sharkey (Moosic, Pa.), USA set up for another penalty corner in the 24th minute where Sharkey appeared to score a tying goal for USA, but New Zealand called for a referral who argued the shot was deemed dangerous. The video umpire agreed and the goal was waived off, keeping the score 1-0 which would extend in to the half.

Alia Jaques opened up the third quarter on a tip in goal to extend New Zealand’s lead. USA responded with another penalty corner attempt where Sharkey was stopped by O’Hanlon. USA would test the Black Sticks’ goalkeeper again seconds later with a try by Manley but could not connect on the cross by Grega. Back and forth play ensued that included two more penalty corners by USA whcih were again denied by O’Hanlon and her supporting defensive unit. New Zealand began the final 15 minutes with two fast entries and a penalty corner which saw Amy Robertson stretch along the post, but her attempt hit the outside of the net. In the 51st minute however, Olivia Merry, who leads the women’s FIH Pro League in goals, tallied one more for New Zealand as she found herself one-on-one with Bing. The USA goalkeeper was forced to charge to block off the angle, colliding with Merry but was still able to hit the ball in to the goal while falling down for the 3-0 advantage. USA kept up the grit in the final minutes but could not find any more chances as they ran in to a conservative opposition that waited out the clock.

“I think we played really well the first three quarters," said USA captain Sharkey after the game. "New Zealand is a really strong team in their counter attack. You need to be turned on in every single one of those moments or they are going to capitalize.”

Following the game, New Zealand captain Stacey Michelsen was named Player of the Match for assisting on two of her squad's goals.

The U.S. Women’s National Team will travel for their final away game of the FIH Pro League on Saturday, June 15 when they play No. 10 China in Changzhou.

USFHA media release

Women's Black Sticks thrash USA 3-0 with superb finishing, as finals beckon


Stacey Michelsen #31 of New Zealand controls the ball against Casey Umstead #5 and Taylor West #11 of the United States. MITCHELL LEFF/GETTY

New Zealand's women's Black Sticks kept pushing for a place at the FIH Pro League Grand Finals on Sunday, as they beat USA away to record a fifth win out of 12 games.

The last time the two teams met in the FIH Pro League, New Zealand won 3-1. This time around, New Zealand needed the win in order to keep their hopes of reaching the FIH Pro League Grand Final this month alive.

With new head coach Graham Shaw in charge, the Black Sticks put on a display of tireless running, incisive passing and hard-working defence in Pennsylvania.


Olivia Merry of New Zealand reacts after scoring a goal against the United States in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. MITCHELL LEFF/GETTY

USA for their part were equally industrious all over the pitch and created many chances – finishing was the key difference between the two teams.

USA (world ranking No 12) and New Zealand (No 6) had all the makings of a physically demanding and uncompromising encounter.


Black Sticks goalie Colleen O'Hanlon frustrated the USA attackers. Mitchell Leff

Shaw, fresh from leading Ireland women to silver at the Women's World Cup, has had just two weeks with his team but said he was impressed by the fantastic work rate of the players, particularly Black Sticks captain Stacey Michelsen.

In a pre-match interview Shaw said he was looking for a "big game" from Michelesen, and the New Zealand stalwart answered the call in some style, winning Player of the Match for her efforts.

For USA Head Coach Janneke Schopman it has been a difficult preparation period as the team has lost some players through injury in recent days.

New Zealand were nearly off the mark early in the game when they won their first penalty corner but Alyssa Manley was on hand to calmly clear off the line.

As the quarter played out, New Zealand began to spray the ball all over the pitch. Architect of many moves was Michelesen and the midfielder was able to find Olivia Merry, Rose Keddell and Alia Jacques deep in the US defence.

The deadlock was broken midway through the second quarter when Tarryn Davey fired in a reverse stick shot and it pinged into the goal past a wrong-footed Kelsey Bing in the USA goal.

USA went straight back into the attack but found the New Zealand defence in obstinate mood as they got bodies back behind the ball no matter what USA threw at them.

Captain Kat Sharkey thought she had scored the equaliser but the shot was judged to have been dangerous and New Zealand maintained their advantage into the half-time break.

New Zealand found the gap in the USA defence just one minute into the second half. Michelsen took the ball into the USA circle and her reverse stick shot forced a save from Bing. Shiloh Gloyn was able to pounce on the rebound and tap home.

Despite the two-goal deficit, USA didn't stop playing their quick, attacking style. Margaux Paolino and Mackenzie Allessie were particularly active down the USA left side.

The problem was finishing, something which has been USA's downfall for much of their Pro League campaign.

USA's quest for goals was not helped by the fact that Grace O'Hanlon was in sparkling form in the Black Sticks' goal. Her most agile save involved a double save from a penalty corner towards the end of the third quarter.

Over the course of a goalmouth scramble, the keeper had to save low to her left before twisting 180 degrees to save the rebound as it went to her right.

The final 15 minutes saw both teams ramp up the pace as USA continued to push for goals and New Zealand responded to the rise in intensity levels.

Olivia Merry added a third goal and extended her position as top scorer in the FIH Pro League with nine goals in total.

The goal was beautifully created by Michelesen, who sprinted with the ball out of her own defence before releasing a pass that led to Merry finding herself in possession with only the 'keeper to beat.

Merry was calmness personified as she finished a move that was straight out of the top drawer of hockey.

"It was really important for us to focus on counter-attacking and we did that today," said Michelsen. "A huge part of our game is understanding the options ahead of us."

"We have worked hard on maintaining the focus on the game," she said, explaining how the team has retained focus despite the recent coaching changes.

"We wanted to do better in the second half of the Pro League because we didn't start well."

Black Sticks Women 3 (Tarryn Davey 20 min, Shiloh Gloyn 31, Olivia Merry 51), United States Women 0
 
Stuff

It's a red hot June for the FIH Pro League teams



After six months of drama and excitement across the globe, it all comes down to one last month of frenetic hockey action as the teams in the inaugural FIH Pro League pull out all the stops to join Argentina women as qualifiers for the FIH Pro League Grand Finals, taking place in Amstelveen, Netherlands from 27-30 June.

In what has been an extraordinary opening edition of this ground-breaking competition, eight men's teams and nine women's teams have travelled the globe, playing home and away fixtures to secure a top-four finish in the league.

For the teams that take those crucial top four places, being crowned first winners of the inaugural edition of the FIH Pro League competition is the main prize. Then there is qualification for the FIH Olympic qualifiers and the accumulation of all-important FIH World Rankings points.

At time of writing – and perhaps testimony to the competitiveness of the FIH Pro League – Argentina women are the only team to have secured their place in the top four – Las Leonas have 35 points so far, with just two matches left to play. This means Argentina are at the very least guaranteed a fourth place finish. For the remaining three qualifying spots, as befits this exciting new competition, everything remains very much up for grabs.

In the men's league, there is even more intrigue and uncertainty as the final month of matches commences. Although Belgium currently top the league table with a win rate of 85.71, the Red Lions have only played seven matches so far. They have a tough run in to the Grand Finals with seven matches between 2-23 June.

Likewise second-placed Australia. The Kookaburras have five matches to play but they are all in Europe and all against teams who have proven themselves more than capable of seeing a game out.

So, with three weeks of league matches left, there is still plenty to play for among all the men's teams. The middle of the table is particularly tight, with Netherlands, Argentina, Great Britain and Germany all jostling for position.

In what will be a thrilling few weeks of hockey action, any of the men's teams and a number of the women's teams could still find themselves in the top four and on their way to an FIH Olympic qualifer.

#FIHProLeague

Official FIH Pro League Site

Wales 3-1 France


Wales captain Leah Wilkinson became her country's most capped sportsperson.

Wales beat France 3-1 in the second of their three-game series as Leah Wilkinson became her country's most capped sportsperson.

After a 2-1 win on Friday, goals from Eloise Laity and Caro Hulme put Wales in control.

France replied but, Jo Westwood who was making her 100th appearance, sealed Wales' win.

Captain Wilkinson made her 158th appearance for her country and break Paul Edwards' record.

The final game will be held on Sunday (11:00 BST).

Wales are using the series with France as preparation for the FIH Series Finals in Valencia and the EuroHockey Championship Competition in Glasgow.

Wales squad:

Beth Bingham, Caro Hulme, Danni Jordan, Ella Jackson (GK), Eloise Laity, Emily Rowlands, Hannah Cozens, Izzie Howell, Izzy Webb, Jessica Roe, Jo Westwood, Julie Whiting, Leah Wilkinson (C), Megan Lewis-Williams, Natasha Marke-Jones, Phoebe Richards, Rose Thomas (GK), Sarah Jones, Sian French (VC), Sophie Robinson, Xenna Hughes.

BBC Sport

2019 Test matches series RSA v BOT v ZIM - Final Day

28 May 2019 18:00     RSA v ZIM     7 - 0 (3 - 0)
29 May 2019 09:00     ZIM v BOT     17 - 0 (7 - 0)
29 May 2019 18:00     RSA v ZIM     14 - 1 (5 - 1)
30 May 2019 10:00     RSA v BOT     20 - 0 (9 - 0)
30 May 2019 18:00     RSA v ZIM     6 - 3 (3 - 2)
31 May 2019 10:00     RSA v BOT     19 - 0 (10 - 0)
31 May 2019 18:00     RSA v ZIM     7 - 1 (3 - 1)
1 Jun 2019 10:00     ZIM v BOT     20 - 0 (7 - 0)
1 Jun 2019 17:00     RSA v ZIM     6 - 0 (2 - 0)

FIH Match Centre

USMNT Primed for Strong FIH Series Finals Performance


Image courtesy of India Hockey

BHUBANESWAR, India – June 1, 2019 – In less than one week the FIH Series Finals will get underway at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India. The No. 25 U.S. Men’s National Team has been preparing for the upcoming tournament since gaining entry nearly one year ago as the winners of the Hockey Series Open in Salamanca, Mexico. The squad’s ultimate goal of qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be one step closer as one of the top two finishers of the 10-day tournament. In their way in pool play is Pan American foe Mexico, as well as Japan and South Africa, two opponents that the red, white and blue have not faced in a few years.

No. 18 Japan
The gold medalists of the 2018 Asian Games have been hard at work since the New Year began. In March the team participated in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia, a tournament that head coach Siegfried Aikman stated would be a good test as to where his team stands in terms of international competition. They placed fifth out of six participating squads with one win and four losses.

Led by 29-year-old captain Manabu Yamashita, who has 174 international caps, Samurai Japan’s roster is a mix of young and veteran talent, with several returning players from the gold medal squad in 2018. Japan played in a five invitation games against China from April 10-16, angainst Korea from May 24-29.

It has been two years since Japan topped USA 2-0 in the semifinals of FIH Hockey World League Round 2 in Tacarigua, Trinidad and Tobago. After going scoreless in the first half, Japan opened up the scoring in the 38th minute before adding on another in the 43rd. Forward efforts highlighted by Tom Barratt (Greensboro, N.C.), Pat Harris (Moorpark, Calif.) Paul Singh (Simi Valley, Calif.) were not enough to break through Japan’s defensive unit as the defeat sent USA to the third place game against Russia.

No. 39 Mexico
It’s been one year since host nation Mexico placed second in the Hockey Series Open where they fought tooth and nail against USA for the top spot in their tournament meeting. Despite dominating control in the first half, USA fell behind early and was forced to rally late in the game to tie 5-5 Both teams finished with 10 points in the standings, with final placement determined by goal differential, giving the edge to USA. Francisco Aguilar led all players in the Hockey Series open with 16 total goals, with Guillermo Pedraza and Luis Villegas bringing up the rear with six and five goals, respectively.

Since Salamanca, Mexico was quick return to the pitch with competition in the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia. After stunning Trinidad and Tobago in the semifinals with a 4-2 shootout victory, Mexico came up short to Cuba in the final. Coming in to Bhubaneswar, they are a new looking team with just nine players on roster that competed in the Hockey Series Open. Among them is captain Roberto Garcia and fellow leader Edgar Garcia.

No. 16 South Africa
Gold medal winners of the 2017 Hockey Africa Cup of Nations, No. 16 South Africa, also sit in Pool B. They recently competed against Namibia in a three-game test series from May 27-30, but earlier in the month they officially lost familiar faces Rhett Halkett and Julian Hykes, who both announced their retirement from international hockey. The recognizable pair played last year in the 2018 Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup in Bhubaneswar, where the team was eliminated in pool play. Now under the guidance of head coach Garreth Ewing, the goal is to lead the team through 2022 and the next World Cup, but will see the FIH Series Finals as a first major test before shifting gears to the continental championships.

The most recent matchup with USA was back in 2013 at FIH Hockey World League Round 2 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where South Africa won 6-1.

No. 25 United States
One year ago, USMNT Head Coach Rutger Wiese said the Hockey Series Open served as a true test to see where the squad stood at the halfway point of their 2018 schedule. Since claiming first place, the team took part in five additional test series to round out the year.

In 2019 the trend continued which has seen new and familiar faces joining the USMNT. Among them is Sean Harris (Moorpark, Calif.) who returned after a six-year hiatus and has played a major part in USA’s defensive unit since returning in the test series against South Korea in April. Joined by brother Pat is another set of brothers, Aki Kaeppeler (Stuttgart, Germany), who led USA’s offense throughout Salamanca scoring 13 goals, and Kei Kaeppeler (Stuttgart, Germany) who joined the USMNT shortly after the Hockey Series Open. Alberto Montilla (Allen, Texas) and Julian Croonenberghs (Tervuren, Belgium) will also see more playing time after they both earned their first international cap against Ireland in May.

USMNT Hockey Series Final Roster:

Michael Barminski (Ventura, Calif.), Tom Barratt (Greensboro, N.C.), Sean Cicchi (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Julian Croonenberghs (Tervuren, Belgium), Christian DeAngelis (Doylestown, Pa.), Ajai Dhadwal (Agoura Hills, Calif.), Mohan Gandhi (Ventura, Calif.), Patrick Harris (Moorpark, Calif.), Sean Harris (Moorpark, Calif.), Will Holt (Camarillo, Calif.), Deegan Huisman (Almere, The Netherlands), Aki Kaeppeler (Stuttgart, Germany), Kei Kaeppeler (Stuttgart, Germany), Jonathan Klages (Berlin, Germany), Alberto Montilla (Allen, Texas), Johnny Orozco (Ventura, Calif.), Paul Singh (Simi Valley, Calif.), Daan Wisselink (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

USMNT FIH Series Finals Schedule:

Wednesday June 5        USA vs. South Africa    11:15 p.m. ET
Saturday, June 8        USA vs. Mexico        7:30 a.m. ET
Sunday, June 9        USA vs. Japan        11:15 p.m. ET

*Per the FIH, all games will be live streamed

The FIH Series Finals include some of the best teams in the world and are one of the roads to reach the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The top two teams from each FIH Series Finals event will secure a place in the FIH Olympic Qualifiers which will be held in October and November 2019 (*).

For more information regarding the FIH Series Finals including the full schedule, rosters, results and more, check out the official event page by clicking here. #FIHSeriesFinals #RoadToTokyo

(*) Note: if Japan, Scotland or Wales finish in the top 2 of their respective pools, they will not secure a place in the Olympic Games Qualifiers. Japan have already qualified as both host and winners of the Asian Games; for Scotland and Wales, the reason is that England are the nominated country for GBR’s qualification pathway. If any of these three teams do finish in the top 2, the team that finishes third does NOT automatically qualify for the Olympic Games Qualifiers. Any such additional place is determined by the FIH World Rankings as at the completion of the continental championships (8 September 2019)

USFHA media release

India shouldn’t take their matches loosely, asserts Lazarus Barla

Chiranjibi Pati



Former Olympian Lazarus Barla has stated that the Indian hockey team should not take the matches in the FIH Series Finals lightly. The former defender also said that the Hockey India has selected the best available team for the tournament which will be the first step for the Olympic qualification.

With an aim of making it to the Tokyo Olympics which will be held next year, the Indian hockey team will take the first step in that direction during the FIH Series Finals. The eight-team event will be played from June 6 to June 15 in Bhubaneswar and the top two teams will make it to the final round of Olympic qualifications scheduled for later part of the year.

With teams ranked below India playing in the FIH Series Finals, the hosts might just find it too easy to make it to the next round of the Olympic qualifications. In the league stage of FIH Series Finals, India will meet Russia (rank 22), Poland (21) and Uzbekistan (43) in Group A. However, former India defender Barla has advised that the Indian team should not take the matches lightly and being over-confident might result in a loss for the team during the competition.

“India shouldn’t take the matches loosely. They should not take the teams lightly because their opponents are ranked low.  If we take those matches in an over-confident manner, we might lose them. India will want to win the matches with a good margin. The team will go full throttle as a draw or a poor goal margin against some of the teams might give other teams more confidence against India. The Indian players should think all the teams in the tournament as better than them and have the ability to beat India. India will try to give their best against all the opponents,” Barla told SportsCafe.

“FIH Series Finals will be important and all the matches are going to be crucial. The biggest challenge for the team is to qualify for the Olympics. India have selected the best available team for the tournament. The team management will not experiment and not take any chances in these matches. The mindset will be to give their best in the tournament.”

Experienced forward Ramandeep Singh is making a comeback after a gap of nine years in international hockey. He was injured and was not even a part of the Manpreet Singh-led side that played the World Cup in 2018 December. According to Barla, Ramandeep’s inclusion will bring in some positivity in the Indian attack during the upcoming event.

“Ramandeep is someone who has good skills inside the D. The finishing in the D area in terms of scoring goals is very good for Ramandeep as compared to others. I think he is fully fit and if that is the case, it will be a big positive for the team,” explained Barla, who represented India at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and World Cup in 2002.


 © Hockey India

Barla, who himself was a defensive mainstay in the Indian side along with his state-mate and former skipper Dilip Tirkey, also talked about the lack of experience in the Indian defence. He said, “There is a need of experienced players in the defence. The process of defence starts from the forwards, not only the defenders need to be aware to defend the ball, overall team in the modern hockey needs to defend. The defence starts from the forward line itself. If there is a breach even in the midfield that might prove dangerous for the team. The players should understand the responsibility on them and need to perform as a team.”

India were knocked out of the 2018 World Cup in the quarter-final against the Netherlands and after that, the then head coach Harendra Singh was asked to step down from his post in the senior team. India had played the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in March without a chief coach and now the Indian team is having the services of Australian Graham Reid at the helm of the affairs. The FIH Series Finals will be the first major event for the team under Reid’s guidance. The team had travelled to Australia last month as a part of the preparations for the FIH Series.

“Graham Reid is new in India no doubt. It will be important for him to understand the team and the players to understand the coach. Harendra knew well about the players as he was an Indian coach. Reid might take time to read the players and set a proper understanding with them, said Barla.

Meanwhile, the Indian team suffered two back-to-back defeats by big margins during the tour Down Under and converting the penalty corners into goals was a concern for them. India, however, had experienced drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh then. In the recently-announced 18-member squad for the upcoming eight-team event, the Indian side has only Harmanpreet Singh for the short corners along with Varun Kumar and Amit Rohidas, both of them are not regulars.

“The penalty corner specialists in India are not really the specialists in the truest sense as compared to the foreign teams. In India, they lack some skill and that’s why they fail to convert the PCs. All three - injector, stopper and the drag-flicker matter a lot in converting a PC. The understanding between the three counts a lot and they need to practice hard. There needs to be some variation during the matches while executing the PCs.

"Rupinder had scored a lot of goals through drag flicks. Had he been fully fit, he could have got a chance in the team for the tournament and that could have proved effective for the team,” Barla signed off.

Sports Cafe

Hockey India unveils new playing kit ahead of Olympics qualifiers

Both the men's and women's senior teams will don the new jersey at the upcoming FIH Series Finals 2019 which will serve as the first step towards qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic.


Indian skipper Manpreet Singh   -  Getty Images

Hockey India on Saturday unveiled a new-look official playing kit for the senior Indian hockey teams.

The men's team led by midfielder Manpreet Singh will don the new uniform at the forthcoming FIH Mens Series Finals' in Bhubaneshwar starting on 6 June, while the women's team led by striker Rani Rampal will be seen wearing the new kit at the FIH Women's Series Finals in Hiroshima starting 15 June.

The brand new uniform created by the official kitting partners Shiv Naresh, is a darker shade of blue which sports the Indian tri-colour on the sleeves and on the shoulders.

"We feel a lot of pride in wearing the India jersey and several young players work hard round the year to find an opportunity to wear the India kit which also features their unique Hockey India playing number and only a few are fortunate enough to have this privilege.


Indian women's hockey team captain Rani Rampal unveils the new kit for the Series Finals.   -  Special Arrangement
 
The official playing kit always holds a very special place in every player's heart and we are thrilled to receive this new-look, newly designed Indian uniform ahead of our important campaign at the FIH Men's Series Finals Bhubaneswar Odisha 2019," Manpreet said.

Women's team skipper, Rani Rampal, too reflected her team's excitement saying: "We absolutely love the new uniform. We also received new training kit and we are excited about it.

The colours are bold, vibrant and I think in a way reflects the aggression we want to showcase in our game. The material used is dry-fit making it very light and breathable when we play matches."

The men's Series Finals, which will be played from June 6-15 at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, will serve as the first step for India’s Olympic qualification process, where it has been placed with Poland, Russia and Uzbekistan in Pool A, while South Africa, Japan, the U.S. and Mexico are in Pool B.

For the women's Series Finals, which will be played from June 15-23 at Hiroshima, Japan where it has been placed with Poland, Uruguay and Fiji in Pool A, while Japan, Chile, Russia and Mexico are in Pool B.

Sportstar

4 Nations Junior Women Invitational Tournament (Dublin) - Day 2
Dublin

Fixtures (GMT +1)
31 May 2019     IND v CAN     2 - 0
31 May 2019     IRL v SCO     2 - 0
1 Jun 2019     SCO v CAN     0 - 1
1 Jun 2019     IRL v IND     1 - 2
3 Jun 2019 13:30     IND v SCO
3 Jun 2019 15:30     IRL v CAN
4 Jun 2019 13:30     3rd v 4th (3rd / 4th)
4 Jun 2019 15:45     1st v 2nd (Final)

FIH Match Centre

Indian women beat Ireland 2-1 in Cantor Fitzgerald U21 International four-nation tournament

The Indian women's hockey team came from a goal down to beat Ireland 2-1 and register its second win at the Cantor Fitzgerald U-21 International four-nation tournament in Dublin.


Indian women vs Ireland women , Hockey India Twitter handle

The Indian women's hockey team came from a goal down to beat Ireland 2-1 and register its second win at the Cantor Fitzgerald U-21 International four-nation tournament in Dublin.

Laura Foley gave Ireland the lead the 10th minute on Saturday before India scored in the third and fourth quarters through Reet (35th) and Sharmila Devi (53rd).

After failing to find the net in the opening two quarters, India made a strong start after the change of ends and managed to draw level in the 35th minute when Reet scored from a penalty corner.

Locked at 1-1, both India and Ireland dished out fast-paced attacking hockey in the final quarter in search of the winner.

Seven minutes into the fourth quarter, Ireland won a penalty corner but Indian goalkeeper Bichu Devi made a brilliant save to keep her side in the hunt.

India then launched an attack on the break and tasted success when Sharmila Devi slotted home to hand her side the lead in the 53rd minute.

Trailing, the hosts pressed hard for an equaliser and earned a couple of penalty corners in the process but the Bichu Devi-led Indian defence stood firm to deny Ireland the equaliser.

India will play Scotland in their next match on Monday.

Daily News & Analysis

Scotland U21 women put in a good performance but lose narrowly to Canada

Scotland U21 Women got their U21 Four Nations Tournament in Ireland underway with a narrow 1-0 loss against Canada. The Scots enjoyed much of the play, and came close to scoring on many occasions, but were unable to find the net.

Scotland got off to a good start in the match. The first quarter ended 0-0 but saw the Scots with more of the possession in the contest.

There was an opportunity to take the lead through a couple of penalty corner attempts but Scotland were unable to manufacture a threat on goal and Canada escaped.

It was Canada who took the lead in the second quarter with a goal scored by Julia Ross, punishing a bad mistake. It was Canada’s only real opportunity in the match and they took it well to take the advantage.

A great effort on goal by Scotland’s Lunjika Nyirenda saw Scotland come close to an equaliser, but her reverse edge shot was denied by a superb fingertip save by Canada keeper.

Then a nice shot on goal by Scotland’s Georgia Jones, who had a great game, was saved again by the foot of Canadian keeper.

Canada had a great effort by Erin Dawson but couldn’t convert meaning a half time score of 1-0 to the Canadians despite Scotland enjoying a lot of the play.

In the third quarter Scotland had another good effort from a penalty corner but couldn’t find the back of the net.

Then a superb save kept out a Canadian second and the whistle blew for the end of the third quarter.

Scotland piled on the pressure in the final quarter but the equaliser eluded them and Canada held on for the win.

Scotland U21 Women Head Coach Neil Menzies said, “It’s a positive performance but we’re disappointed not to win. We had eight or nine penalty corners, and created a number of chances, but we’ll need to improve our execution.

“I’m pleased we dominated the game and did well to win the ball and keep possession. We play India next, a really good team, and we’ll look forward to another good game.”

Scottish Hockey Union media release

Scotland U21 Men claim win over Club All Stars at Auchenhowie



Scotland U21 Men got their Club All Stars Series off to a winning start with a 5-1 victory at Auchenhowie. It was the first of three matches against a team made up of select club players who are providing competitive opposition as Scotland U21 men prepare for U21 EuroHockey Championship II this summer.

It was a very tight first half with both sides battling hard in the contest, but neither side was able to take its chances and grab the lead. Despite lots of good play it remained goalless at half time.

Then came two quick fire goals from Struan Walker and Andy McConnell to put the U21s ahead after the restart. McConnell’s strike came courtesy of a penalty corner while Walker converted a lovely finish on the reserve to get his name on the score sheet.

A goal from the Club All Stars, scored by Nikki Homfray, put the pressure back on the U21s as it took the score to 2-1 in the final quarter. It was very nearly 2-2 but an All Stars penalty corner rattled the post and the U21s were able to keep hold of their lead.

Another goal for the U21s gave them a cushion – a lovely reverse stick shot from McConnell made the score to 3-1 with just over six minutes to go.

Then some lovely transition play from the U21s resulted in an easy tap in for David Nairn to make the score 4-1, and make the game safe.

There was still room for icing on the cake however. Another goal for McConnell saw the striker complete his hat-trick, just before the final whistle, and give his side an excellent victory.

It finished 5-1 to the Scotland U21s with the next game scheduled for Tuesday at Clydesdale with 7:30pm start.

Scotland U21 Men Head Coach Graham Moodie said, “It’s a really good start to the series and our preparation for the Euros. The game was competitive, especially in the first half, and it was really pleasing to see the guys work hard and get sharper as the match went on.

“The All Starts team on Tuesday is a strong one so we’re looking forward to a really competitive match. It’s really important to get matches so thanks again to the All Stars team for these tough games.”

Scottish Hockey Union media release

Happy ending to Rome outing

By Jugjet Singh

AFTER a tour of the Coliseum in Rome on Thursday, the Malaysian women's hockey team felt like gladiators.

And they fought valiantly to inflict a 2-0 defeat on World No 17 Italy in their final Tri-Nation Test match yesterday.

It was no mean feat as Italy had on the previous day, showed their prowess by toppling World No 7 Spain 4-3.

So, the odds were stacked against coach K. Dharmaraj’s women when they took to the field against Italy.

But a fighting Malaysia scored two early goals and bravely held on for their first win in the Tr-Nation event.

Malaysia had earlier lost 5-1 and 4-2 to Spain, and drew 1-1 with Italy.

Yesterday’s success against the hosts marked a happy ending to the Test fixtures.

Malaysia’s Norazlin Sumantri (fifth) and Hanis Nadiah Onn (11th) scored off field attempts, and the match was won in the first quarter itself.

The Malaysian women are preparing for the Series Finals in Banbridge, Northern Ireland on June 8-16.

In the pre-Olympic Qualifier, Malaysia (World No 22) are in Group A with Ireland (8th), Czech Republic (19th) and Singapore (35th).

In Group B are South Korea (11th), Scotland (18th), Ukraine (26th) and France (30th).

Malaysia, due to their low world ranking, must end the tournament as finalists if they want to play in the final round of the Olympic Qualifier in November.

“It was a memorable win as Italy had beaten Spain 4-3 the previous day.

“We made very few mistakes and the players were also careful not to get injured as the end target is the Series Finals.

“We will leave for Scotland (today) and play two friendlies, with Uddingston Selection before heading for Northern Ireland where we will play another friendly with their Under-23 side before the tournament proper,” said Dharmaraj.

New Straits Times

African queens Telkom shine in hockey 5s

By ABDULRAHMAN SHERIFF


Telkom's Jane Ofula (right) vies for the ball with St John's Kaloleni's Zahra Nakaya during their hockey 5s match at the Mombasa Sports Club grounds on June 1, 2019. PHOTO | KEVIN ODITI |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

African ladies hockey champions Telkom made a flying start in the national hockey 5s tournament when they whipped national secondary schools' losing finalists St John’s Girls' Kaloleni 5-0 on Saturday.

The match at Mombasa Sports ground ground saw Telkom take the lead in the third minute through Lilian Aura with Maureen Okumu adding another seconds later.

Terry Masibo was on the mark in the fifth minute as Jacky Mwangi got in the scoring sheet with a brace in the sixth and 13th minute.

In another ladies clash, Mombasa Sports Club registered a fine 3-0 victory over their sister team MSC Squids. The victors went ahead in the fourth minute through Margaret Akinyi, who was on the mark again eight minutes later with Naima Masoud scoring the third.

In the men's category, St Charles Lwanga Secondary made a good start by edging Mtongwe Flickers 2-1 in a thrilling clash.

It was Flickers who took the lead in the 11th minute, but Lwanga levelled a minute later via Calvin Oringo. The same player gave Lwanga the winner in the 15th minute.

Daily Nation