News 29 June 2014
All the news for Sunday 29 June 2014
Scotland level Spain series with two goal win
Ailsa Wyllie takes on the Spanish defence. Photo Credit: Andy Laing
Goals from Ali Bell and Emily Maguire provided Scotland Senior Women with a series levelling 2-0 win against Spain at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre today.
With the three match series now all square at 1-1, the deciding match will take place at the same venue tomorrow morning at 11am.
The opening exchanges of the contest failed to produce any clear-cut scoring opportunities, the Scots were comfortable in possession and were knitting together some promising passages of play.
In the 14th minute, a dangerous cross from defender Susan McGilveray forced Spanish goalkeeper Maria Lopez into action, clearing her lines with the Scottish attack ready to pounce on any rebound.
Five minutes later, the home side were awarded two successive penalty corner opportunities, Nikki Kidd working Lopez with low drive from the first attempt, before a collective Spanish rearguard defended the second shot on goal.
Shortly after, the visitors gained a penalty corner for an illegal foot inside the circle. However, Lola Riera was unable to take advantage, blazing her attempt high over the bar and into the stands behind the goal.
In the 26th minute, excellent individual play from Cat Ralph created an opportunity for Sarah Robertson, but the Edinburgh University defender’s attempt was just wide of the target.
Nevertheless, consistent Scottish pressure finally paid off three minutes from half-time, with Ali Bell registering the opening goal with a low drive past Lopez.
Kidd almost doubled her side’s advantage right on half-time, but the Canterbury midfielder’s penalty corner effort was well defended.
Spain should have been back on level terms shortly after the half-time break, but Maria Contardi ballooned her shot high over the bar with the goal at her mercy.
Ailsa Wyllie came close to a second Scotland goal in the 39th minute, her shot from the right hand side of the circle fizzing just wide of the left-hand upright.
Sixty seconds later, Spain sloppily conceded possession deep inside the own half, Emily Maguire latching onto the loose ball to advance into the circle and rattle the ball past Lopez to make it 2-0.
Emily Maguire celebrates her goal against Spain: Photo Credit Andy Laing
Captain Linda Clement was denied a third goal following Lopez’s block at the back post, before Beatriz Perez shot wide of Amy Gibson’s goal in the 56th minute.
Scotland’s final opportunity to claim a third goal came in the 65th minute, but it wasn’t to be as Bell’s driving run and shot was diverted wide by Lopez.
Scottish Hockey Union media release
Ireland 3 Wales 1
Ireland defeated Wales by 3-1 in the first of the two test series against their Celtic neighbours. Wales started the sharper of the two sides winning the first PC of the game in the 7m but the chance was well saved by David Fitzgerald. Ireland took the lead 2m later when after good work by Paul Gleghorne gave Michael Watt the easiest of tap in’s to put Ireland in front. Ireland forced three PC’s of their own in the first half one saved by Kettle and the other two off target from the stick of O’Donoghue.
The second half started with great work by O Donoghue but his shot from play just wide. Wales scored to equalise after 44m when a diving Peter Swainson beat Fitzgerald from 5yards. Ireland won PC No. 4 a minute later this time Conor Harte low drag was saved and another PC followed this time O’Donoghue’s shot was cleared. Ireland continued to dominate and from their 6pc O’Donoghue fired over. Ireland were working very hard up front with Maurice Elliott dispossessing the Welsh defence to give David Carson the simplest of finishes and Ireland a deserved 2-1 lead. On the hooter a series of three penalty corners resulted in a low drag from Shane O Donoghue finding the bottom corner to give Ireland a 3-1 victory.
After the game Irish Coach Craig Fulton said ‘He was happy with the result. We created a lot of chances but were wasteful in front of goal. We are trying new things in which we have progressed. I am sure tomorrow’s game will be exciting and we are looking forward to the encounter”
Ireland will play Wales tomorrow Sunday June 29th with a 3pm start at the National Hockey Stadium in UCD
IRELAND 3 (1) Michael Watt, David Carson, Shane O Donoghue
WALES 1 (0) Peter Swainson
Ireland Starting XI: David Fitzgerald (GK), Michael Watt, Maurice Elliott, Bruce McCandless, Drew Carlisle, Michael darling, Timothy Cockram, Kyle Good, Paul Gleghorne, Conor Harte, Shane O Donoghue.
Subs Used: John Jackson, Jonathan Bell, Kirk Shimmins Michael Robson, Stuart Loughrey, David Carson.
Irish Hockey Association media release
Women's hockey team eye top six CWG finish
By Aftar Singh
The national women's hockey team were victors at the World League Round One, winning all four matches by scoring 37 goals without conceding any. - filepic
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) are overwhelmed with the national women’s team performance in the World League Round One, which ended in Singapore on Thursday.
And they have set a target for the national team to finish among the top six for next month’s Commonwealth Games.
In Singapore, Malaysia won the tournament by winning all their four matches by netting a whopping 37 goals and not conceding any goals.
Forward Nuraini Abdul Rashid was the top scorer with eight goals.
By winning the tournament, Malaysia also qualified for the World League Second Round, which is scheduled to be played in New Delhi in December.
The World League Second Round is the qualifying meet for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
MHC senior vice-president S. Shamala said that they are impressed with the team’s performance in Singapore.
“Our players are in high spirits after winning the tournament and qualifying for the World League Second Round.
“We have set a target for the national team to finish among the top six for next month’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games,” said Shamala.
A total of 10 teams will feature in the Commonwealth Games and Malaysia will open their Group A campaign against defending champions Australia on July 24.
Their other matches are against Scotland (July 25), England (July 27) and Wales (July 30).
Canada, India, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, and South Africa are drawn in Group B.
Shamala said that although the 18 players performed well in Singapore, they should not take their places for granted for the Commonwealth Games.
“We have 25 players in the training squad and all of them have a fighting chance to be named for the Games. We will select the best possible team as we will be facing top contenders like Australia and England,” said Shamala.
Malaysia’s best ever finish at the Commonwealth Games was a sixth placing in the 2006 Melbourne Games.
At the last Games in New Delhi four years ago, Malaysia finished a disappointing last in the 10-team competition.
The Star of Malaysia
Badgers beat Riverside, stake claim
JONATHAN COOK at Riverside Sports
Riverside's Mondli Dlamini takes the ball up despite the attentions of Western Province CC Badgers' Rowan Watson while Taine Paton comes in to support. Photo: GREG LABUSCAGNE
The classy Western Province Cricket Club Badgers all but pencilled in their name as 2014 Greenfields Riverside Elite Challenge winners after a 5-2 victory against defending champions Riverside at Riverside Sports in Durban North Saturday, this following an emphatic 4-0 half-time lead.
Barring major upsets the Badgers will take the generous cash prize back to Cape Town Sunday, but it was not without a fight by the host club in Saturday’s late game.
In Sunday’s final round of this popular event involving the provincial champions of WP, KZN and Southern Gauteng, with an invitation side included in the four-team mix, table-toppers Badgers tackle the third-placed lads from Botha’s Hill, Kearsney, at 9.30am and Riverside take on Johannesburg’s Wanderers Chariots at 11.30am.
The Badgers’ Tim Walsh broke the game wide open in the 26th minute with a brilliant solo effort while World Cup striker Lloyd Norris-Jones added to KZN champs Riverside’s woes from the penalty spot in the 28th to take his tournament tally to four goals.
SA-capped striker Matt Botha, back on home turf, extended the Badgers’ lead three minutes from half-time (32nd) and Cobus Jonker made it 4-0 via a penalty corner at the death of a one-sided first half.
Riverside had a much better time of it after the changeover with a Matt Fairweather penalty corner two minutes into the second stanza (37th) reducing the deficit.
In the 55th minute the home crowd’s hopes went up another notch when Mike Wiggett pulled another goal back but three minutes later a trademark strike by SA indoor hockey international Dale Isaac gave the Badgers breathing space again and with it the 5-2 final scoreline.
In the early game Kearsney came back from trailing 1-0 at half-time following a 19th minute penalty corner strike by Wanderers Chariots skipper Ricky West to win 3-2, the Kearsney goals coming from SA indoor player Gavin Jelley in the 52nd and a superb brace from another national indoor star in Justin Domleo in the 57th and 62nd minutes.
Those three Kearsney goals in 11 minutes were enough to clinch the three points. Chariots’ former World Cup and Olympic Games star Tommy Hammond got a consolation goal two minutes from the end (68th).
Kearsney keeper Chris McCathie played a crucial role, too in keeping the KZN lads in the game when the momentum wasn’t going their way.
The Riverside/Badgers match Saturday had shaped up as a must-win for Riverside as Badgers had earned a bonus point for scoring four goals or more against Chariots in their 7-3 win in round one Friday, while the host club managed just three goals in their 3-1 victory over a determined Kearsney, who had come back well after a disappointing first half.
RESULTS
Friday - Riverside 3 Kearsney 1; Western Province CC Badgers 7 Wanderers Chariots 3.
Saturday - Wanderers Chariots2 Kearsney 3; Riverside 2 Western Province CC Badgers 5.
FIXTURES
Sunday - Kearsney vs WPCC Badgers (9.30am); Riverside vs Wanderers Chariots (11.30am).
SA Hockey Association media release
Defending champs Riverside on song at Greenfields Riverside Elite Challenge
JONATHAN COOK at Riverside Sports
The Greenfields Elite Challenge kicked off with a bang at a festive Riverside Sports in Durban North Friday night when KwaZulu-Natal champion club Riverside Hockey Club opened their campaign as defending titlists with a comprehensive 3-1 win over a competitive Kearsney after leading 3-0 at the break.
The three first-half action goals for Riverside came from a Steve Wiggett brace in the 17th and 20th minutes plus Gareth Mason’s tap-in following a stunning move down the well-exploited right channel eight minutes from half-time (27th).
Keagan Eccles pulled one back in the 53rd but Riverside’s superb first half had done the damage.
The Botha’s Hill lads contested well but lacked the firepower and finishing touch to make their attacking forays count.
The match started at a tremendous pace with Riverside immediately on the attack, combining well through all three lines of defence, midfield and attack, keeping Kearsney stopper Chris McCathie on constant alert. However, in the fifth minute a top-class square pass from left to right by Robbie Veldhuizen to Scott Drew saw the right half’s through ball set up the first penalty corner, but the variation right was thwarted.
A Karl Oftebro drag-flick cannoned into the post and stayed out, this after umpire Dutchie Olivier had no hesitation in awarding Riverside their first PC. Then Matt Fairweather launched the first of Riverside’s many telling attacks down the right with McCathie making a triple save before the on-song Wiggett opened the scoring when he stood strong on the ball to make space before slapping in the opening goal (1-1).
At the other end South Africa’s World Cup keeper Gowan Jones made a superb intervention, and in the ensuing breakout Wiggett made it 2-0 with a clinical finish. Riverside’s outstanding first half was then topped off with a stunningly crafted move involving Calvin Price, Terence Kidd and Keagan Robinson before Mason delivered the death blow (3-0).
FIXTURES
Saturday - Wanderers vs Kearsney (2.45pm); Riverside vs Western Province CC (4.15pm).
Sunday - Kearsney vs WPCC (9.30am); Riverside vs Wanderers ( 11.30am).
SA Hockey Association media release
Riverside & Cape Badgers on song @ Greenfields Riverside Elite Challenge
JONATHAN COOK at Riverside Sports
The Greenfields Elite Challenge kicked off with a bang at a festive Riverside Sports in Durban North Friday night when KwaZulu-Natal champions Riverside Hockey Club opened their campaign as defending titlists with a comprehensive 3-1 win over a competitive Kearsney after leading 3-0 at the break while Western Province champions, Western Province Cricket Club Badgers, had World Cup striker Lloyd Norris-Jones in great form in their entertaining 7-3 victory over fiercely competitive Southern Gauteng champs Wanderers Chariots after nosing ahead 3-2 at the turnaround.
The three first-half action goals for Riverside came from a Steve Wiggett brace in the 17th and 20th minutes plus Gareth Mason’s tap-in following a stunning move down the well-exploited right channel eight minutes from half-time (27th). Keagan Eccles pulled one back in the 53rd but Riverside’s superb first half had already done the damage.
Badgers ace Norris-Jones brought the scorekeepers into action as early as the fifth minute and added two more in the 10th and 27th minutes in between a cool finish from the penalty spot in the 15th minute by the Chariots’ Jet Eustice before the World Cup centre back narrowed the Capetonians’ winning margin once again with a penalty corner in the 29th.
The second half saw some stunningly constructed goals that left defenders and goalkeepers with little chance, Devin Stanton, double Olympian Andrew Cronje, Indoor World Cup star Dale Isaac and SA-capped striker Matt Botha adding four more goals for WPCC Badgers and Brad Venter getting on the scoresheet for Chariots.
Badgers’ getting more than four goals earned the Capetonians a bonus point, plus the three points for victory, and put the Cape lads in pole position to win the generous cash prize granted to the winners.
FIXTURES
Saturday - Wanderers vs Kearsney (2.45pm); Riverside vs Western Province CC (4.15pm).
Sunday - Kearsney vs WPCC (9.30am); Riverside vs Wanderers ( 11.30am).
SA Hockey Association media release
AHF To Establish Hall Of Fame To Commemorate Sultan Azlan Shah
KUALA LUMPUR - Father of Malaysian Hockey, the late Sultan Azlan Shah, will be immortalised at the Asian Hockey Federation's (AHF) Hall of Fame at the Raja Ashman Shah Hockey Academy, Ipoh, Perak.
Acting AHF President Tan Sri P. Alagendra said AHF council members have agreed to form a committee for the Hall of Fame expected to be ready latest by December.
"We've all agreed to immortalise memories and contributions of Sultan Azlan Shah in raising the name of national hockey to the world in the Hall of Fame.
"No one is more eligible to receive this honour than him. We want the younger generation to know and remember his role in hockey," he told reporters after chairing the 66th AHF Council Meeting.
The committee, to be chaired by P. Alagendra, aims to commemorate those names which contributed to hockey in the region.
Alagendra was appointed as acting president in the meeting following Sultan Azlan Shah's demise on May 28, with the new president to be chosen during the AHF Congress scheduled on Aug 31.
Sultan Azlan Shah was AHF president for the past 20 years and had achieved much to uphold hockey in the region as well as established the Asian Hockey Academy.
Sultan Azlan, who was appointed as International Hockey Federation (FIH) Vice-President for two terms in 1992, loved hockey since his years in school and had never tired in improving national hockey for the past 41 years and until the national team finally stood at par with the world's best teams.
Sultan Azlan Shah who had represented the Perak hockey team, which is among the best teams, was former Malaysian Hockey Confederation Vice-President in 1973 before leading it for two decades, and was then appointed as its Honorary Adviser.
Bernama