News 26 May 2014
All the news for Monday 26 May 2014
Kookas come from behind
Govers (2) & Ciriello secure another victory over England in Swann's 100th
Photo credit: Ady Kerry / AK Pictures
For the second time in as many days, the Kookaburras hit back to come from behind to beat England as final preparations for the defence of their 2010 World Cup title continue. As they had on Saturday, goals from Kieran Govers and Chris Ciriello overturned a 1-0 deficit to give the Aussie men victory – this time 3-1 - ahead of their arrival in The Hague on Monday.
The Kookaburras again found themselves behind to a goal from Englishman Phil Roper after a slow start and were trailing 1-0 at the break before but an excellent second half performance saw Govers score twice followed by Ciriello’s penalty corner goal. Govers’ first, in the 49th minute, was a well hit shot from the top of the circle while his second seven minutes later was a pinpoint low penalty corner. Ciriello rounded things off with a penalty corner flick of his own with six minutes remaining.
24 year old Mackay defender Matthew Swann celebrated his 100th appearance for Australia in the match, putting behind him a frustrating year that saw him miss eight months through injury following last June’s World League Semi Final tournament in Rotterdam.
Afterwards, Kookaburras coach Ric Charlesworth, who played at four World Cups and is preparing for his fourth as a coach, said, “We started poorly. We are still a bit rusty and there’s a bit of work to do. In the first part of the first half we were outplayed, then we got better and they scored against the run of play. But in the second half we played better and better and better and overran them in the end. We don’t want to put ourselves in that position too often.”
The Kookaburras leave England for the Netherlands on Monday morning ahead of shortened practice matches against Argentina on Wednesday and Germany on Thursday. Australia’s men begin their title defence in the opening game of the tournament against Malaysia at 6:30pm AEST / 4:30pm AWST next Saturday. Highlights of that match and full coverage of the Hockeyroos’ opener against Korea are available on ABC 2. The Kookaburras’ match will be available live and in full on the FIH YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/fihockey.
World Cup Warm-Up Test
Marlow, England
Match 2 of 2
ENGLAND 1 (1)
Phil Roper 27 (FG)
KOOKABURRAS 3 (0)
Kieran Govers 49, 56 (F, PC)
Chris Ciriello 64 (PC)
Kookaburras’ squad v England, Test 2 of 2
Athlete (Hometown, State) Caps/Goals [Age]
Started
Andrew Charter (Canberra, ACT) 63/0 [27]
Chris Ciriello (Melbourne, VIC) 133/78 [28]
Jamie Dwyer (Rockhampton, QLD) 314/203 [35]
Kieran Govers (Wollongong, NSW) 86/42 [26]
Rob Hammond (Townsville, QLD) 249/28 [33]
Mark Knowles (Rockhampton, QLD) 232/19 [30]
Eddie Ockenden (Hobart, TAS) 208/52 [27]
Simon Orchard (Maitland, NSW) 143/46 [27]
Matthew Swann (Mackay, QLD) 100/5 [24]
Jake Whetton (Brisbane, QLD) 55/23 [22]
Aran Zalewski (Margaret River, WA) 30/3 [23]
Used Substitute
Liam De Young (Brisbane, QLD) 305/34 [32]
Russell Ford (Melbourne, VIC) 152/72 [30]
Jeremy Hayward (Darwin, NT) 10/3 [21]
Fergus Kavanagh (Geraldton, WA) 178/14 [29]
Tyler Lovell (Perth, WA) 23/0 [27]
Glenn Simpson (Eltham, VIC) 108/20 [27]
Glenn Turner (Goulburn, NSW) 105/76 [30]
Hockey Australia media release
Aussie loss for England Men
ENG v AUS, Phil Roper scored England's goal
LEADING one-nil at half time, England Men conceded three unanswered goals in the second half on Sunday to lose out to Australia in their final capped international before the World Cup.
Just as the day before, Wimbledon’s Phil Roper had given England the lead, but it was to prove a false dawn for England who will also face Australia in their World Cup campaign in Holland.
“Over the two games I’ve been generally happy with what we have produced, however the last half of hockey was disappointing,” said Head Coach Bobby Crutchley. “We didn’t put enough pressure on Australia and when you allow them to dictate the game it’s always going to be an uphill battle.”
Roper broke the deadlock on 27 minutes. Nick Catlin had forged his way down the right side to the byline before slipping the ball back to Roper who scored to the keeper’s near post from two yards out.
Australia pulled level from open play, Kieran Govers again scoring just as he did the previous day. On 49 minutes he took a ball at the top of the circle and, having been given too much space, smashed the ball into the corner to pull his side level.
Govers was on target again on 56 minutes – this time from a penalty corner, from which he flicked home into the bottom corner, left of George Pinner.
And another penalty corner made it 3-1 to Australia, Chris Ciriello scoring his second in as many games with a shot from a penalty corner to Pinner’s right corner.
England 1 (1)
Phil Roper 27 (FG)
Australia 3 (1)
Kieran Govers 49 56 (FG, PC)
Chris Ciriello 64 (PC)
England Hockey Board Media release
India lose to Argentina in practice game ahead of hockey WC
NEW DELHI: India fought hard before losing 1-2 to Argentina in their first practice game ahead of the hockey World Cup at The Hague, Netherlands on Sunday.
Argentina scored a goal each in both the halves while India's lone goal came in the second half from the sticks of Dharamvir Singh.
India also suffered a big blow before the start of the mega-event as striker Ramandeep Singh was ruled out of the tournament after seriously injuring himself in the second half of the match against Argentina.
Ramandeep got hit in his right eye socket and also damaged his cheekbone during the match. He was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was operated upon.
Hockey India named Lalit Upapdhyay as Ramandeep's replacement. Upapdhyay will leave for The Hague tonight.
India will play another practice game against South Africa before the start of the tournament.
The Times of India
Ramandeep ruled out, India lose to Argentina
HAGUE: India lost 1-2 to Argentina in their first practice game ahead of the hockey World Cup at The Hague, Netherlands on Sunday.
Argentina scored a goal in each half while India's lone goal came in the second half from Dharamvir Singh.
India also suffered a big blow before the start of the mega-event as striker Ramandeep Singh was ruled out of the tournament after seriously injuring himself in the second half of the match against Argentina.
Ramandeep got hit in his right eye socket and also damaged his cheekbone during the match. He was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was operated upon.
India will play another practice game against South Africa before the start of the tournament.
Ramandeep, who was a sure starter in India's campaign in the mega event and a key member in coach Terry Walsh's scheme of things, sustained serious injuries when a scoop from a rival player in the second half of the match hit him on the face.
The Hockey World Cup starts on May 31.
Ramandeep, who was on the sidelines for quite sometimes in the run up to the World Cup due to a shoulder injury, is unlikely to take any further part in the tournament.
"Ramandeep has got his right eye socket and cheekbone damaged during the match," Hockey India said in a release.
"After the injury, he was immediately rushed to the hospital and got the surgery done." HI said it was rushing Lalit Upadhyay as his replacement.
Upadhyay was scheduled to leave for The Hague later early on Monday morning. Upadhyay, who hails from Varanasi, was on the standby list of the HI for the World Cup.
Eye injuries sustained during matches or training camps is nothing new in the game of hockey. Former India goalkeeper Baljit Singh was hit on the eyes during a golf-ball practice session with the then-goalkeepers' coach Romeo James at the Balewadi (Pune) camp.
Hockey goalkeepers routinely practise with a golf ball. The accident virtually finished his international career.
The Times of India
Upadhyay replaces injured Ramandeep
Less than a week before the start of the hockey World Cup in The Hague, the Netherlands, India received a setback with one of its key forwards, Ramandeep Singh, being ruled out for the entire event after getting seriously injured during the team’s first practice match against Argentina on Sunday.
Eye socket affected
Ramandeep got his right eye socket and cheekbone damaged in the second half of the match, said a release from Hockey India. He was immediately rushed to the hospital where a surgery was done on the striker. Lalit Upadhyay will replace the injured Ramandeep.
India loses
India lost to Argentina 1-2 in the practice match. Argentina scored a goal apiece in each half. Dharamvir Singh hit the target for India in the second half.
The Hindu
A Worldly Affair in The Hague
5 Days to go and we have 5 continental federations represented at the Rabobank Hockey World Cup
The Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014 will feature teams from all five continental federations including teams from Africa, North and South America, Asia, Europe and the Oceania. Here is a full round up of the teams you can expect to see at the upcoming men's and women's event that will take place in just five days! It will be 76 matches, 14 competition days and lots and lots of hockey action!
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AFRICA Africa has dual representation with both South Africa men and women as the sole teams from the continent. Both teams qualified as continental champions, and the men come into the tournament ranked 12th, while the women are ranked one place higher in 11th. A welcomed returning member of the men's squad is the drag-flick specialist Justin Reid-Ross. |
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AMERICAS The Americas, both north and south, are represented in The Hague. The USA women's team earned their place through the World League Semi-Final, while Argentina are the reigning champions. Argentina’s men's team qualified as continental champions of Pan America. With the talents of Luciana Aymar and the supporting cast of world-class talent, there is little doubt that Las Leonas are among the favourites to win the women's event. |
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ASIA Asia has good representation with five nations playing in the two competitions. Korea have a men's and a women's team in contention. Korea men, ranked 7th, qualified as continental champions, while the women, against the odds, lost out to Japan in the Asia Cup but secured their place when they finished third in the Hockey World League Semi Final. With a world ranking of 13, Malaysia are the lowest ranked team in the men's competition and they appear courtesy of a fifth-place at the Hockey World League Semi-Finals. Finishing in sixth place in that same tournament was India and the 8th-ranked team will be hoping that this edition of the World Cup will provide the springboard they need to become a major force in world hockey once more. Japan became continental champions of Asia in 2013 when they beat the higher-ranked Korea team. The Cherry Blossoms are ranked 9th in the world, but have a propensity to surprise higher-ranked rivals. The fifth nation representing Asia is the China women's team. The team has a world ranking of seven and come into the tournament courtesy of a fourth place in the Hockey World League Semi-Final. |
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EUROPE Europe has the highest number of representation, including the top-ranked women's team, The Netherlands, and the 2nd to 5th ranked men's teams – namely Germany, Netherlands, England and Belgium. The Netherlands teams both qualified as hosts, and both teams will be disappointed with anything less than a spot in the finals. Germany is a nation whose teams will always perform on the big stage. For this edition, both the men and the women qualified as continental champions of Europe. England are another nation with medal hopes for both genders, the women qualified when they finished second at the Investec World League Semi-Final, while the men came third in the equivalent event. Belgium men caused ripples when they beat Australia to win the Hockey World League Semi-Final to qualify, while the Red Panthers, qualified by virtue of sixth place in the Hockey World League Semi-Final. The final European nation is Spain men. Ranked 10th, Spain is a team packed with quality but short on international experience. |
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OCEANIA The fifth continent contains two nations who both feel they have genuine medal prospects. Australia men come into the competition as world number 1 and reigning champions. They qualified as the continental champions of Oceania and the added incentive to do well is coach Ric Charlesworth's imminent retirement. The women's team is currently ranked fourth in the world, they also qualified as the continental champions and they will be looking for their first World Cup success since 1998. The sixth-ranked Black Sticks men qualified via a fourth place finish at the Hockey World League Semi-Final in Rotterdam. The New Zealand women's team also gained qualification via a fourth place at the Hockey World League Semi-Final. They narrowly missed out on a major medal at the 2012 Olympic Games and are a team on the up. |
England goalie Maddie Hinch keen to face the Netherlands in Hockey World Cup final
ENGLAND goalkeeper Maddie Hinch has given herself the biggest World Cup challenge.
By Graham Wilson
England beat the Netherlands in the European Championship last summer[AFP]
She wants to come up against Olympic champions Netherlands in front of a 15,000 home crowd at The Hague - preferably in the final.
England are world-ranked three behind the Dutch and Argentina and Hinch can think of nothing better than to pit herself against the best and that includes confronting Holland's crack penalty corner striker Maartje Paumen.
"I'd like to play the Dutch there in the final," said the keeper who has won herself a few player of the tournament awards since taking over the gloves following the London Olympics.
"The last year has been a massive confidence boost and now I realise I don't have to try too hard but just go out and play - and stop that ball."
The former Leicester goalkeeper, who switched to Kent club Holcombe and helped them win promotion to the top flight last season, added: "I do a lot of video watching and there are a lot of different styles when it comes to corners. Paumen just sends it, whereas some of the others switch it around and that's when we have to watch it and act as defensive unit.
"Sometimes I watch the videos for too long but as I get closer to a tournament I switch off and concentrate on what I am going to do."
England open up against the USA on Sunday week. Also in their pool are Argentina, Germany, China and South Africa. The top two go through to the semi-finals.
Daily Express
Huge learning curve for Keddell at World Cup
Photo: www.photosport.co.nz
Midfielder Rose Keddell will be taking everything in during her first Hockey World Cup with the Black Sticks Women in The Hague.
The 20-year-old is one of five players in the team under the age of 21, although she already has plenty of experience with 42 test caps since her debut in December 2012.
Keddell is known for her high work rate and awareness, and is looking forward to developing her skills even further against the world’s best teams.
“I’m really excited to be honest. I’ve learnt heaps and have come a long way and this will be another huge step for me,” she said.
“I think the team is awesome, it’s such a competitive group and we help each other become better players.”
Despite being so far away from home, Keddell knows plenty of bleary eyed Kiwis will be following the Black Sticks Women and Men throughout the World Cup with all games live on SKY Sport.
“It’s so awesome to have the World Cup on TV. There are so many people that say ‘I watched your game’ and you don’t really think about it while you’re playing, but that support is fantastic.”
The Black Sticks Women play their opening game at the World Cup on Saturday 31 May against Belgium at 11:00pm (NZ time).
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Bra win fifth Italian title with late goal
Massimo Lanzano's last gasp goal saw HC Bra crowned Italian national champions, winning back the title after a two-season break as they gialloneri saw off SG Amiscora in the final 2-1.
It means they will be Italy's number one seed in European competition next season and gives them a big boost heading into EuroHockey Club Champions Trophy in Cagliari.
It was Bra's second comeback win of the weekend, coming from 3-0 down to beat Roma in Saturday's semi-final and fought back from a goal down in the final against Amiscora.
Davide Lugas got his side in front with a key deflection in the circle for 1-0 in the 28th minute but Bra were back on terms when Loris Perelli shot home on his backhand in the 34th minute of the first half.
The second half started with Bra the more aggressive and, in the first two minutes, earned a short corner but Marcello Manca defended it well.
Corners were proving the main route of chances and it was via that route the Lanzano's winner eventually came with his goal coming in the 68th minute, helping Bra become champions for the fifth time.
Euro Hockey League media release
San Jose Khalsa and Bulldogs in men’s Cal Cup final while Mexico to face Caliwood for women’s title
By Jawwad Qamar
Moorpark, CA: Mark Pearson netted two goals for San Jose Khalsa while Dave Carter stood his ground in goal, time after time, facing a barrage of shots from the LA Tigers including nine penalty corners in shutting out the defending champions in the first men’s semifinal – easily the most exciting game of the tournament. Sandwiched in between the Pearson tally was a fine effort by Kanwarpreet Sidhu for a 3-0 shocker. “It was great fun,” said Carter, the Canadian national team keeper, after his heroics.
Mark Pearson of Khalsa on his way to scoring first of two goals against LA Tigers at Cal Cup 2014 - photo by Osman Khan
Khalsa will face the Bulldogs on Memorial Day for men’s championship and the $5,000 winner’s prize. This will be a repeat of the Friday’s pool A contest when the Bulldogs easily defeated the team from San Jose 4-2. However, given their current form, a big edge goes to Khalsa here.
The Bulldogs were held to a goalless draw in regulation by the Montauk Sharks in the second semifinal and much to the delight of a large home crowd, prevailed in a shoot-out, 2-1on goals by Ruben Wyld and Kevin Barber. Liam Doidge was the lone scorer for the Bulldogs.
In the Women’s Super Division semifinal, the defending champions Jolie Pitts were dethroned by a younger team, Caliwood, as Amy Kelsey went uncontested from the left on a fine run for an easy goal and 1-0 lead. This result held despite five penalty corner chances by the veteran Jolie Pitts who even pulled their goalkeeper out in the dying minutes for an extra field player.
Caliwood on attack against Jolie Pitts in the semifinal at Cal Cup 2014 - photo by Osman Khan
Caliwood will face Mexico on Monday for the women’s crown and the $5,000 pay day. The Mexicans were held to a 2-2 tie in regulation by Rick’s Chicks in a physical contest but succeeded 3-1 in the shoot-out on goals by Michel Navarro Hernandez, Dafne Danae Sandoval and Jazel Arieth Miranda. Stephanie Hoyer was the only one to find the net for Rick’s Chicks. Aide Martinez and Alissa Campos were the scorers for Mexico in regulation. Lucia White and Hoyer did the same for Rick’s Chicks.
Monday’s finals in both divisions should be very entertaining for the fans to watch and a large crowd is expected at the wonderful hockey venue here at Moorpark College.
Monday’s championship match schedule is as follows:
Women Final 1:30 PM:
Mexico vs Caliwoods
Men Final 2:45 PM:
San Jose Khalsa and Bulldogs
For all results, schedule and directions to the hockey venues, please visit www.calcup.com.
Fieldhockey.com Exclusive
VCRD and NorCal Advance to Cal Cup Championship Match
The Under-21 Men’s division continued to provide excitement at Cal Cup. In the past 24 hours, VCRD split results with NorCal on back to back occasions.
In the first match, VCRD was able to generate four goals to NorCal's two in a hotly contested match with neither team wanting to give an inch. The following morning, the two teams met again and this time the NorCal team produced a more complete performance with better structure enabling them to earn a 3-1 victory. Play throughout both matches was encouraging with some high end skills being executed by all players.
The last game of day three had VCRD pitted against East Coast. A tactical battle ensued with both teams sticking to their respective game plans in a crucial match as both teams needed the victory. This approach was pleasing to see in the development of the players in regards to taking a process-oriented approach rather than a purely outcome-based style of play.
Scoring chances were few and quality hockey was on show for all the spectators. A 1-1 deadlock was separated by an incredible backhand into the roof of the net for a 2-1 victory for VCRD.
VCRD advanced through to the final match to battle it out against NorCal, who secured a spot in the final thanks to a commanding 4-0 victory over East Coast earlier today.
USFHA media release
Negri back in contention with win
Selangor’s Amir Zulkarnain Ahmad Robangi (left) tries to get past Negri Sembilan’s Saravanan Matheyalagan in their match yesterday. Negri won 5-3. Bernama pic
NEGRI Sembilan bounced back from their opening game defeat to Penang and notched a 5-3 win over Selangor in the Malaysia Games hockey competition yesterday.
The match was played in a four-period format due to the scorching weather at the Perlis Sports Complex in Kangar.
The tournament organisers have decided to use the format, instead of the standard two-halves, until further notice for matches that start at 10am and 3pm. This is to give players more chances to rehydrate and avoid heatstroke.
Matches that start at 7am and 4:45pm, however, are still played over two periods as the heat is less of a factor during those times.
Negri stormed off to a 3-0 lead in the Group B encounter, thanks to a penalty corner goal from skipper Ganeisha Tamil Chelvam in the 10th minute and field goals scored by M. Saravanan and Muhammad Maziz Mohd Jalil in the 21st and 30th.
Selangor pulled one back through a penalty corner scored by captain Amir Zulkarnain Ahmad Robangi in the 48th but Negri added to their tally with two more penalty corners by Saravanan and Muhammad Maziz in the 56th and 60th.
Selangor replied though a Nazirun Mubin Zebedi field goal (62nd) and a Nor Nashriq Farhan Nor Azman penalty corner in the 70th but it was already too late to salvage the match for the National Under-21 champions. It was the state's second straight loss after going down 3-0 to Malacca in their opening match, leaving their hopes of making the knockout stages slim at best.
Negri coach S. Chandran said: “It was a must-win situation for us after our loss to Penang but I am happy with how our boys responded.
The side's last Malaysia Games medal, a bronze, came in 1998 in Selangor. They will play Sarawak today.
In other Group B matches played yesterday, traditional powerhouse FT beat Kelantan 4-1 while Penang thumped Sarawak 8-1.
New Straits Times
PHF look to develop interest of juniors
By Nabil Tahir
KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has proposed new plans for the sport’s youngsters in wake of the successful 33rd National Junior Hockey Championship which saw NBP clinch the title after defeating Wapda 2-1 in the final.
PHF Secretary Rana Mujahid has said that they are now planning on taking another step forward in developing interest in the juniors.
“We have taken a step to bring back the spark in our national game, and now to give another push, we are conducting trials to form a junior pool of players to develop the best team for the 2016 World Cup,” Mujahid told The Express Tribune.
“I will also ask the departments to pay and train the selected players which will definitely change the negative image of hockey in the minds of the youngsters.”
Mujahid added that this event was a step towards helping the country host international matches.
“The PHF wants to soften the image of the country. We are not considering the option of playing at neutral venues; we want to instead be able to organise domestic events properly and then bring international ones to Pakistan.
He also said that the PHF will be talking to Hockey India about hosting a bilateral series in June, with their new government now in place.
Meanwhile, Olympian Muhammad Akhlaq, an International Hockey Federation qualified official and NBP’s coach said, “This is a big achievement for the PHF since roughly 100 players from the federation-run academies participated in the national event.
“We are now looking forward to more developments by the PHF for the revival of hockey in Pakistan.”
The Express Tribune
Jakarta Host Baggers Win 2014 Field Hockey Festival
By Shesar Andriawan
ISCI Baggers, winners of the ISCI International Hockey 8’s Festival in Jakarta on May 25, 2014. (Beritasatu.com/Shesar Andriawan)
Jakarta. The ISCI Baggers won the ISCI International Hockey 8′s Festival at Gelora Bung Karno hockey field on Sunday after defeating Al-Zaytun 2-0 in the finals.
Playing in eight-a-side format in 15 minutes, the Baggers, which hosted the event, made the best of their experience against high school team, Al-Zaytun. At the end of the day, it’s the win for all as they shared fun, experience and friendship in the event.
The Baggers made it into the final after defeating Trisakti Hockey Club 2-0 in the semifinals, while Al-Zaytun beat Singapore Cricket Club 2-1.
It was the 15th edition of the event. Seven local teams and 11 teams from Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore took part in the event.
The Jakarta Globe is a media partner of ISCI Hockey.
The Jakarta Globe