News 20 April 2014
All the news for Sunday 20 April 2014
Kookaburras held by Kiwis
Glenn Turner goal helps Kookaburras come from behind in 1-1 draw
Photo credit: Grant Treeby / Treeby Images
The Kookaburras and New Zealand Black Sticks played out a hotly contested 1-1 draw in the second and final match of their Easter Test series in Perth on Saturday evening. Glenn Turner’s close range finish late in the first half earned the Kookaburras a deserved equaliser after they had fallen behind to Kiwi Kane Russell’s deflected early penalty corner.
Australia’s last official Test before coach Ric Charlesworth selects his squad for the World Cup, the match was a far tighter affair than Thursday’s 4-1 Kookaburras victory.
National coach Charlesworth said afterwards, “It was a good, tough, tight match. We were a little disjointed but we had made a number of changes to the squad for tonight’s game. I’m never happy when we don’t win but it was a tough game and we found out a bit more about some people.”
The World Cup winning coach added that he believed New Zealand’s goal could have been disallowed, citing the height of Russell’s shot before its deflection off an Australian defender.
Despite a strong start, the Kookaburras found themselves behind after just eight minutes when Kane Russell struck from New Zealand’s second penalty corner. Australia’s best chance to level fell to Queenslander Matt Gohdes in the 22nd minute but his shot flew high over the bar after good work along the baseline by Jason Wilson.
Showing the sort of killer instinct that has seen them rise to the top of the world rankings, the Kookaburras took full advantage when New Zealand were temporarily reduced to ten men shortly before half time. With Kiwi Andy Hayward off the pitch, Eddie Ockenden’s bravery and persistence in front of goal set up the chance for Turner to level the score. The Goulburn man needed no second invitation, pouncing to capitalise and knock the ball home for 1-1. It was Turner’s 76th goal for the Kookaburras in 103 appearances.
A blistering end-to-end second half saw both sides enjoy good opportunities to score, finding the goalkeepers in fine form. Kookaburras’ goalkeepers Tyler Lovell and George Bazeley were both called upon to make telling interventions while Liam De Young and Trent Mitton each had shots at the other end but could not breach Devon Manchester’s goal.
Speaking afterwards, De Young said, “As we expected after Thursday’s match they were quicker, keener and tougher on the ball. We both missed chances so maybe a draw was a fair result.”
The Kookaburras will now undertake their final week of training and two inter-squad matches before Ric Charlesworth names the squad he hopes will successfully defend its 2010 World Cup title in The Hague.
Kookaburras v New Zealand Black Sticks
Test 2 of 2
Perth, Western Australia
KOOKABURRAS 1 (1)
Glenn Turner 33 (F)
NEW ZEALAND BLACK STICKS 1 (1)
Kane Russell 8 (PC)
Kookaburras squad v New Zealand
Athlete (Hometown, State) caps/goals
Started
George Bazeley (Melbourne, VIC) 70/0
Daniel Beale (Brisbane, QLD) 28/7
Chris Ciriello (Melbourne, VIC) 131/76
Liam De Young (Brisbane, QLD) 303/34
Tim Deavin (Launceston, TAS) 83/3
Rob Hammond (Townsville, QLD) 247/28
Jeremy Hayward (Darwin, NT) 8/3
Fergus Kavanagh (Geraldton, WA) 176/14
Eddie Ockenden (Hobart, TAS) 206/52
Glenn Turner (Goulburn, NSW) 103/76
Jason Wilson (Kingscliff, QLD) 97/34
Used Substitutes
Nick Budgeon (Hobart, TAS) 21/11
Joel Carroll (Darwin, NT) 98/2
Matt Gohdes (Rockhampton, QLD) 87/25
Tyler Lovell (Perth, WA) 22/0
Trent Mitton (Perth, WA) 56/17
Tristan White (Wollongong, NSW) 29/2
Aran Zalewski (Margaret River, WA) 28/3
Hockey Australia media release
Black Sticks Men hold Australia to draw
Dean Couzins played in his 300th game.
The Black Sticks Men played out a hotly contested 1-1 draw against world-number-one Australia in the second and final match of their Easter Test series in Perth last night.
Despite a strong start from Australia, the Black Sticks found themselves ahead after just eight minutes when Kane Russell struck from New Zealand’s second penalty corner. Later in the half the Kookaburras took advantage when the Black Sticks were temporarily reduced to ten men shortly before half time. With Kiwi Andy Hayward off the pitch, Eddie Ockenden set up the chance for Glenn Turner to level the score, pouncing to capitalise and knock the ball home for 1-1. A blistering end-to-end second half saw both sides enjoy good opportunities to score.
It was a big game for captain Dean Couzins who played his 300th test and is now one of only two Kiwis (Phil Burrows) to have ever reached the significant milestone.
“Dean had a great game tonight – he led the defence well, and the team are pleased they were able to put in a good performance for him,” said Batch.
“I thought it was a pretty evenly contested game overall. It was just really pleasing to improve our performance from the first match – it was a much closer test,” said head coach Colin Batch.
“We did a good job of limiting their goal scoring opportunities and creating chances ourselves. We are playing with confidence which is pleasing to see.
“To have these two tests against Australia is ideal preparation ahead of the Champions Challenge. We are now looking forward to heading to Malaysia and doing some further training over there before the tournament gets underway,” said Batch.
Full time: 1-1
Half time: 1-1
NZ goal scorer: Kane Russell
Australian goalscorer: Glenn Turner
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Black Sticks men draw 1-1 with Kookaburras
Australia and New Zealand played out a hotly contested 1-1 draw in the second and final match of the men's hockey series in Perth on Saturday night.
Glenn Turner's close range finish late in the first half earned the Kookaburras a deserved equaliser after they had fallen behind to Kiwi Kane Russell's deflected penalty corner in the eighth minute.
Australia's last official Test before coach Ric Charlesworth selects his squad for the World Cup was a far tighter affair than Thursday's 4-1 Kookaburras' victory.
"It was a good, tough, tight match," Charlesworth said.
"We were a little disjointed but we had made a number of changes to the squad for tonight's game.
"I'm never happy when we don't win but it was a tough game and we found out a bit more about some people."
The World Cup-winning coach added that he believed New Zealand's goal could have been disallowed, citing the height of Russell's shot before its deflection off an Australian defender.
The Kookaburras have a final week of training and two inter-squad matches before Charlesworth names the squad he hopes will successfully defend the 2010 World Cup title in The Hague.
Australia 1 (Glenn Turner 33m) New Zealand 1 (Kane Russell 8m pen) at Perth Hockey Stadium
Stuff
India go down 1-2 to Netherlands in final European Tour match
NEW DELHI: Indian men's hockey team slumped to their third defeat on the trot as it lost 1-2 to the Netherlands in their final match of the European tour at the The Hague on Saturday.
This tour is in preparations for the FIH Men's World Cup 2014, scheduled to be held at The Hague, Netherlands from May 31 to June 15.
The Indian team started off very well and they took the lead in the second minute of the match as Rupinder Pal Singh successfully converted a penalty corner.
The visiting team looked charged up after the early goal and maintained the 1-0 lead till the end of first half.
The Netherlands, however, equalised in the 46th minute with Micro Pruyser scoring through a penalty corner. The home side gained momentum and their confidence grew after the equaliser.
But the Indians gave a tough fight to Netherlands only to concede a late goal with Tristan Alegra scoring the winning goal for the home side in the 67th minute.
Today's defeat was the third in as many international matches in the tour as the Indians had lost 1-2 against Belgium and 2-4 against the Netherlands yesterday.
Sardar Singh-led side had beaten Leiden Hockey Club 7-0 in the first build-up game at Oegstgeest before playing out a 3-3 draw against HGC Hockey Club in the next game of the tour.
The Times of India
India eves draw 2-2 with Ireland, pocket hockey series 2-0
NEW DELHI: The series already in their pocket, Indian eves round off their Ireland tour with a 2-2 draw against the home team in the third and final hockey Test in Dublin.
India had earlier defeated Ireland 3-1 and 2-1 in the first two Tests of the tour, organised as part of the team's preparation for the FIH Champions Challenge 1 beginning April 27 in Glasgow, Scotland.
While India's Chan Chan Devi scored both the goals for India, Anna O'Flanagan found the back of the net twice for the hosts.
The third and final Test of the series started on a pacy note with both the teams adopting an attacking approach.
It was Ireland who broke the deadlock in the seventh minute through O'Flanagan.
India drew in the 31st minute through Chan Chan Devi to go into the breather locked at 1-1.
After the crossover, both the teams pressed hard in search of goals and it was India who eventually succeeded when Chan Chan Devi converted a penalty corner to score her second goal of the day.
Ireland, however, equalised just six minutes from the final hooter through O'Flanagan (64th minute), who pounced on a rebound after the initial shot was saved by India goalkeeper Savita.
India, thus, won the three-match series 2-0.
The Times of India
Injured keeper Roslan out of Champions Challenge I
By Aftar Singh
Du Talake (right) is congratulated by a team-mate after scoring China's third goal against Malaysia on April 19, 2014. China won 5-2.
KUALA LUMPUR: Goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin aggravated his ankle injury in a friendly match against China and will not feature in the Champions Challenge I hockey tournament in Kuantan, from April 26.
The 35-year-old Perak-born player, who has represented Malaysia since the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games, also did not play in last month’s Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh due to the same nagging injury.
Malaysia’s top keeper S. Kumar, 34, who was rested for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, will play in Kuantan. Kumar has been out of action for the past few months after picking up a hamstring injury while playing for Uttar Pradesh Wizards in the Hockey India League (HIL) in February and just returned for this round of friendlies.
Former Junior World Cupper Mohd Hafizuddin Othman, who played reasonably well in his international senior debut in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, is expected to be named the reserve keeper.
National chief coach K. Dharmaraj said Roslan has been advised to fully recover from the ankle injury he suffered in the third friendly match on Wednesday.
“Without Roslan, I have 28 players in the training squad and I will drop seven or eight after our sixth and last friendly match against China tomorrow,” said Dharmaraj.
The national team will depart for Kuantan on Monday and they will play two more friendlies, against France (Tuesday) and Poland (Thursday), before Dharmaraj names his final squad of 18 players for the Champions Challenge I.
Malaysia plays in Group B in the Kuantan tournament and will open their campaign against France on May 26. Their other matches are against South Korea (May 27) and Canada (May 29).
New Zealand, Poland, Japan and Ireland are drawn in Group A.
Meanwhile, Malaysia were outplayed 5-2 by China in the fifth friendly match, which was played in a new 15-minute four halves format, at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday.
Forward Hafifihafiz Hanafi gave Malaysia the lead in the third minute but China played a fast attacking game to shock Malaysia with five goals through Chua Xiou Chin (9th), Dong Yang (14th), Du Talake (23rd), Du Chen (25th) and Xe Chang (36th) to take a comfortable 5-1 lead.
Malaysia could only narrow the deficit through striker S. Selvaraju in the 59th minute.
Dharmaraj said that they lost the match because keepers Kumar and Hafizuddin, who each played two halves, put on a disappointing performance by letting in some soft goals.
It was the first defeat for Malaysia in their five friendly matches against China. Malaysia won three matches (2-1, 6-1 and 5-2) and drew one (4-4).
The Star of Malaysia
France lose test series against Belgium
Les Tricolores head off to Kuantan on Monday
(Photo: FIH / Frank Uijlenbroek)
The French national team played two test matches against Belgium before heading off to the Pahang Hockey Champions Challenge I in Kuantan, Malaysia. The Red Lions were the better team in both encounters at Saint-George HC taking away a 5-1 and a 7-2 victory.
France will depart to Malaysia on Monday 21 April. Before the start of the tournament the Tricolores will play two more test matches facing host Malaysia on 22 April and taking on Japan the day after. The Pahang Hockey Champions Challenge 1 begins on Saturday 26 April. France are competing in pool B facing Malaysia, Canada and Korea.
FIH site
Scotland reach double figures with emphatic win over Wales
Scotland Senior Women got their preparations for the forthcoming FIH Champions Challenge off to an emphatic start with a thumping 10-1 win over Wales at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre today.
Nikki Kidd fired home three penalty corners and a field goal in a personal haul of four goals, captain Linda Clement claimed a double, Vikki Bunce netted from the penalty spot, while Becky Merchant, Nikki Lloyd and Ali Bell also found their way onto the score-sheet.
Sophie Clayton scored the consolation goal for Wales.
The Scots stamped their authority on the match in the opening stages, with Nikki Kidd firing a drag-flick past Wales’ goalkeeper Ria Male in the fourth minute to give her side a perfect start to proceedings.
Three minutes later the home side were awarded a penalty stroke, with Dundee Wanderers’ star Vikki Bunce stepping up to lift the ball high into the net to double the national side’s advantage at 2-0.
A high press led to more pressure inside the Welsh circle, forcing another penalty corner award for Scotland in the 16th minute. Kidd made no mistake from the set-piece by firing the ball straight down the middle for a third Scottish goal.
The Canterbury midfielder recorded her hat-trick shortly afterwards, with her effort on goal deflecting off a Welsh defender to leave Male helpless and Scotland firmly in charge at 4-0.
The Scots delivered two further sucker punches shortly before half-time; defender Becky Merchant’s deflected shot on goal making it 5-0 in the 29th minute before Kidd executed another penalty corner strike right on the hooter to give Scotland a 6-0 lead at the break.
Shepherd’s side refused to take the foot off the gas after the interval, with captain Linda Clement finishing off a fine move by lifting the ball past Male from close range for a seventh goal in the 40th minute.
In the 47th minute, an excellent penalty corner set-play led to Clement bagging her second of the match and Scotland’s eighth goal, diving to divert Ralph’s pass past Male.
Striker Nikki Lloyd got into the scoring act in the 57th minute, taking advantage of uncertainty in the Welsh defence to nip in and finish past Male.
A counter-attack for Wales eight minutes from time led to Sophie Clayton giving the away side a consolation goal.
Nevertheless, the national side hit double figures in the 65th minute after Ali Bell beat Male at the second time of asking with a low strike past the Welsh ‘keeper.
A 10-1 full time score to provide Scotland with an excellent start to the three match series.
The two sides meet again tomorrow at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre with a 2pm start.
Scotland Senior Women: Nicola Cochrane (Edinburgh University), Vikki Bunce (Dundee Wanderers), Morag McLellan (Clydesdale Western), Alison Bell (Grove Menzieshill), Rebecca Ward (Dundee Wanderers), Catriona Ralph (Clydesdale Western), Sarah Robertson (Edinburgh University), Linda Clement (Captain, Grove Menzieshill), Ailsa Wyllie (Grove Menzieshill), Leigh Fawcett (Grove Menzieshill), Rebecca Merchant (Edinburgh University), Nikki Kidd (Canterbury), Susan McGilveray (Clydesdale Western), Nicola Lloyd (Canterbury), Nicola Skrastin (Clydesdale Western), Emily Maguire (Reading), Aileen Davis (Clifton), Amy Gibson (Old Loughtonians).
Scottish Hockey Union media release
Dutch defeat for England U18 Girls
England Under-18 girls lost out to a strong Netherlands team in the opening match of their three-game test series at Lilleshall on Saturday.
But the eight-nil scoreline was a little harsh on the England girls who competed with their opponents for periods of the game – but just couldn’t get the ball last a resolute Dutch defence.
The first Dutch goal came after five minutes following build up down the left side. The ball was switched across the circle and deflected in at the right post. And they scored in similar style on 15 and 27 minutes to go three-nil ahead.
They made it four just before the break at a penalty corner, although the England goalkeeper saved the initial shot well before the Dutch scored in the second phase of the attack.
Another left side attack led to the fifth Dutch goal on 40 minutes, and then a break down the right led to the sixth on 55 minutes. A bad tackle gave away a penalty stroke which the Dutch scored on 62 minutes, and a powerful reverse stick shot gave them their eighth and final goal.
“It has been a bit of a shock for some of the girls,” said team manager Jo Thomas. “But we pressed well at times and in the second half we started to force errors and make some positive attacks. We also defended quite a few penalty corners which was pleasing.”
The two sides meet again on Sunday, starting at 5pm once again.
England Hockey Board Media release
England U16 Girls lose to Netherlands
England under 16 girls put in a much-improved second-half performance against the Netherlands in what was their first experience of international hockey, but still went down to a 9-0 defeat.
The Netherlands team ran out winners thanks largely to a strong first half display that saw them go into the break 6-0 up.
But the England girls adapted to their top quality opposition and looked much more competitive after the restart.
Head coach Marc Bourhill said: “This was a very strong Dutch team that we played today and I don’t think the girls realised just how strong they were until they were out there.
“But there are a lot of positives we can take from the game – they looked much better in the second half and they will have learned a lot.
“This is a first taste of international hockey for nearly all the team and it’s a very steep learning curve but we play the Dutch team again tomorrow and on Monday so hopefully they can use some their experience in those games.”
England Hockey Board Media release
Hockey head coach Shahnaz has a special plan for Asian Games 2014
ISLAMABAD: The newly appointed head coach for the national hockey team, Shahnaz Sheikh, said Saturday that he had an exclusive plan to defend the title in the upcoming Asian Games to be held in South Korea. Pakistan claimed gold medal in the Guangzhou Asian Games four years back in China 2010. Addressing a press conference at Shahnaz Sheikh Hockey Stadium Rawalpindi here, the former Olympian said that his first assignment was to put players in order for the Asian Games to be held in Incheon, South Korea from September 19 to October 4, 2014. "I have completed the paper work of my plan and handed it over to the officials of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF). A training camp will start from May 3 at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad," he added.
To a question, he said he had no magic stick to develop an energetic squad for international competitions over night but with the passage of time good results would come. "I will make serious efforts for notable performances in international competitions. My focus will be on top five teams of the world including Australia, Holland, Germany, Spain and England and I will try my best to prepare a strong team to face top teams," he added.
Shahnaz said country's national game might be revived by playing bilateral series with traditional rivals India. "I have discussed with the federation and the PHF is in touch with Indian officials for Pak-India hockey series. PHF head Akhtar Rasool gave me the task till 2016 Olympic Games, which will be taken place in Rio, Brazil but first major assignment is to train the boys for the Asian Games."
Shahnaz said the pervious government released huge funds to the national federation but the utilization was not transparent. "Now I have asked Akhtar not to beg the government but concentrate on the corporate sector. But hockey is our national game and the government should allocate Rs. 50 million in the national budget for hockey. If the PHF gets grant from the government then it will be much easier to complete our plans," he concluded.
The Daily Times
Unearthing fresh talent top priority: Shahnaz
Mohsin Ali
ISLAMABAD - Newly-appointed Pakistan hockey team head coach Shahnaz Shaikh has admitted that he doesn't have any magical lamp to turn the fortunes of the national team overnight, but promised to put the team on right path in short span of time.
Talking to The Nation on Saturday, Shahnaz said that the youngsters were given too much time to change the fortunes of the national hockey team, but they failed to provide satisfactory results and that was the main reason, the PHF top brass decided to hand over the reins of the national team to a very senior person.
“We have decided to give top priority to grassroots level hockey and promote club hockey, which will provide us fresh talent. We will conduct trials at five different venues from April 22 to unearth promising talent and their training camp will be established at Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium from May 3 which will continue for five weeks. Then it will be shifted to Abbottabad before embarking on European tour,” he stated.
“Then we will again set up last phase of the training camp at Sialkot for the prestigious Asian Games where we are defending champions. We are fully aware of the fact about the significance of retaining the title which will provide us direct entry into Olympics, otherwise, we have to play qualifying round for Olympics. I am dead sure we have still a lot of time left to prepare winning combination,” the ex-Olympian added.
To a query regarding joining hands with Akhtar Rasool and co, Shahnaz replied: “Akhtar Rasool visited our residences to for our cooperation in lifting the declining standard of Pakistan hockey. We discussed in detail with our friends before deciding to join hands with the federation. Samiullah also endorsed our decision, but we don't know why he backed off. The decision of joining hands with the PHF was made in the best interest of hockey, as opportunists around Akhtar Rasool could have eight more years to destroy Pakistan hockey.”
When asked about sorry state of affairs of Shahnaz Shaikh Hockey Stadium, where Punjab government spent millions of rupees on its construction from the national kitty but he failed to start any hockey activity and producing even local level team from there, then on what grounds, he accepted national hockey team coaching assignment, Shahnaz stated: “We were waiting for laying down of astroturf at Shahnaz Shaikh Hockey Stadium and now PC-I worth Rs 90.75 million has been approved. The laying down of astroturf will start from July this year and then we will start full-fledged activities at the venue and people will witness different teams in action. We will also produce some quality players from there who will represent the country at international level and win glory for the country.”
The Nation
Pakistan hockey needs modern coaches
LAHORE - Former hockey world cupper Qasim Khan has called upon the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to reconsider its decision of appointing aged Olympians as coaches of the national senior and junior hockey teams.
"Over the years, hockey has changed a lot, shifting from grass to synthetic turf, becoming a science with frequent changes in the rules, pure reliance on speed and fitness rather depending on sheer technique. In such circumstances, appointing worn out former Olympians as the custodians will not help in reviving the fortune of the national teams," he said here on Saturday.
He added the PHF had also appointed a selection committee whose members didn’t have the experience of playing hockey at plastic surface and it seemed that the PHF had compromised with a certain group of former Olympians who were the critics of their polices in recent years.
"With each passing day we are going down in hockey, we finished at number 11th in the World Cup, out of 12 teams competition and today we are even struggling at Asia level and our team failed to defend the title of the Asian champions," he said. “There is dire need to bring in those players who have the sufficient knowledge of modern day hockey and if it is needed we can the option to hire the services of a foreign coach who should be given freedom under a long term plan to reorganise our hockey on the pattern of most successful countries including Australia, Germany and some European countries."
He said unfortunately club hockey was dying in Pakistan and the PHF had failed to arrest this downfall as qualified coaches were not attached with the club teams to introduce latest hockey to the aspiring players
The Nation
PHF plans to host international matches
“We are not considering the option of playing at neutral venues, we want to organise our league and international events in the country,” said Mujahid. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
KARACHI: The national game’s authorities are keen on the revival of international hockey in the country and are not willing to stage games at a neutral venue.
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary Rana Mujahid has revealed some of the plans for hosting international matches in the country.
“We are not considering the option of playing at neutral venues, we want to organise our league and international events in the country,” said Mujahid.
He added that the PHF wants to soften the image of the country.
“We want to stage a Gold Cup involving foreign teams; we have spoken to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in this regard.”
Mujahid added that the decision to bring on board some of the stalwarts of the game was taken to ensure a revival of the sport.
PHF officials convinced former Olympians like Islahuddin Siddiqui, Shehnaz Sheikh, Ayaz Mahmood, Qamar Ibrahim and Sameer Hussain to join the federation after the two camps were at loggerheads for a few years.
Splinter group undeterred on anti-PHF stance
Senior Olympians have lamented the nexus between the PHF and players who have accepted roles in the revised set-up.
A press conference was held on Saturday at the residence of former goal-keeper Qamar Zia in Karachi. Samiullah, M Saqlain, Kaleemullah, Zia and Jehangir Butt and Qamar Riaz addressed the gathering.
According to Qamar, the Olympians who have accepted roles with the federation have betrayed the game.
“The fact is that they wanted jobs,” said Zia. “They claimed that they were with us in this struggle for the last many years, but have backed out after the PHF gave them the lucrative offer.”
Zia alleged that the former players are collaborating with the PHF to get a big budget approved from the government.
“These players have joined hands with the federation for financial gains,” he concluded.
The PHF has asked the government to sanction a grant of Rs650 million annually for the national sport.
The Express Tribune