News for 15 March 2020
All the news for Sunday 15 March 2020
Statement on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) from the FIH Health & Safety Committee
In these unprecedented times of a global health crisis, we recommend to the hockey family globally that we all follow the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines and your local Government advice on how to deal with the current COVID-19 outbreak.
As the International Federation of Hockey, we take this situation very seriously and put the health and safety of all members of the hockey family first. We recommend all National Associations to take advice from their Governments and local medical experts regarding domestic competitions, and hockey players and fans should follow WHO advice. Where hockey matches or training sessions are played, the following guidance is provided:
- Actively inform the participants on common principles of infection prevention including washing hands frequently, maintaining social distancing, avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth, and practice respiratory hygiene when coughing/sneezing
Do not shake hands before or after matches
Limit or reduce number of participants
Anyone with acute respiratory symptoms should not play during this time
Entrance screening of risk exposition and/or symptoms
Avoid close interaction of participants
For indoor hockey, make sure that there is sufficient ventilation
Further information for players is available on the IOC’s Athlete365 website.
In order to support the concerted efforts to proactively limit the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus, and following the example of the IOC, the FIH has decided to adapt its way of working so all staff will work from home starting Monday 16 March 2020. To date, there have been no reported coronavirus cases amongst the FIH’s respective staff members.
FIH site
Coronavirus threat forces Indian hockey coach to cancel trip back home
The head coach of the Indian women’s hockey team was scheduled to visit the Netherlands for a week before returning for the national camp.
Sjoerd Marijne was supposed to travel to the Netherlands on Friday night. - Biswaranjan Rout (File)
Sjoerd Marijne, the head coach of the Indian women’s hockey team, was forced to put off his plans to visit the Netherlands, his home country, due to travel restrictions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marijne was supposed to travel to the Netherlands on Friday night for a week during a brief break of the national camp of the women’s hockey team but the 45-year-old Dutchman had to cancel his plans because of the coronavirus outbreak. The campers are scheduled to assemble for the camp again at the SAI, South Centre, in Bengaluru on March 22.
“I was supposed to visit my family in the Netherlands during this break but I had to put of my plans because of the coronavirus outbreak. I don’t want to risk myself and my family during this troubled times,” Marijne told PTI from Bengaluru.
Risk too great
Marijne had earlier tweeted about his travel plans, saying he was forced to cancel his family visit because of the risk associated right now. “Had to turn around on my way to the airport to go to my family. The risk is too great that I can’t return to India. Hard times for everyone and for me now that I can’t see my family and I don’t know when this is going to happen,” he tweeted.
The coronavirus has wreaked havoc on sporting activities across the world. In India, the three-match ODI series between India and South Africa was postponed indefinitely and the Indian Premier League was deferred until April 15 because of the growing number of cases in the country.
The IPL was scheduled to begin on March 29.
India has so far recorded more than 80 positive cases with the global infected count over 1,30,000.
The death toll has crossed 5,000 internationally.
Sportstar
Graham Reid insists good defence can win tournaments - Birendra Lakra
Lakra says the men’s national team has improved its defence under the tutelage of the head coach.
Birendra Lakra: “[Graham Reid] often says our defence starts with our forward-line.” - K. MURALI KUMAR (FILE)
India coach Graham Reid, known to favour the aggressive brand of hockey, also firmly believes that a strong defence can win tournaments, defender Birendra Lakra said on Saturday. India displayed an attacking brand of play in the FIH Hockey Pro League last month and reaped rewards for it, beating Australia and Belgium.
“Playing aggressive and attacking hockey, pushing for goals and those important circle penetrations is the style of hockey we as a team want to play,” Lakra said.
“Although chief coach Graham’s training often involves high-intensity sessions where he likes to see quality attack, he is also very clear about his expectations from the team’s defence. Graham tells us that a strong line of defence can not only win matches but also tournaments,” he added.
Improvement
Lakra believes the team is improving under the tutelage of Reid. “In the past, there have been times when we have slipped up in defence in the final moments of the match. But I believe we have improved in this aspect over the past couple of months and the coach often says our defence starts with our forward-line,” he said.
Lakra, who had missed the Rio Olympics in 2016 due to a knee surgery, is working towards securing a spot in the team for the Tokyo Games. “I may be an experienced defender in the team but I can’t take my place for granted. Each one of us have to earn our place in the squad for Tokyo and this means we give our 100 per cent in training and matches. I was very unlucky to miss the Rio Olympics due to injury but this time I am really working hard to play the best hockey for my team,” Lakra said.
Sportstar
ROUND-UP: Investec England Women's Hockey League
Loughborough Students celebrate Premier Division survival. Credit Andrew Smith
Buckingham clinched the fourth and final play-off spot in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division with a nail-biting 1-0 win over the University of Birmingham – who must now go through the promotion play-offs to secure their top flight spot for next season.
Lottie Porter’s 13th minute goal proved enough to take the points and book their place in the semi finals against table-topping Surbiton in April.
At the other end of the table the University of Birmingham dropped to ninth on the back of that loss, and will face play-offs against the Division One winners.
East Grinstead will have home advantage for the play-offs after they secured a confident 6-1 win over Surbiton.
Sophie Bray and Tess Howard both found the back of the net either side of half time, while Katerina Lacina and Laura Unsworth also scored for East Grinstead.
Erica Sanders was Surbiton’s lone scorer.
Elsewhere, Loughborough Students beat Holcombe 3-2 to climb out of relegation danger.
Hannah Grieve, Lizzie Neal and Lucy Millington scored the goals that gave Loughborough victory with Eloise Richards and Leah Wilkinson scoring for Holcombe.
Elsewhere Phoebe Richards claimed the game’s only goal as Clifton Robinsons beat relegated Bowdon Hightown 1-0.
Hampstead & Westminster’s 4-0 win wasn’t enough to clinch home advantage for the play-offs. Their goals came from Joyce Esser (2), Joanna Leigh and Lauren Turner.
Investec Division 1 North
Swansea went top of Division One North thanks to a 2-1 victory against third-placed University of Durham.
Kathryn Mee put the Welsh outfit up after only two minutes of play from a penalty corner. Georgia Brownhill levelled the scoring for Durham shortly after the half time break but Olivia Strickland’s 55th minute field goal was decisive, giving Swansea all three points.
Previously top, a win would’ve put Leicester City three points clear of Swansea heading into the final week of the season. But they fell 2-1 to hosts Brooklands-Poynton.
Tor Hughes put the home side 1-0 up heading into the half. Rachel Mack drew Leicester City level on 57 minutes but Izzy Wray reinstated Brooklands’ cushion and eventual win.
Elsewhere Belper beat Gloucester City 2-0, Ben Rhydding beat Leeds 2-0 and Stourport travelled to Olton & West Warwicks, winning 3-2.
Investec Division 1 South
Wimbledon’s perfect season in Division One South continued with a 4-0 win over mid-table Cambridge City on Saturday.
Crista Cullen opened the scoring for Wimbledon after four minutes with the London-based side having to wait until the second half to see another goal with three coming via Olivia Chilton, Fiona Semple and Eliza Brett.
Bottom side St Albans mustered up only their second win of the whole campaign thanks to Natasha Humphris.
She struck three times in the first half, and despite their opponents Sevenoaks pulling two back the scoreline stayed 3-2 to St Albans.
Elsewhere Trojans beat hosts Canterbury 1-0, Harleston Magpies won 2-0 against second-placed Reading and Slough were 5-0 winners at home to Isca.
Investec Conference East
Wimbledon’s second team won 3-1 over Ipswich in the Investec Conference East, securing the title while condemning their hosts to relegation.
Alex Richardson, Ruth Morgan Hampson and Sam Smith’s goals for Wimbledon saw them promoted with a round of fixtures to spare.
Had Wimbledon lost, Barnes’ 6-1 win would’ve meant the battle for promotion heading into the last week.
It wasn’t to be but Helen Stubbs and Triona Doyle both scored a brace in the win over Horsham as they cemented second place.
Valissa Armstrong was the only player to score a hat-trick in the Conference in Bromley & Beckenham’s 6-1 win over Broxbourne.
Investec Conference North
The University of Nottingham continued their perfect league season, this time a 10-2 victory over Timperley in the Investec Conference North.
Robyn Bentley found the back of Timperley’s net three time with Jordan Homann, Jessica Hill and Sophie Jefferson all scoring two goals each in the dominant win. Sally Sime added the other for the promoted side.
Doncaster beat Yorkshire rivals Wakefield 2-1 to go three points clear of bottom side Beeston seconds with one game still to play.
Wakefield’s Mia Rawlins put the West Yorkshire side ahead before two goals in three minutes from Fiona Rawlings and Ellie O’Neill gave Doncaster a 2-1 victory.
Investec Conference West
Second-placed side Exe travelled to third-placed Oxford Hawks in the Investec Conference West, and took all three points with a 3-1 win.
Emily Mitchem scored the opening half’s only goal for the visitors before Catherine Reaney drew the sides level.
Mitchem was in fine finishing form, doubling her tally with ten minutes of the game left before adding a third seven minutes later.
Basingstoke scored three unanswered goals to salvage a point at hosts Team Bath Buccaneers.
The Buccaneers had led 3-0 with 15 minutes to spare but a goal from Basingstoke’s Georgia Lea on 57 minutes was just a prelude to Nicola George’s flurry of two goals in the last two minutes to draw the game 3-3.
Results:
Investec Women’s Hockey League (Sat, 14 March 2020):
Investec Premier Division: Clifton Robinsons 1, Bowdon Hightown 0; East Grinstead 6, Surbiton 1; Hampstead & Westminster 4, Beeston 0; Loughborough Students 3, Holcombe 2; Univ of Birmingham 0, Buckingham 1.
Investec Division One North: Swansea 2, Univ of Durham 1; Brooklands-Poynton 2, Leicester City 1; Olton & West Warwicks 2, Stourport 3; Belper 2, Gloucester City 0; Leeds 0, Ben Rhydding 2.
Investec Division One South: Canterbury 0, Trojans 1; Harleston Magpies 2, Reading 0; Sevenoaks 2, St Albans 3; Slough 5, Isca 0; Wimbledon 4, Cambridge City 0.
Investec Conference West: Oxford Hawks 1, Exe 3; Univ of Birmingham 2XI 0, Cheltenham 2; Oxford University 2, Clifton Robinsons 2XI 0; Team Bath Buccaneers 3, Basingstoke 3.
Investec Conference East: Barnes 6, Horsham 1; Ipswich 1, Wimbledon 2XI 3; Bromley & Beckenham 6, Broxbourne 0; Bedford 4, Canterbury 2XI 1; Chelmsford 1, Southgate 3.
Investec Conference North: Beeston 2, Fylde 2; Cannock 2, Alderley Edge 0; Pendle Forest 2, Sutton Coldfield 4; Univ of Nottingham 10, Timperley 2; Wakefield 1, Doncaster 2.
England Hockey Board Media release
Karachi Youth Hockey Team to face Dar Hockey Academy
hockeyLAHORE: Karachi Youth Hockey Team are on a tour of Punjab. The side are playing a series of matches in some of the main centres of hockey in Punjab: Sargodha, Faisalabad, Gojra and Lahore.
On their last leg of the tour, the Karachi Youth have reached Lahore. Here, they will play two matches each against Dar Hockey Academy and Rana Zaheer Academy.
During their whirlwind tour, the Karachi side, comprising almost entirely of Under-20 boys, have come across some strong sides such as an International XI in Sargodha who were entirely made up of Olympians and internationals.
“We won some matches and lost a few, but it has been a great learning experience throughout. Some of the boys have shown promise and could go a long way,” said the Karachi Youth Team’s officials.
In Lahore, the Karachi Youth’s two matches against Dar Hockey Academy are scheduled on March 15 and 16 at the Johar Town Hockey Stadium. Push off is at 3.00pm
The Daily Times