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All the news for Sunday 8 July 2018

Hockey Series Open - Wattignies 2018 (Women) - Day 2
Wattignies (FRA)

RUS v BLR (RR)     2 - 5
FRA v AUT (RR)     3 - 0

Pool standings

FMC

Test Match results - 7/8 July

2018 Test Matches: JPN v NZL (M) - 1st test
Maibara City (JPN)

8 July
JPN v NZL     3 - 3

2018 Test Matches: CAN v CHN (M) - 4th Test
West Vancouver (CAN)

7 July
CAN v CHN     3 - 4

FIH Match Centre

Green Army Beat Higher Ranked Japan

It was an even affair in the opening exchanges with Katie Mullan creating Ireland’s first chance as she turned from her marker and sent a snap shot towards goal that was deflected narrowly wide. Ali Meeke followed up that deflection by sending a ball across goal but the outstretched Naomi Carroll couldn’t quite reach. The Japanese goal came somewhat against the run of play in the 12thminute when Minami Shimizu sent a carefully placed shot high into the net. Grace O’Flanagan made a strong stick save from Japan’s first penalty corner but the goal had taken the wind out of the Irish sails slightly as Japan pressed for a second with Akiko Kato acting as the linchpin in midfield. But the Irish defense were patient and disciplined and there were few real chances for the world number 12 in the rest of the half.

The Green Army came out with renewed vigor in the second half and Mullan, in outstanding form throughout the series, found herself in the circle but couldn’t quite connect cleanly with the ball and Megumi Kageyama made the clearance. Japan amassed a further 3 penalty corners but the Irish defence ably dealt with the threats. Anna O’Flanagan pulled her side level from a well worked PC routine that saw her deflect home Hannah Matthews sweep from the top of the circle. The final quarter saw the Green Army go up a gear again as Duke continued to cause the Japanese defence trouble with one effort going just wide and another setting up O’Flanagan in front of goal, only for Kageyama to make a super close range save. But the winner came in the 59thminute from another PC and Matthews sent a powerful sweep through Kageyama to give Ireland the victory over the world number 12.   

UCC, Cork

Ireland 2 (O’Flanagan, Matthews)
Japan 1 (Shimizu)

Starting: G O’Flanagan, Y O’Byrne, N Evans, K Mullan (Captain), S McCay, E Beatty, S Loughran, L Colvin, H Matthews, A O’Flanagan, Z Wilson

Subs: E Tice, N Carroll, A McFerran, C Watkins, N Daly, D Duke, A Meeke

Ireland 0vs2 Japan 4/7/18 7pm UCC
Ireland 1vs2 Japan 6/7/18 7pm UCC
Ireland 2vs1 Japan 7/7/18 5pm UCC

Upcoming fixtures:

Ireland vs Chile 12/7/18 6pm UCD
Ireland vs Italy 14/7/18 2pm Pembroke

Irish Hockey Association media release

Matthews’ last minute corner nicks victory over Japan



Anna O’Flanagan’s last minute goal saw Ireland’s women complete the Cork leg of their World Cup preparation with an upbeat 2-1 win over Japan at the Mardyke.

It was an even affair in the opening exchanges with Katie Mullan creating Ireland’s first chance as she turned from her marker and sent a snap-shot towards goal that was deflected narrowly wide.

Ali Meeke followed up that deflection by sending a ball across goal but the outstretched Naomi Carroll couldn’t quite reach. The Japanese goal came in the 12th minute when Minami Shimizu sent a carefully placed shot high into the net.

Grace O’Flanagan made a strong stick save from Japan’s first penalty corner but the goal had taken the wind out of the Irish sails slightly as Japan pressed for a second with Akiko Kato acting as the linchpin in midfield.

The Green Army came out with renewed vigour in the second half and Mullan found herself in the circle but couldn’t quite connect cleanly with the ball and Megumi Kageyama made the clearance.

Japan amassed a further three penalty corners but the Irish defence ably dealt with the threats. Anna O’Flanagan pulled her side level from a well-worked corner routine that saw her deflect home Hannah Matthews sweep from the top of the circle.

The final quarter saw the Green Army go up a gear again as Duke continued to cause the Japanese defence trouble with one effort going just wide and another setting up O’Flanagan in front of goal, only for Kageyama to make a super close-range save.

But the winner came in the 59th minute from another corner and Matthews sent a sweep through Kageyama to give Ireland the victory over the world number 12.

Next on Ireland’s schedule is a game with Chile on Thursday evening at 6pm before they face Italy at 2pm in Pembroke next Saturday.

Women’s senior international test match
Ireland 2 (A O’Flanagan, H Matthews)
Japan 1 (M Shimizu)

Ireland: G O’Flanagan, Y O’Byrne, N Evans, K Mullan (Captain), S McCay, E Beatty, S Loughran, L Colvin, H Matthews, A O’Flanagan, Z Wilson
Subs: E Tice, N Carroll, A McFerran, C Watkins, N Daly, D Duke, A Meeke

The Hook

SuperGroup give SA Women’s Hockey Super Send Off



On Thursday the Bryanston Country Club was the venue as new SA Women’s Hockey sponsor, SuperGroup, hosted a fantastic send off for the squad ahead of their departure to the Vitality Women’s Hockey World Cup. The eighteen selected players received their playing kits as well as some words of inspiration from various stakeholders present on the evening.

Peter Mountford, the Chief Executive Officer of SuperGroup, encouraged the players to take their experience of hardships and turn it into victory, to play with heart and to make the country proud. Peter spoke about his pride in linking up with the SA Women’s Hockey team and the belief that the two brands can stand shoulder to shoulder as proudly South African icons.

Luzuko Koti, the Director of Communications and Outreach at Nelson Mandela Foundation, then encouraged the team to summon the spirit of Madiba in the centenary year of his birth. Nelson Mandela was incredibly fond of sport and constantly used it as a vehicle to unite South Africans. We look forward to the South African Women embracing this spirit in London.

Sumaiya Khan, the Chief Operations Officer of the Department of Sport and Recreation, then shared a message highlighting the advancement of women in sport, coming at a time when South Africa has its first ever female Sports Minister in Honorable Minister Thokozile Xasa. And as she poignantly wrapped up to the ladies “You will go out there, you will have fun and you will make our country proud, as you always do!”

Marissa Langeni, the Chief Executive Officer of South African Hockey, as well as Sheldon Rostron, Head coach of the National Ladies team, both shared their appreciation towards the dignitaries and of course to SuperGroup for their fantastic decision to partner up.

With the local part of the preparation now complete, the South African ladies  fly to Holland where they will have a few training sessions and games before relocating to London for the 2018 Women’s Hockey World Cup.

South Africa will take part in Group C facing off against Germany (World Ranking – 6th) on 21 July, Spain (11th) on 26 July and Argentina (3rd) on 28 July. Teams that finish first will progress straight to the quarterfinals, teams finishing 2nd or 3rd will move to the playoffs while the fourth-placed team will be eliminated.

South African Squad

Phumelela Mbande, Marlize van Tonder, Erin Hunter, Kara Botes, Simone Gouws, Nicole Walraven, Lisa Deetlefs, Shelley Jones, Kristen Paton, Quanita Bobbs, Nicolene Terblanche, Sulette Damons, Candice Manuel, Ongi Mali, Lilian du Plessis, Tarryn Glasby, Dirkie Chamberlain and Jade Mayne

SA Hockey Association media release

Lulu Tuilotolava a Tongan trailblazer

By David Leggat


Lulu Tuilotolava is part of the Black Sticks squad leaving today for the World Cup. Photo / Photosport

Lulu Tuilotolava is a hockey trailblazer, and that's a tag that sits very comfortably, too.

She made her New Zealand debut in the recent tri-series in Cromwell against Japan and Australia, appeared in all six games, and is now off to the World Cup in London today, the only change from the squad that won gold at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April, replacing the now-retired Pippa Hayward.

And she's the first player of full Tongan descent to represent the Black Sticks, which is where the trailblazer part comes in.

The 22-year-old midfielder has made the national squad on the strength of two National Hockey League seasons and while Black Sticks coach Mark Hager knows there's plenty to work on, he's enthused by what he's seen of her.

Tuilotolava's involvement in the sport started in an unusual way.

One day when she was young, father Will saw the Black Sticks at the airport about to embark on an overseas trip.

He went up to one player, Caryn Paewai, asked who they were and where they were off to.

"He didn't know her and wondered what sport they were," said Tuilotolava.

Paewai offered some advice and from that tiny acorn, hockey was settled on as the sport for the family.

One of her two sisters and her brother play socially but Tuilotolava was hooked. From the age of five, it has been her sport of choice.

Sure, she loves watching rugby league - her father and Hager both support St George Illawarra in the NRL - and admitted she was "right there, front and centre" when the Tongans toppled the Kiwis in last year's league World Cup.

But Tuilotolava likes the idea of being something of a frontrunner for young Pacific Island women looking beyond the usual sporting pursuits for those raised in Island families.

"It's cool, so now these Pacific Islanders can think they can play hockey as well, so I feel I've opened a gate for them. It's a good feeling," she said.

Tuilotolava played in the 2016 NHL for Auckland, was picked up by Central in the draft for last year and is in the new, young wave of players looking to carry on the fine work of the recently departed big names, such as Kayla Whitelock, Gemma McCaw, Emily Naylor and Charlotte Harrison.

The interesting thing about her is that it was only recently that she focused her attention on making it to the top. Until then, the game had been fun but...

"It was only recently, at the end of the 2016 NHL tournament. I just felt I could be better. That's when I decided I'd have to do everything I could to make it into the Black Sticks. I had to lose a bit more weight, get a bit fitter and I set realistic goals for 2017."

The keys to her game, and one of the things which caught Hager's eye, is that she puts herself about assertively, in the best sense, has plenty of energy and a buzz about her.

"It's just so different," Tuilotolava said of the sport.

"The adrenaline when you are playing is just so cool, to go and play hard out for 60 minutes.

"I like the aggression of the sport. It's a non-contact sport but there's a lot of contact in it," she quipped.

She's excited by her first overseas trip with the national team and is becoming a sponge, listening to the star players such as captain Stacey Michelsen, Sam Charlton and Anita McLaren.

When Hager first saw her three years ago, "I thought she had a lot of talent but didn't have the fitness level. She didn't make the junior World Cup team."

But she improved her fitness and her game.

"She's got the uncanny ability to know where the net is," Hager said. "She has quick hands. a good shot, good goal sense.

"She does need to work on her fitness and speed but the other things are difficult to coach and she's brought versatility in our group.

"She's done well, she's learning the ropes and it's a hard school but she's pushing through it. At the moment, we're seeing the raw talent."

It'll take time, Hager's reckoning about two years, to really make her mark. Call that her development time. The idea of adding a forceful young presence in that crucial midfield role has plenty going for it.

And when she's at the World Cup, Tuilotolava, who is in her second year studying for a Bachelor in Communications at Massey, will likely spare a thought for parents Will and Luka, who have always encouraged their daughter to push to be the best she can.

"Life at the moment is going very well," she said.

The New Zealand Herald

AHF waiting for Indonesia

By Jugjet Singh


AHF CEO Datuk Tayyab Ikram

KUALA LUMPUR: The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) are still waiting for Indonesia to confirm the number of entries in the men's and women's tournaments before they can release groupings.

With 40 days to the start on Aug 18, the organisers have yet to confirm entries for hockey: "We are waiting for the organising committee to confirm the number of entries, and only after that can we sort out the groupings as well as the fixtures for men's and women's hockey," said AHF CEO Datuk Tayyab Ikram of Macau (pic).

Malaysia's chances at the Games all depend on the grouping, and going by current ranking, coach Stephen van Huizen's men can expect to play against Pakistan and China and could miss meeting South Korea and India at the group stage.

And if this happens, Malaysia's chances of making the semi-finals look bright.

In the men's tournament, the qualifiers are hosts Indonesia, India, Pakistan, South Korea, Malaysia, China, Japan, Oman, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Taiwan.

And there are only 10 teams in the women's event and they are hosts Indonesia, South Korea, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Kazakhstan.

"The Games will showcase the best of Asian hockey because at stake is a ticket to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo," said Tayyab.

Only the men's and women's gold medallists advance to Olympics, while the rest will play in another qualifier.

"For teams which do not qualify for the Olympics, the Games will be a very good avenue to prepare for the Asian Champions Trophy (In Muscat, on Oct 18-28) and also the World Cup in India," said Tayyab.

Malaysia India, Pakistan, South Korea, Japan and Oman will play in the ACT, while the Asian World Cup qualifiers are India, Malaysia, Pakistan and China.

"At the recent Champions Trophy, silver medallists India and Pakistan played very well and I believe Asian teams are making a strong comeback against higher ranked teams.

"And I hope the second tier of Asia will also use the Asian Games to improve and popularise the sport in their respective countries, expecially hosts Indonesia," said the Asian CEO.

Jugjet's World of Field Hockey

‘Pakistan hockey gloom to continue at Asiad, World Cup’

Mohammad Yaqoob

LAHORE: While expressing disappointment over Pakistan team’s pathetic show in the recently-concluded Champions Trophy and its development squad’s poor performance against Canada, celebrated Olympian Manzoor-ul-Hasan Senior reckons there is no immediate solution to the crisis.

He believes the gloomy situation will remain unchanged for Pakistan during next month’s Asian Games in Indonesia and later at the 2018 World Cup to be hosted by India in December.

Pakistan finished last at the six-nation Champions Trophy held in Breda, Holland, where Australia won the title after defeating India in the final. Pakistan, despite having a highly qualified foreign coach -- Dutch Roelant Oltmans -- failed to impress in the event’s last edition.

Speaking to Dawn, Manzoor said while senior team’s performance was very much expected the poor show by the development squad worried him more, noting they conceded 26 goals in the five-match series against a lowly-ranked Canada.

“First of all no one knows for what purpose this development squad has been developed by the Pakistan Hockey Federation during the last three years. A couple of years ago, the same so-called squad stayed in Australia for four-month training but not a single player emerged from them to serve Pakistan either in the national senior or junior team,” Manzoor underscored.

“Now instead of sending the development squad to a trip to Europe where our players could have earned valuable experience, the authorities sent them to Canada.

“At the end of the tour, the [development] squad should have been in Breda to watch the Champions Trophy matches. However, the PHF sent them to another corner of the world [Canada] which indicates the federation has no vision,” lamented Manzoor.

He said Oltmans move to pull out his goalkeeper in the last six minutes of the match against arch-rivals India backfired badly as the decision enlarged Pakistan’s defeat from 0-1 to 0-4.

“Oltmans was first appointed as Pakistan coach by former PHF secretary Mussaratullah back in 2003-04 but he had strained relations with the federation. Later, India also tested Oltmans but sacked him due to his attitude. And no one can justify for what reason Pakistan has again hired his services,” Manzoor noted.

“If the PHF pays even one-fourth of the amount it is paying to Oltmans, to a Pakistani coach he can bring more positive results,” claimed Manzoor.

At next month’s Asian Games in Indonesia Pakistan had the chance to qualify for the 2020 Olympics by winning gold medal the past results indicate it would not be an easy task, he added.

“In the presence of India as the main rivals and the results of last year’s three-nation tournament staged in Oman [featuring Japan, Pakistan, Oman], Japan emerged victorious, I reckon at least there would be three main rivals for Pakistan in Indonesia including South Korea, Japan and India. Considering this scenario, chances of Pakistan winning gold medal look dim,” he said.

“Under the current circumstances, Pakistan’s chances in World Cup also appear very low because there are no immediate solutions to put things on right track.”

He said chief selector Islahuddin Siddiqi, a well-known Olympian of Manzoor’s era, should have resigned when Oltmans had succeeded in getting the right of deciding the final 16 players squad for any tour.

“When the head coach has to select the touring squad then what role is left for the chief selector should be anybody’s guess,” Manzoor said.

Dawn

Ovington signed up for Old Alex return


Ivan Ovington returns to the head coach role at Old Alex. Pic: Adrian Boehm

Old Alex will welcome back Ivan Ovington as their head coach for their maiden season in the women’s EY Hockey League, taking over the reins from Nicky King.

Ovington coached Alex for several seasons in before concentrating on his role at St Andrew’s College where he has won seven All-Ireland schoolboy titles, including five in the last six seasons.

He will be joined on the coaching roster by former Pembroke and Andrew’s players Scott Lowrie who was, last term, involved with Monkstown’s men as an assistant coach and video analyst.

Elsewhere, David Keogh will coach Glenanne’s women in Leinster league Division One while Mark Lambe has moved on following a long stint with Our Ladies and will now take on the head coach job at North Kildare.

The Hook