News 13 March 2014
All the news for Thursday 13 March 2014
Japan salvage draw with Black Sticks
Photo: www.photosport.co.nz
The Black Sticks have drawn 2-2 with Japan in the opening game of their three game series at Blake Park in Tauranga tonight.
New Zealand scored the first two goals of the game and led 2-1 at halftime before Japan battled back to equalise from a Manabu Hatakeyama penalty corner shot right on fulltime.
Head coach Colin Batch said it was disappointing to allow Japan to equalise but that there were lots of positives to come out of the game.
“I thought we played well in second half, we created a number of chances but didn’t take them. We had an error at the end and conceded at the wrong time,” Batch said.
“I was happy with our structure and pressure on Japan in the second half. They defended very well but we had five or six chances and should’ve scored.
“I think tactically we still need to get better. When the pressure is on it’s about possession and keeping the ball moving. We need to play intelligently with more numbers behind the ball rather than in front of the ball.”
Earlier, the Black Sticks celebrated Marcus Child’s 50th test cap and opened the game with all the possession going their way and created several chances on attack.
It took just seven minutes until Steve Edwards lit up the scoreboard after eliminating two defenders and drilling a reverse shot into the back of the goal.
Stephen Jenness made it 2-0 less than 10 minutes later with a similar cutting run into the circle before beating the Japanese goalkeeper on the reverse from a tight angle.
Ippei Fujimoto put Japan on the scoreboard with a field goal against the run of play midway through the first half, with the score remaining 2-1 at halftime.
In an open second half, both sides produced some fast flowing hockey but couldn’t crack the defence. The Black Sticks had three penalty corner attempts but weren’t able to add to their lead.
With three minutes remaining Japan took their goalkeeper off and with an extra field player, managed to win a penalty corner at the other end. Hatakeyama’s low sweep beat Devon Manchester in goal with the game ending a draw.
The Black Sticks are back in action for game two of the three game series tomorrow night at 7pm.
Black Sticks 2: (Steve Edwards, Stephen Jenness)
Japan 2: (Ippei Fujimoto, Manabu Hatakeyama)
Halftime: New Zealand 2-1
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Japan score surprise first test draw against NZ
By David Leggat
New Zealand's Nick Haig comes under pressure from Japanese players during the first test in Mt Maunganui last night. Photo / Alan Gibson
A last-minute goal enabled Japan to pull off a surprise 2-2 men's hockey draw with the far higher-ranked New Zealand in their opening international at Mt Maunganui last night.
Manabu Hatakeyama got the crucial goal for world No 14 Japan, as sixth-ranked New Zealand squandered a two-goal lead in the first half.
It was far from the start to the three-game series the Black Sticks were looking for.
Japan, young and inexperienced, had to scrap hard with New Zealand having the bulk of the possession in the first spell.
New Zealand got out to a 2-0 through goals by midfielder Steve Edwards, with a smart reverse stick shot after seven minutes, then Stephen Jenness doubled the lead after a strong run.
Japan nabbed one goal back, against the run of play, through a neat reverse stick shot by Ippei Fujimoto.
New Zealand had a couple of penalty corner opportunities which they couldn't capitalise on. Near the end, Japan took their goalkeeper off and won a penalty corner of their own, from which Hatakeyama delivered some Japanese delight.
Japan drew one and lost two of their warmup games against a strong Invitation XI in Auckland last week.
The second test is at the Mount tonight.
The New Zealand Herald
Japan holds Black Sticks men to a 2-2 draw
BRENDON EGAN
The Black Sticks' men have drawn 2-2 with Japan in the opening game of their three game series.
New Zealand scored the first two goals of the game played in Tauranga tonight and led 2-1 at halftime before Japan battled back to equalise from a Manabu Hatakeyama penalty corner shot right on fulltime.
Head coach Colin Batch said it was disappointing to allow Japan to equalise, but that there were lots of positives to come out of the game.
"I thought we played well in the second half, we created a number of chances, but didn't take them. We had an error at the end and conceded at the wrong time," Batch said.
"I was happy with our structure and pressure on Japan in the second half. They defended very well, but we had five or six chances and should've scored.''
Earlier, the Black Sticks celebrated Marcus Child's 50th test cap and opened the game with all the possession going their way, creatign several chances on attack.
It took just seven minutes until Steve Edwards lit up the scoreboard after eliminating two defenders and drilling a reverse shot into the back of the goal.
Stephen Jenness made it 2-0 less than 10 minutes later with a similar cutting run into the circle before beating the Japanese goalkeeper on the reverse from a tight angle.
Ippei Fujimoto put Japan on the scoreboard with a field goal against the run of play midway through the first half, with the score remaining 2-1 at halftime.
In an open second half, both sides produced some fast flowing hockey but couldn't crack each other's defence. The Black Sticks had three penalty corner attempts but weren't able to add to their lead.
With three minutes remaining Japan took their goalkeeper off and with an extra field player managed to win a penalty corner. Hatakeyama's low sweep beat Devon Manchester in goal with the game ending a draw.
The Black Sticks are back in action for game two of the three game series tomorrow night at 7pm.
Stuff
Impending storm forces reschedule for Black Sticks
Photo: www.photosport.co.nz
Game three of the Black Sticks vs Japan series has been rescheduled from Saturday to Friday night due to the severe weather warning for Tropical Cyclone Lusi.
The decision came late today from Tournament Director Dave Potter, with advice from Metservice suggesting Saturday will be unplayable due to extreme rain and wind.
Both the New Zealand and Japan team officials were consulted and decided they would rather play the final game of the series tomorrow rather than face a washout.
Game three will now be played at 5.30pm Friday 14 March at Blake Park in Tauranga.
Tickets for Saturday’s game pre-purchased through the TicketDirect website will be valid for tomorrow’s rescheduled game. As per ticketing conditions there are no refunds on tickets already purchased.
The schedule change also means there will be no live streaming for the game.
Hockey New Zealand Media release
New look Malaysia
AZLAN SHAH CUP: Dharmaraj turns to juniors for help
By JUGJET SINGH
Faizal Saari will lead the strikeforce replacing Razie Rahim.
THERE will be a massive change in the Malaysian backline when the hosts open their Azlan Shah Cup campaign against South Africa in Ipoh today.
Missing will be goalkeeper S. Kumar and defenders Razie Rahim and Baljit Singh, all stalwarts with the national team.
The three are on the injured list, and coach K. Dharmaraj had to dig deep into the junior ranks to find six other replacements.
Malaysia are last year's silver medallists, while champions Australia will be gunning for their eighth Azlan Shah Cup in the 23rd edition.
The other challengers for the title this year are South Korea, Canada and China.
Malaysia will rely on Faizal Saari and national junior Shahril Saabah to replace No 1 flicker Razie.
The other juniors who helped Malaysia finished fourth in the New Delhi World Cup and drafted into the Azlan Shah Cup squad are defenders Faiz Helmi Jali and Izad Hakimi, midfield duo Fitri Saari and Meor Azuan Hassan, and forward Firhan Ashaari.
However, all the juniors have played for the senior side in other tournaments and are not wet behind their ears.
Raging favourites Australia are serious about winning their eighth crown.
"The Azlan Shah Cup is our last tournament before the World Cup and the squad have been picked with that in mind," Australian coach Ric Charlesworth said on http://www.hockey.org.au.
"We've selected based on a range of objectives, including load management. We've got athletes who have played in the Oceania Cup, World League Finals and Hockey India League and we need to look after them with both the World Cup and Commonwealth Games coming up.
"Some, like Jamie Dwyer, were rested for the World League Finals but now need to come back and play with the group."
TODAY: Australia v China (6pm), South Africa v Malaysia (8pm).
New Straits Times
Crunch time for coach Dharmaraj
By Aftar Singh
Time to deliver. National hockey coach K. Dharmaraj with his players during their first training session in January, will take charge of his first major tournament of the year in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh starting on Thursday. - Filepic
IPOH: K. Dharmaraj may have proven his capabilities as the national juniors coach by guiding Malaysia to a creditable fourth place in the Junior World Cup in New Delhi last December, but can he deliver with the senior squad?
The focus will be on the Malaccan in his first assignment as the national chief coach in the six-nation Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, which begins in Ipoh on Thursday.
Former international Dharmaraj replaced Paul Revington in January, after the South African quit due to personal reasons.
The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) have set a top-three target for the national team in the 23rd edition of the tournament.
Ranked 13th in the world, Malaysia will open their campaign against 12th-ranked South Africa on Thursday at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium.
The other teams in the fray are defending champions and world No. 1 Australia, South Korea (No. 7), Canada (No. 15) and China (No. 25).
The 45-year-old Dharmaraj said that he is looking forward to guiding the team to a good start in the tournament.
“It is my first assignment as the national chief coach and I am optimistic that we can finish among the top three.
“It will be a bonus if we can reach the final,” said Dharmaraj.
Malaysia last played South Africa in the second round of the World League in Johor Baru last September, where the local boys won 4-2.
Dharmaraj added that since taking over the national team, he has lost a number of senior players to injuries.
“Some of the players had to opt out because of studies and personal matters. So, I had to include six newcomers from the Junior World Cup.
“I have faith in them and believe that they will be able to deliver,” said Dharmaraj.
The new faces in the team are goalkeepers Mohd Hafizuddin Othman and Mohd Hazrul Faiz Ahmad Sobri, defender Shazril Irwan Nazli, midfielder Azri Hassan, and forwards Mohd Shahril Saabah and Mohd Rashid Baharom.
Dharmaraj said that the six newcomers would definitely put pressure on the seniors to fight for a place in next month’s Champions Challenge I tournament in Kuantan.
“I want dedicated and committed players who can give their best. It will also be good to see how well the six newcomers cope with the pressure and challenges of the tournament,” said Dharmaraj, adding that starting on the right foot in the first match would motivate the players for the rest of the tournament.
Seasoned campaigner and skipper Azlan Misron will marshall the defence while the experienced Mohd Sukri Abdul Mutalib will lead the midfield.
Spearheading the strike force is the diminutive Faizal Saari, who featured in the Hockey India League for Mumbai Magicians in January. He will also be relied on to deliver the goals from penalty corners.
The Star of Malaysia
Clash of the rookie head coaches
By Aftar Singh
IPOH: Malaysia’s K. Dharmaraj is not the only coach facing his first assignment at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh. South Africa’s Fabian Gregory is also making his debut.
Gregory, who had been the women’s national assistant coach for the last 10 years, replaced Charlie Pereira as the head coach last month.
The 40-year-old Gregory, whose contract extends until the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, said that he is still getting to know the players.
“The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, which begins tomorrow (today), will be my first assignment.
“I have not set any specific target for the tournament but we are in the process of building a strong team for the World Cup in The Hague, Holland, in May,” said Gregory.
South Africa qualified for the World Cup by emerging champions in the African Cup of Nations tournament in Kenya last November.
Gregory said they are in Ipoh with a fairly seasoned team. Only Brandon Panther, Dylan Swanepoel, Robin Jones and Ignatius Malgraff have fewer than 10 international caps to their credit.
They will be led by seasoned campaigner and skipper Wade Paton, who is also the penalty corner specialist.
South Africa will open their campaign against Malaysia today at 8pm.
Gregory said that they hope to get off to a good start against the hosts although the weather in Ipoh is hot and humid.
“We are happy to play our first match against Malaysia at night as the conditions are much cooler,” said Gregory.
The last time the two countries met was at the World League semi-finals in Johor Baru last September, where Malaysia won 6-4.
South Africa last featured in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in 2005, when it was a seven-nation meet. They finished last then.
Last month, South Africa played five Test matches against Argentina, losing four and drawing one.
The Star of Malaysia
SA hockey men expect fast-paced match against hosts Malaysia
JONATHAN COOK in Ipoh, Malaysia
New SA men's hockey team head coach Fabian Gregory is expecting individuals to step up during the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia. Photo: RODRIGO JARAMILLO
Fabian Gregory, head coach of the South Africa men’s hockey team, is expecting Malaysia to play a fast-paced match when the countries clash in the opening round of the 23rd Azlan Shah Cup tournament in the city of Ipoh in Malaysia Thursday.
“The Malaysians are exceptionally fast and will look to catch us on the counter-attack,” said Gregory, who is the full-time director of coaching at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Hockey Club.
“Unlike us, the Malaysians are pretty much full-time players who are in the middle of their season and are match-hardened, so it will be a big test. But on the other hand they will be under pressure as it is an important home tournament for them and part of a big year that includes hosting the Champions Challenge and playing in the World Cup and Commonwealth Games.”
The 2.05pm (SA time) start follows two trainings Gregory held with the team Wednesday, this after the lads in green and gold’s arrival in Ipoh on Tuesday afternoon.
Gregory is looking for encouraging results from his side at the Azlan Shah.
“The last two series [against Argentina and Germany] formed part of a training phase, but we are now in a performance phase for the Azlan Shah and I am expecting top performances from the players,” said Gregory at the team hotel Wednesday.
“The brief to the players for the Argentina and Germany series was to play without fear, it gave individuals the opportunity to express themselves, and our goals were not outcomes based in terms of results.”
As far as preparation for the year’s big tournaments are concerned, Gregory said the world’s 12th-ranked South Africa are far behind their fellow Azlan Shah participants in world number one Australia, world seven South Korea and world number 13 Malaysia.
“Against these three it will be an opportunity to see what we can do with regards to our attacking and defensive patterns, the quality of the work we do when we are not in possession, how long can we be competitive against better sides, and how many penalty corner we give away as well as how many PCs we win.”
There is no doubt that South Africa will be satisfied with nothing less than victory against world number 16 Canada and world 25 China.
After the teams have completed the round-robin phase in this six-team event, they go into the final classification and medal matches on Sunday, March 23.
SOUTH AFRICA’S FIXTURES
(All South Africa time – Malaysia is six hours ahead)
Thurs, 13 Mar: SA vs Malaysia (2.05pm)
Fri, 14 Mar: SA vs China (2.05pm)
Mon, 17 Mar: SA vs Australia (10.05am)
Wed, 19 Mar: SA vs Canada (12.05pm)
Sat, 22 Mar: SA vs South Korea (2.05pm)
Sun, 23 Mar: Classification and medal matches.
SOUTH AFRICA
(Tournament team): Rassie Pieterse, Jacques le Roux, Francois Pretorius, Robin Jones, Dylan Swanepoel, Jethro Eustice, Rhett Halkett, Wade Paton, Clint Panther, Jonty Robinson, Tim Drummond, Taylor Dart, Owen Mvimbi, Pierre de Voux, Lungi Tsolekile, Brandon Panther, Ignatuis Malgraff, Julian Hykes.
SA Hockey Association media release
Milestone match for three
Hayward in line to debut as Ockenden & Simpson reach 200 & 100 matches
Double centurion Eddie Ockenden
Three Kookaburras are in line to make milestone appearances for Australia in tonight’s live televised opening match at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia.
Facing world number 25 China, Darwin-born NT star Jeremy Hayward will make his senior competitive international debut in the iconic gold singlet following his recent call-up to the national squad.
At the other end of the experience spectrum, Tasmanian Eddie Ockenden will step out for the 200th time. The Hobart star recently became the first Tassie boy to score 50 goals for the national team.
Eltham born midfielder Glenn Simpson had an excellent 2013 and after being rested from duty during the World League Finals in Delhi the Victorian midfielder is in line to reach a century of caps for Australia in the match.
Watch live
The Kookaburras v China will be shown live on Eurosport Australia, Foxtel channel 511. If you don’t have Foxtel then a subscription online streaming service is available through ‘Astro on the go’, a Malaysian service.
You can also follow the match via our live Twitter commentary by following the @Kookaburras on Twitter and using the hashtag #AzlanShah.
A website dedicated to the tournament can be found at www.azlanshahcup.com.
Kookaburras squad for Sultan Azlan Shah
13-23 March 2014 - Ipoh, Malaysia
Athlete (Hometown, State) Caps/Goals
Daniel Beale (Brisbane, QLD) 20/5
Nick Budgeon (Hobart, TAS) 14/3
Andrew Charter (GK) (Canberra, ACT) 54/0
Chris Ciriello (Melbourne, VIC) 125/69
Liam De Young (Brisbane, QLD) 296/34
Jamie Dwyer (Rockhampton, QLD) 308/200
Russell Ford (Melbourne, VIC) 143/69
Matt Gohdes (Rockhampton, QLD) 80/22
Rob Hammond (Townsville, QLD) 239/28
Jeremy Hayward (Darwin, NT) 0/0
Mark Knowles (Rockhampton, QLD) 224/18
Tyler Lovell (GK) (Perth, WA) 14/0
Trent Mitton (Perth, WA) 48/14
Eddie Ockenden (Hobart, TAS) 199/51
Andrew Philpott (Melbourne, VIC) 9/1
Glenn Simpson (Melbourne, VIC) 99/19
Jake Whetton (Brisbane, QLD) 46/18
Tristan White (Wollongong, NSW) 21/1
Kookaburras staff for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
Ric Charlesworth, National Coach
Graham Reid, Assistant Coach
Paul Gaudoin, Assistant Coach
Kathleen Partridge, Goalkeeper Coach
Ben Bishop, Videographer
Suzanne Goodall, Physiotherapist
Vance Lock, Psychologist
Martin Ferrari, Team Manager
Kookaburras fixtures at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
Date - Fixture - Result - Local time - AEDT – AWST
Thurs. 13 March - Kookaburras v China - 18:05 - 21:05 - 18:05
Sun. 16 March - Kookaburras v Canada - 18:05 - 21:05 - 18:05
Mon. 17 March - South Africa v Kookaburras - 16:05 - 19:05 - 16:05
Thurs. 20 March - Korea v Kookaburras - 20:05 - 23:05 - 20:05
Sat. 22 March - Kookaburras v Malaysia - 18:05 - 21:05 - 18:05
Sun. 23 March - Finals Day & Classification - 15:35 - 18:35 - 15:35
Hockey Australia media release
Kookaburras LIVE on Eurosport Australia
Photo: AFP
Australia’s men’s hockey team, the Kookaburras, are LIVE on Eurosport Australia this week as they contest the prestigious Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia.
Five-time World Player of the Year Jamie Dwyer headlines’ the Kookaburras’ squad, with three-time Olympian and Athens 2004 gold medallist Liam De Young set to become just the fourth Australian to play 300 games.
EUROSPORT AUSTRALIA, FOXTEL CH 511:
Hockey: Azlan Shah Cup; Australia v China LIVE at 9pm on Thursday 13/3, Australia v Canada LIVE at 9pm on Sunday 16/3, Australia v South Africa LIVE at 7pm on Monday 17/3.
Eurosport Australia
Canada Women prepare for second half of US Series
Sara McManus Earns 50th Cap
Lancaster, PA - After matches against the USA on Monday and Tuesday, it is an off day for Field Hockey Canada Women’s National team; an opportunity to rest, recover and review for the second half of the Canadian-American Series being held in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. After falling 7-0 in the first game, Canada showed improvement in game 2 (final score of 4-0 in favour of the USA).
"Tuesday’s performance was a significant step up from Game 1 and it was a well fought battle,” said Ian Rutledge, Head Coach of the Women’s National Team. "To play a Top 10 team at this stage is vital in establishing a baseline assessment of where we are at 4 and a half months out from the Commonwealth Games."
An always strong American program sees their National team well into there 2014 World Cup preparation, coming into this event with two recently completed series under their belt. The USA Series provides the first competitive opportunity for the Canadians in 2014.
Having only had two full pitch trainings ahead of the series and coming off the back of a rigorous fitness regime, that has the players at their personal best physically, Rutledge commented on the teams performance - "There is no doubt we were under prepared for Monday's match but it went along way in highlighting our areas for future focus. The improvements between Monday and Tuesday are testament to the athletes work ethic, focus and resilience".
In Tuesday’s game (the second of four matches) the first half was a closely fought affair, with the USA converting a penalty stroke in the 30th minute, before heading to the break 2-nil up, adding their second on the stroke of half time.
"Our attacking shape was significantly better today, as was our pressing structure," added Rutledge. "Our focus for this series is on perfecting key components of our game ahead of the upcoming events in late July and early September, and there is nothing like putting our game to the test against a very well prepared and experienced USA team".
The two teams take a well earned break tomorrow before Thursday's Game Three and Friday’s Game Four (both played at 6:00PM EST).
"It is important that we continue to improve throughout the series and establish momentum for the year ahead. The players will be working hard to ensure they firstly match today's effort and then look to progress further by the end of the week", Rutledge added.
As a key event in the game, deep defender, Sara McManus played very well in her 50th cap, which is an impressive achievement for a 20 year old, playing in a critical high-pressured position.
FHC Women’s National Team - USA Series
1 Lauren Logush (GK)
2 Kaitlyn Williams (GK)
3 Jessica Barnett
4 Danielle Hennig
5 Karli Johansen
6 Kathleen Leahy
7 Sara McManus
8 Kaelan Watson
9 Ashley Kristen
10 Hannah Haughn
11 Abigail Raye
12 Poonam Sandhu
13 Maddie Secco
14 Natalie Sourisseau
15 Kristine Wishart
16 Kate Gillis
17 Stephanie Norlander
18 Brienna Stairs
19 Tegan Stairs
Field Hockey Canada media release
Relegation threat for four teams
Loughborough Students pressure Beeston, Feb 2013
THE battle to avoid the threat of relegation continues this weekend, with four teams still fighting to dodge the drop in the NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey League Premier Division.
Any one of three teams could still automatically go down, while any one of four could find themselves embroiled in the play-offs with the three Conference winners.
Sheffield Hallam – who dropped to bottom following Loughborough Students’ win last weekend - entertain Canterbury on Sunday, while the Students play host to Beeston.
Eighth-placed Cannock take on Surbiton at Chase Park on Saturday, and first team coach and performance director Andy Mitchell is looking forward to an exciting match.
“With my hand on my heart, I think we can beat Surbiton at home. It’s going to be tough for them to come to us, because the crowd at Cannock always gets right behind us.
“Cannock is a massive hockey club, but apart from the student sides we’re the youngest in the league. We lack a little match craft sometimes, but we score plenty of goals and hopefully that will see us through.
“And our final match is against our Midlands rivals Beeston, so again – who knows what could happen? I think we’ve got to get something out of these last two games to make us safe, but we can do it.”
Elsewhere Hampstead and Westminster entertain Wimbledon knowing a victory in Sunday’s match will ensure their Premier Division safety.
And at the top end of the table East Grinstead take on third-placed Reading with both sides battling for automatic qualification for Europe.
The race for a place in the promotion play-offs continues with leaders Brooklands Manchester University hosting second-placed Bowdon in the NOW: Pensions Conference North on Saturday. Victory for Brooklands will ensure they go forward to the play-offs.
Cardiff and Met play host to Isca in the NOW: Pensions Conference West. Currently top of the table by just two points, Cardiff will want to maintain their lead and stave off second-placed Team Bath Buccaneers who go to Cheltenham.
And in the NOW: Pensions Conference East leaders Southgate play Old Loughtonians on Saturday afternoon, while second-placed Holcombe entertain bottom of the table St Albans on Saturday evening.
League Finals Weekend
The winners of the NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey League and the Investec Women’s Hockey League will be crowned over two action-packed weekends at Reading Hockey Club in April. The top four Premier Division teams qualify for their respective finals weekends, playing off against each other to be crowned league champions.
The men’s finals will take place on the 5-6 April while the women will battle it out a week later from 12-13 April. Tickets are now available to purchase for both weekends, please visit www.englandhockey.co.uk/tickets
NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey League (Saturday, March 15 2014)
NOW: Pensions Premier Division
Cannock v Surbiton 14:00
NOW: Pensions Conference East
Holcombe v St Albans 18:00
Southgate v Old Loughtonians 14:00
Teddington v Oxted 13:45
NOW: Pensions Conference North
Brooklands MU v Bowdon 14:00
NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey League (Sunday, March 16 2014)
NOW: Pensions Premier Division
East Grinstead v Reading 14:00
Hampstead and Westminster v Wimbledon 14:00
Loughborough Students v Beeston 14:00
Sheffield Hallam v Canterbury 13:30
NOW: Pensions Conference East
Brighton and Hove v Bromley and Beckenham 13:00
Cambridge City v Richmond 12:30
NOW: Pensions Conference North
Khalsa v Leek 14:30
Olton and West Warwickshire v West Bridgford 13:30
University of Durham v Deeside Ramblers 13:30
Wakefield v Belper 14:00
NOW: Pensions Conference West
Cardiff and Met v Isca 13:00
Cheltenham v Team Bath Buccaneers 13:00
Fareham v University of Birmingham 13:30
Guildford v Indian Gymkhana 12:00
University of Exeter v Havant 12:30
England Hockey Board Media release
Play-off hopes hang in the balance
Bowdon v Canterbury Amy Tennant in goal
WITH three teams still harbouring hopes of clinching the final play-off spot, this weekend’s matches could prove decisive in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division.
Currently sixth in the table, Bowdon Hightown could scrape into the top four – but they need to beat both Surbiton this weekend and Reading the following weekend, and hope other results go their way with two other teams also in the running for the final play-off spot.
The Cheshire side are very capable of mixing it with the teams above them – they drew with leaders Canterbury and did the double over Leicester this season – and could play a big part in the European dreams of all the top clubs.
“Our objective this season has always been to make it to the top four,” said Bowdon Hightown manager Roger Hunt. “We’ve got two massive and difficult games coming up, but we will give it our best shot.
“We’ve had some really good results and played really well at times this season, but also had some bad results, so we’re hoping we can get some good form now.
“This season has been a mix of experienced players like Tina Cullen and Michelle Liptrot, but also some great youngsters like Amy Tennant, and we’ve had three girls in the England Under-18s set-up.
“We’re already planning for next season and aiming to build on this with a few signings, but also giving some second team players the chance to step up as they’ve shown they deserve that chance.”
Meanwhile, Reading will be aiming to go top of the table and secure the automatic place in Europe when they go to Leicester, while Canterbury host relegated Olton and West Warwickshire and will want to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat to Surbiton.
Clifton travel to Sutton Coldfield, with both sides battling. Clifton are aiming for a win to keep hold of the final play-off spot, while Sutton Coldfield are fighting for their lives to avoid the threat of relegation.
Finally, Beeston play host to University of Birmingham, who need a point to ensure Premier Division survival.
Already assured of a place in the promotion play-offs, Holcombe will be aiming to keep their great form going when they host Old Loughtonians in the Investec Conference East.
However it is still a three-way battle for top spot in the Investec Conference North. Current leaders Brooklands Poynton host Loughborough Students, while second-placed Wakefield entertain third-placed university of Durham.
And in the Investec Conference West, leaders Buckingham could clinch their place in the promotion play-offs if they win at Isca on Saturday.
League Finals Weekend
The winners of the Investec Women’s Hockey League and the NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey League will be crowned over two action-packed weekends at Reading Hockey Club in April. The top four Premier Division teams qualify for their respective finals weekends, playing off against each other to be crowned league champions.
The men’s finals will take place on the 5-6 April while the women will battle it out a week later from 12-13 April. Tickets are now available to purchase for both weekends, please visit www.englandhockey.co.uk/tickets
Investec Women’s Hockey League (Saturday, March 15 2014)
Investec Premier Division
Beeston v University of Birmingham 12:00
Bowdon Hightown v Surbiton 13:45
Canterbury v Olton and West Warwickshire 17:00
Leicester v Reading 14:00
Sutton Coldfield v Cliffton14:00
Investec Conference East
East Grinstead v Horsham 13:30
Holcombe v Old Loughtonians 16:00
Ipswich v Harleston Magpies 14:00
Sevenoaks v Chelmsford 13:30
Wimbledon v St Albans 14:00
Investec Conference North
Boots v Ben Rhydding 12:30
Brooklands Poynton v Loughborough Students 12:00
Doncaster v Kendal 12:00
Stourport v Whitley Bay and Tynemouth 12:00
Wakefield v University of Durham 13:30
Investec Conference West
Barnes v Oxford Hawks 12:00
Bristol Firebrands v Trojans 11:30
Gloucester City v Swansea City 12:00
Isca v Buckingham 12:30
Slough v Exe
England Hockey Board Media release
The League Finals Weekends are taking shape
In the NOW: Pensions Men's Hockey League East Grinstead, Reading, Beeston and Surbiton have all qualified for the chance to be crowned Champions. For the Investec Women's Hockey League Canterbury, Reading and Surbiton have made their way into the top four but the fourth place is still up for grabs, with a three-way battle in prospect for the final matches of the regular season.
There only two weeks and two matches left until the final league positions are locked in place, and we know all the teams who will be fighting for glory, promotion from the Conferences, or to avoid relegation. You can be there too - advance tickets are still available, with savings upwards of 25% compared to on the door.
For the men, the fourth and final playoff team from the Premier Division was decided last weekend, meaning East Grinstead, Reading, Beeston and Surbiton have all earned themselves enough points that they can't be knocked out of the top four. There are only seven points between first and fourth place, so while Surbiton can't make it to the top spot the other three are all still in with a shot, with East Grinstead currently taking the edge on goal difference.
At the other end of the table there are four teams that could still potentially find themselves in the relegation spot before the league ends, so it's all to play for. Meanwhile in the three Conferences there are two teams in each that are still vying for their place in the play-off tournament, where the top two winners will earn a place in the Premier Division.
In the women's Investec Premier Division a third team qualified for the playoffs last weekend, meaning Canterbury, Reading and Surbiton have now all guaranteed their presence at the Finals Weekend. But there's a race to the finish on for the fourth space and three teams all stand a chance at taking it. Clifton, Leicester and Bowdon Hightown are all within distance of the final spot with only two points between fourth and sixth place.
In the women's Conference East Holcombe have gained a large enough lead that they can't be topped in their run for the play off tournament, but they won't know who they're playing as in every other Conference two teams are close enough to each other that any of them could take pole position.
England Hockey Board Media release
Wokingham Schools mini tournament
Oaklands School, Gold Medalists
Sonning Hockey Club hosted the annual Wokingham Schools mini tournament on Tuesday 4th March 2014. With ten teams in attendance, it was a fantastic opportunity for children to experience playing hockey.
Sonning HC organised the event with Wokingham Schools co-ordinator Gwenda Lappin providing the pitch and umpires in the interests of supporting their local schools and helping to encourage more children into enjoying sport.
The tournament was comprised of ten teams, entered from eight local schools. With a mixed range of abilities, it was a fantastic opportunity for children to experience playing hockey on a proper synthetic pitch. Some of the children that turned up had never picked up a stick before, but they thoroughly enjoyed their introduction to hockey. There was some excellent ability on display from the more experienced sides which produced several riveting matches. Winnersh drew against Radstock A (pictured below) for the 3rd place play-off in a tense 2-2 draw and Oaklands (pictured above) beat Radstock B 2-0 for gold in the final.
Radstock School Team A & B, Bronze and Silver Medalists
Winning this tournament Oaklands will be invited to the next stage of the school championships, which will be taking place at Bradfield College in the near future.
The day proved to be a wonderful success, with Nick Digby, Director of Junior Development at Sonning HC, pledging the clubs support and saying “ Sonning HC would like to thank all the children involved for making this such a fantastic tournament and appreciate the support the schools and council give to make this happen. It’s because of everyone’s great co-operation that this event was so rewarding and hopefully this will continue so future generations can have the same opportunity”.
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England Hockey Board Media release
Scottish Schools Open Cup Results
Watsons School Girls
The Scottish Schools Open Cup took place today in the beautiful sunshine at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.
Mary Erskine Girls
The teams played to a semi-final, with Mary Erskine and George Watson's College returning to Glasgow on Friday 21 March for the final
Results
George Watsons College 7 - 1 Gordonstoun
Kelso High School 0 - 2 Strathallan
High School of Glasgow 1 - 1 St Columbas
Robert Gordon College 1 - 2 Mary Erskine School
Gordonstoun 1 - 5 Kelso High School
George Watsons College 1 - 1 Strathallan
St Columbas 4 - 2 Robert Gordon College
High School of Glasgow 0 - 1 Mary Erskine School
Strathallan 6 - 1 Gordonstoun
Kelso High School 0 - 4 George Watsons College
Robert Gordon College 1 - 0 High School of Glasgow
Mary Erskine School 6 - 0 St Columbas
Semi finals
St Columbas (C Girdwood) 1 – 2 George Watsons College (C Prentice, K Holdgate)
Mary Erskine School (A Costello, KA Hastings) 2- 1 Strathallan School (C Wand)
Final
George Watsons College V Mary Erskine School
Scottish Hockey Union media release
IHL Round 3 This Saturday.
The midpoint of the Irish Hockey League is upon us as the best 24 club teams in the country hit the field again for Round 3 of the men’s & women’s Irish Hockey League building towards the finals weekend on 5th & 6th April at Banbridge Hockey Club.
On the men’s side Three Rock Rovers & Pembroke Wanderers (the 2014 ISC finalists) are enjoying maximum points each at the top of Table A being chased by Cookstown and Lisnagarvey on 5 apiece. Over in Pool B its Monkstown & Banbridge at the top, while Railway and UCD are dominating the table in the women’s Pool A. Pegasus are enjoying the full 8 points in Pool B being chased by Loreto on 6 and Cork Harlequins and Ards on 4.
The top two from each pool will qualify for the Semi Finals on Saturday 5th April before the finals on Sunday 6th (all in Banbridge HC) League tables and last week’s results for each pool are available at the below links for each pool.
Men Pool A
Saturday 15th March
13:30 Cork Harlequins vs Lisnagarvey
15:00 Three Rock Rovers vs Cookstown
15:30 Pembroke Wanderers vs Instonians
Men Pool B
Saturday 15th March
14:30 Annadale vs UCD
15:00 Cork Church of Ireland vs Monkstown
16:30 Banbridge vs Corinthian
Women Pool A
Saturday 15th March
14:00 UCD vs Greenfields
14:30 Lurgan vs Hermes Hockey Club
14:30 Railway Union vs Catholic Institute
Women Pool B
Saturday 15th March
13:00 Pegasus vs Cork Harlequins
14:30 Ballymoney vs Old Alex
14:30 Loreto Hockey Club vs Ards
Irish Hockey Association media release
Two Indian Hockey finals today
s2h Team
Division B men's final today
Division B finals of both Men and Junior girls will be played respectively at Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) and Mysore (Karnataka) today
New outfit Gangpur-Odisha will have to overcome surprise element Maharashtra in the final of the Senior Men's National Championship (Division B)underway in Lucknow, to make their own glory, today. Yesterday, in the first semifinal Gangpur-Odisha defeated Namdhari XI 2-0 to enter the final whereas Maharashtra won Mumbai 2-1.
This year the national championship format has been changed from monolithic to double leg to avoid mostly one-sided match which were bane of the event for long. The Division B therefore had teams that fared poorly in the last year championship, around 20.
This leg comes to its logical end today with the semifinals have been played out. Semis and finals have not much significance as being the toppers of each pool, these teams have already made it to Division A.
Semifinal Results:
Semifinal 1: Gangpur-Odisha 2 William Xalxo (42nd min) and Ashish Anmol Minz (59th min) defeat Namdhari XI 0
Semifinal 2: Maharashtra 2 Navneet Swarnkar (1st and 46th min) beat Mumbai 1 Amit Goswami (40th min).
Today's fixture (Thursday, 13th March, 2014)
1400 Hrs (Position Match) NAMDHARI XI V/s MUMBAI
1600 Hrs (FINAL) GANGPUR-ODISHA V/s MAHARASHTRA Meanwhile the finals of the Division B of the Junior Girls Nationals will also be held in Mysore after semifinals played out yesterday. Results:
Semifinals 1: Chhattisgarh 4: Ishika Chaudhary (8 min); Priyanka Parihar (34 min); Akanksha Parmar (38); Sadhna Sengar (65 min) defeat Manipur 0.
Semifinal 2: Kerala 2: Sindhu M R (26 min); Amala Thomas (68 min) defeat Gangpur Odisha 0 Finals Fixture today:
3/4th Position: Manipur Vs Gangpur -Odisha 1400 hrs
Final: Chhattisgarh Vs Kerala 1600 hrs
Stick2Hockey.com
FCI, UP, Railways win hockey nationals
LUCKNOW: Food Corporation of India (FCI) defeated Haryana 4-1 to register its first win, while Uttar Pradesh and Railways recorded their second consecutive wins on the second day of Division A matches at the fourth Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2014, on Wednesday.
After losing to Railways on Tuesday, FCI made an strong comeback to score the easy win over Haryana in Pool D.
FCI scored throuigh Ganendrajit Ningomban (6th and 59th minutes), Sunil (16th) and Vikram (22nd), while Haryana's lone goal was scored by Harpal Singh (45th) from a penalty stroke.
Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh registered its second consecutive win in Pool C by thrashing Jharkhand 4-1.
Diwakar Ram continued his impressive run and converted two penalty corners in the 10th and 35th minutes for UP before Jai Karan (44th) and Tushar Khandeker (60th) scored two field goals for the winners.
Chandan Aind scored Jharkhand's lone goal which came from a penalty stroke in the 41st minute.
In another Pool C game, Bhopal defeated Karnataka by a solitary goal which came as early as in the fourth minute from the sticks of Akram Iqbal.
In the last match of the day, Railways thrashed Tamil Nadu 6-0 to record its second straight win in Pool D.
Railways scored three goals each on either side of the break to post the comfortable win.
For Railmen, Malak Singh (2nd and 58th), Amit Rohidas (13th and 55th min) and Vinod Kumar Singh (30th and 70th) scored two goals each.
Wednesday's Result:
Pool D: FCI 4 Ganendrajit Ningomban (6th, 59th); Sunil (16th) and Vikram (22nd) vs Haryana 1 Harpal Singh (45th).
Pool C: Uttar Pradesh 4 Diwakar Ram (10th, 35th min); Jai Karan (44th) and Tushar Khandker (60th) vs Jharkhand 1 Chandan Aind (41st min).
Pool C: Hockey Bhopal 1 Akram Iqbal (4th) vs Karnataka 0. Pool D: Railway 6 Malak Singh (2nd, 58th); Amit Rohidas (13th, 55th) and Vinod Kumar Singh (30th, 70th) vs Tamil Nadu 0.
The Times of India
Gangpur-Odisha, Maharashtra enter final of hockey nationals
LUCKNOW: Gangpur, Odisha and Maharashtra will face each other in the title clash of Division B after registering hard-fought wins in their respective semifinals of the fourth Hockey India Senior Men National Championship, on Wednesday.
While the Odisha outfit defeated Namdhari XI 2-0 in the first semifinal at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium, Maharashtra beat Mumbai Hockey Association (MHA) by a 2-1 margin in the other last-four match.
Gangpur-Odisha's both goals came in the second half through penalty corner conversions by William Xalxo (42nd minute) and captain Ashish Anmol Minz (59th).
In the second semifinal, Maharashtra rode on Navneet Swarnkar (1st, 46th) twin strikes to get the better of MHA, whose only goal came from the sticks of Amit Goswami in the 40th minute.
Meanwhile, in the second day of Division A matches, Food Corporation of India (FCI) defeated Haryana 4-1 to register its first win while Uttar Pradesh and Railways recorded their second consecutive victories.
After losing to Railways yesterday, FCI made an strong comeback to score the easy win over Haryana in Pool D.
FCI scored throuigh Ganendrajit Ningomban (6th and 59th minutes), Sunil (16th) and Vikram (22nd), while Haryana's lone goal was scored by Harpal Singh (45th) from a penalty stroke.
Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh registered its second consecutive win in Pool C by thrashing Jharkhand 4-1.
Diwakar Ram continued his impressive run and converted two penalty corners in the 10th and 35th minutes for UP before Jai Karan (44th) and Tushar Khandeker (60th) scored two field goals for the winners.
Chandan Aind scored Jharkhand's lone goal which came from a penalty stroke in the 41st minute.
In another Pool C game, Bhopal defeated Karnataka by a solitary goal which came as early as in the fourth minute from the sticks of Akram Iqbal.
In the last match of the day, Railways thrashed Tamil Nadu 6-0 to record its second straight win in Pool D.
Railways scored three goals each on either side of the break to post the comfortable win.
For Railmen, Malak Singh (2nd and 58th), Amit Rohidas (13th and 55th min) and Vinod Kumar Singh (30th and 70th) scored two goals each.
The Times of India
Maharashtra edge out Mumbai
LUCKNOW: Maharashtra edged out Mumbai 2-1 in a Maharashtra derby to enter the final of the Division B 4th Hockey India senior men national championship at Dhyanchand stadium on Wednesday.
Maharashtra now play Hockey Gangpur - Odisha, who bettered Namdhari XI 2-0, in the final on Thursday.
Luck didn't favour the Mumbai side as they conceded a goal in the very first minute of the match with Navneet Swarnkar scoring for Maharashtra.
The early setback galvanised the Mumbai outfit as they mounted pressure on the Maharashtra citadel. To the credit of Maharashtra, they held on to the lead till half-time. But after the change of ends, Mumbai equalised through Amit Goswami in the 40th minute. But, finally Swarnkar slotted home his second goal of the match in the 59th minute which proved decisive.
The other semifinal was also a keenly-contested affair with both the sides failing to break the deadlock in the opening half. But Gangpur converted two penalty corners in the second-half to emerge winners. For them William Xalxo got the opening goal in the 42nd minute, and then Ashish Anmol Minz rounded off the tally in the 59th minute.
Results: Hockey Gangpur - Odisha 2 (William Xalxo 42nd; Ashish Anmol Minz 59th) beat Namdhari XI 0.
Maharashtra 2 (Navneet Swarnkar 1s, 46th) beat Mumbai 1 (Amit Goswami 40th).
Thursday: Final: Hockey Gangpur - Odisha vs Maharashtra (4 pm). Hardline match: Namdhari XI vs Mumbai (2 pm).
The Times of India
More they stay same
Mufeed Mahdi Rizvi
Fresh from the glamour and hospitality extended to the players during the Hockey India League (HIL), Indian hockey is back to where it was. The teams participating in the ongoing Senior Nationals in Guru Govind Sports College in Lucknow have been battling opponents by the day and an army of 'king size' mosquitoes by night owing to below-par accommodation.
What is more, not a single room where they are lodged in has an attached toilet. If players want to go to the loo in the middle of the night, they have no choice but leave the room open.
Unsatisfied by the 'best possible' accommodation provided by the organisers, some players and an entire team have moved out to stay in a hotel at their own expense. "Our team is here for the last 15 days, and we have been going through several problems. I can't stay in the room, that's why I opted for a nearby hotel. I feel sad to be away from the team, but I just couldn't fight the mosquitoes," a player told Mirroron condition of anonymity.
Every team has been provided with a room below the stands of the Major Dhyanchand Stadium. "The room is big enough to host an entire team of 16-18, but it lacks ventilation. The toilets and washbasin are a few metres away from the room. The only positive here is the food. The room may be in a mess, but the food is great," another player revealed.
Situated in one corner of the humongous Guru Govind Sports College, there seems to be a vast jungle outside the hockey stadium. Stray dogs linger around the team rooms there and cows mow about freely.
The warm afternoons turn wild grass into a place where players dry their clothes, while the post-dinner meetings are held under the blankets owing to fear of mosquitoes. One excited player even swore that he had spotted the rare sambar deer in the vicinity.
A former player just nodded his head in disgust. "What do I say? Everyone's claiming that hockey has changed for the better with the arrival of HIL, and it indeed is good for Indian hockey, but what about these tournaments? I don't see any change, the conditions are the same as they were in our times," the disappointed player said.
Uttar Pradesh Hockey and tournament secretary RP Singh said he tried to do the best he could. "It is not easy to provide accommodation to 42 teams. People complaining should sit in my chair and see how difficult things are. We have provided mosquito repellents and two sprays to every room. We are doing the best we can. And to bring to your notice, I haven't received any complaints from any team," Singh said.
From Singh's point of view he is absolutely right. He is indeed doing the 'best' he can.
The complaints are not merely restricted to lodging. The schedule has been such that teams are complaining of burnout. Thankfully for Division A, the revised scheduled has provided them with some breather between matches.
Team officials haven't given a thumbs-up to the two-tier system. "Earlier, we had inter-zonal matches and then the best teams battled it out for the title. Another important aspect is that there are very few venues that can provide accommodation to all the 42 teams, even if it is at different times," a former official said.
Even the venue in Lucknow is almost 14kms away from the city, making it impossible for any hockey fan to travel that far every day for almost a month.
MAHARASHTRA TOP MUMBAI
The air flowing in Maharashtra seems to have changed ends. Following the Maharashtra cricket team that made it to the Ranji finals, the hockey unit is all inspired to better the cricketers and win the Division B title at the Senior Hockey Nationals being played in Lucknow. Yesterday, while Mumbai dominated both the half , it was Maharashtra who scored two goals to enter the finals.
"I did tell my boys to emulate the cricket team's inspiring surge in the Ranji Trophy. But I told them that unlike them, we have to end our campaign with a title win," Maharashtra coach Edwin Moti John told Mirror after their 2-1 win. According to Hockey Maharashtra secretary Manoj Bhore, their hard work of three years is finally paying off. "Recently, when we conducted a camp for the juniors where 150 children turned up. I think we are in the right direction," he said.
Results (semi-finals): Hockey Gangpur-Odisha 2 (William Xalxo, Ashish Anmol Minz beat Namdhari XI 0; Hockey Maharashtra 2 (Navneet Swarnkar 2) beat Mumbai Hockey Association 1 (Amit Goswami)
The Times of India
Enemy of the state
Mufeed Mahdi Rizvi
While Maharashtra went through a strenuous practice session on the eve of their semifinal encounter, their opponent Mumbai had a relaxed yoga session in the morning. Post-dinner, Mumbai were slated to participate in a lecture-cum-interactive session.
Both the teams are eager to grab the final spot at the end of 70 minutes today. We could be in for a thriller - metaphor like Halley's comet-like phenomenon could be apt - as the Senior Nationals Hockey (Div B) reaches its summit at Dhyanchand Sports Hostel, Lucknow.
"The side is young and playing according to plan. All they need to do now is to continue their form in the match that matters the most," Maharashtra coach Edwin Moti John told Mirror.
His Mumbai counterpart Mukul Pandey isn't thinking too much about the match. "We've played four matches on the trot, without a day's break. That's was the only reason we refrained from training on the eve of the match. I don't want to burn my players out. Yoga should certainly help them relax physically and mentally," Pandey said.
This derby may not draw a large crowd, but it has certainly generated interest amongst the other sides here.
On their way to the semis, Maharashtra won three matches and drawn two, while Mumbai won four encounters before being held 1-1 by J& K.
Once whipping boys
Maharashtra, once minnows, are gradually rising in stature. Coach Edwin, who played his first nationals for Maharashtra before moving to Mumbai, now sees a sea of change.
"In my playing days, we were considered whipping boys. Other teams would look to better their goal difference against us. But there have been drastic changes in the attitude of players who have been turning up for trials in the last three-four years.
"This is a rare occasion when we have qualified for the semifinal, a big match for us. We are unbeaten in this tournament and hope to win the Division B title as well," Edwin said.
With Maharashtra playing in the first half of the schedule, they could watch Mumbai in action. By now, they may have fully assessed how Mumbai stack up. Since Mumbai played at later dates, they were deprived of a similar advantage.
While Edwin said he found Mumbai to be a good, young unit, Pandey felt that Maharashtra's magnificent run to the semis was proof enough that they must be taken very seriously.
The two sides faced each other in the league match of the Senior Nationals held in Pune last year. With Mumbai winning that encounter, Maharashtra should be eager to set the record straight this time. The other semifinal will be played between Namdhari XI and Hockey Gangpur-Odisha.
The Times of India
4th senior women's hockey championship begins Thursday
BHOPAL: Thirty-two teams will be participating in the 4th Senior Women's Hockey Championship, which will be held here from Thursday.
"A total of 32 teams representing different states and nearly 650 hockey players will take part in the championship to be played at Aishbagh stadium and Major Dhyan Chand stadium," Madhya Pradesh sports director V K Singh told reporters on Tuesday.
The 11-day-long championship will be played in two divisions with each having 16 teams.
The matches for the first phase will be held from March 13 while the second phase starts from March 16, he said.
Division A teams: 1. Hockey Haryana 2. Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy 3. Hockey Orissa 4. Chhattisgarh Hockey 5. Railway Sports Promotion Board 6. Uttar Pradesh Hockey 7. Chandigarh Olympic Association 8. Hockey Bihar 9. Hockey Jharkhand 10. Sports Authority of India 11. Mumbai Hockey Association 12. Hockey Bhopal 13. Hockey Punjab 14. Hockey Karnataka 15. Hockey Maharashtra 16. Hockey Kerala.
Division B teams: 1. Assam Hockey 2. Bengal Hockey Association 3. Goa Hockey 4. Vidharbha Hockey Association 5. Hockey Himachal Pradesh 6. Hockey Uttarakhand 7. Hockey Jammu and Kashmir 8. Hockey Gangpur Orissa 9. Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu 10. Hockey Andhra Pradesh 11. Tripura Hockey 12. Hockey Mizoram 13. Hockey Rajasthan 14. Hockey Delhi 15. Hockey Gujarat 16. Hockey Pondicherry.
The Times of India
New Zealand teams qualify for Youth Olympics
Both the New Zealand boys and girls have both qualified for this year’s Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.
The teams recently played at the Youth Olympic Qualification Tournament in Vanuatu, where they both won gold medals.
In the finals, the New Zealand boys defeated Australia 5-3 while the girls beat Fiji 5-1.
The results mean both teams will head to Nanjing in August to compete at the Nanjing Games for another chance at gold.
CLICK HERE for more on the Nanjing Youth Olympics
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Hockey makes the cut
Arin Kumar
THE Fijian national under-18 girls hockey team has fulfilled its promise of qualifying for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Nanjing, China, in August.
They lost to New Zealand 1-5 in the final of the YOG qualification tournament in Port Vila.
The Lala Ravatu-captained side only needed to beat Vanuatu and play in the final to guarantee their spot at the Youth Olympics and they did exactly that.
Meanwhile, the boys side won the bronze medal after beating Vanuatu 4-3.
The side returns home today.
The Fiji TImes
African Youth Olympic Games Qualifier (AYOQ)
Lusaka, 2014
MATCHES Mar. 11, 2014
Teams Scores Teams
Men
Zimbabwe ( 15 ) ( 0 ) Kenya
South Africa ( 7 ) ( 2 ) Zambia
Ladies
Namibia ( 8 ) ( 5 ) Kenya
South Africa ( 10 ) ( 3 ) Zimbabwe
African Hockey Federation media release
Namibia batter Kenya in qualifiers
By ELIZABETH MBURUGU
Kenya hockey team players celebrate one of the goals against Tanzania at City Park Stadium yesterday. Kenya beat Tanzania 13-1 in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament. [PHOTO: JENIPHER WACHIE/STANDARD]
Kenyan hockey girls started on a losing note, soaking in 15 goals from Namibians without a reply in the African Youth Olympic Qualifiers ongoing in Lusaka Zambia.
They are battling with five nations for the ticket to this year’s Nanjing Youth Olympics slated for 16-19 August.
South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and hosts Zambia are fielding both the boys and girls teams in the five aside tournament.
Teams comprise players drawn from secondary schools who never had enough time to train.
Kenya Hockey Union chairman Nashon Randiek refused to disclose any information on team preparations. However a player told FeverPitch the teams only got together and trained for barely a week before leaving for Lusaka.
The Standard Online
Congratulations to the Champions of the Final NIT Weekend
After three action-packed weekends of high-intensity hockey, the 2014 US National Indoor Tournament, sponsored by YOLO Sportswear, has officially concluded. The Under-16 Girls, Under-17 Boys, Adult Men and Adult Women closed out the tournament in an exciting fashion at the Convention Center in Virginia Beach, Va. The weekend was filled with cheers from the crowd at powerful drag flicks during adult games and the distinct wooden bang of scored goals as Under-16 girls and Under-17 boys earned their stripes on the nation’s largest indoor stage.
“We are closing another chapter on the story of the National Indoor Tournament and we couldn’t have been happier for it to end in Virginia Beach,” said Karen Collins, USA Field Hockey Director of Event Logistics. “Working with the Convention Center staff for over ten years, their hard work and dedication to detail has made this a seamless event.”
The Convention Center was a hub of activity with the four different divisions spanning several generations. The youngest player on the court was found in the boys division at age 10. The most experienced player at the event was playing strongly at 55 in the adult men’s division and will be playing in the Master’s World Cup this summer.
The Under-16 athletes proved their passion and determination in fighting for top spots with 104 teams competing in 14 pools to be crowned champions. This year’s event grew with four more pools than in 2013. WC Eagles defended their 2013 title in Pool A and walked away with an impressive five medals, making them the winningest club at the 2014 National Indoor tournament.
Dramatic adult play proved to be a valuable learning experience for the younger athletes in attendance. The Women’s Indoor National squad found a gold medal and strong competition in its pool, helping them to prepare for upcoming indoor events. The Men’s division lit up the facility like a flash of electricity with their speed, precision and intensity.
For many in the Boys division, the event was their first experience at such a large event. The Capitals, made up of members of the East Coast Junior High Performance Squad, took home gold.
In total, almost 4,000 athletes from all over the country look part in the 2014 National Indoor Tournament over the last three weekends in three different cities. The event at Spooky Nook Sports was the first-ever USA Field Hockey event hosted in the venue, while the event in Virginia Beach was the fourteenth year for the tournament to be held in the Convention Center.
“We could not be more thankful to the staff at each facility for all of their dedication, patience and commitment to helping us provide premium events,” said Karen Collins, USA Field Hockey Director of Event and Logistics. “The economic impact on the cities involved is impressive and our housing partner, Global JBS, does a fantastic job in creating a memorable experience for all of the families who take time out of their busy schedules to attend these events.”
Congratulations to the following crowned champions!
Under-17 Boys
The Capitals
Men
Jack and Jill
Women
USA Blue
Under-16 Girls
A – WC Eagles I
B – WC Eagles III
C – WC Eagles II
D – WC Eagles IV
E – TNT
F – Xcalibur Knights
G – FC United Red
H – WC Eagles X
I – Jersey Intensity III
J – Capitol Pegasus Iroc
K – Jersey Elite Red
L – Firestyx – Hotstyx
M – High Styx Jaguars
N – Spirit Eagles Red
USFHA media release