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News 26 August 2014

All the news for Tuesday 26 August 2014


Surprise finalist Canada men to go for gold against Australia

Spain and South Africa to clash for bronze

   
Canada celebrate their semi-final challenge shoot-out win (Photo: Xinhua/Li Xiang (jyt))

In the men’s spellbinding semi-finals, Canada advanced with their second consecutive challenge shoot-out win, defeating Spain today, while Australia fought their way past South Africa.

After a strong start by Spain in the first semi-final, Canada held Spain within striking distance throughout regulation time. Canada forced the match into a challenge shoot-out with a last minute goal, and just like in their quarter-final, the Canadians used the opportunity wisely. Amrit Sidhu was the man of match with two goals during the match and three shoot-out conversions for Canada.

The match between South Africa and Australia was another thriller in Nanjing’s hockey arena. South Africa was the stronger team early on but conceded a pair of easy goals. When Australia opened up a two-goal gap towards the end of the match, a last minute goal wasn’t enough and the South Africans, unlucky today, had to watch Australia go on a victory lap.

In the 5th to 8th place bracket, Pakistan scored three goals in the final period to defeat a well-playing Zambian team, and New Zealand were out of Mexico’s reach.

The match for 9th place saw two equal contenders do battle, but in the end, Germany claimed victory with the narrowest of margins.

Results

Men

9/10th place: Bangladesh – Germany 4:5 (0:2; 3:4)
5-8th place: Zambia – Pakistan 2:5 (1:0; 2:2)
5-8th place: New Zealand – Mexico 9:2 (4:1; 8:2)
Semi-final: Spain – Canada 4:4 (2:1; 3:2) – Challenge Shoot-out 5:6
Semi-final: South Africa – Australia 3:4 (1:0; 1:2)

FIH site



Aussies go for gold

Australia set to face Canada in gold medal match after winning 4-3 over RSA



The green and gold are one step closer to claiming the Youth Olympic Games gold medal after beating South Africa in Monday nights semi-final.

It was a defence orientated game with both sides showing great determination and composure to hold out each other on numerous occasions.

Australia held on with four men with seconds to go to win 4-3 and square the ledger with the opposition after South Africa beat them in a pool match last week.

“At the moment I can’t really explain how I feel. The boys have worked really hard and it’s a dream come true so far, hopefully we can keep the dream going for one more match,” Max Hendry said.

South Africa got out to a 1-0 lead just before the first break but it wasn't long before the Aussies brought it back.

Midway through the second period Nathanael Stewart slotted home the team’s first goal.

Captain Tim Howard scored his first goal of the tournament, deflecting off a South African defender to hit the back net.

The opposition brought the score level with eight minutes left in the final period but Australia gained the lead again after another long ranged goal from Corey Weyer.

Howard added to his tally celebrating with a captain’s salute in front of the vocal Australian crowd to take a two goal lead into the final minutes.

Despite South Africa scoring a last minute goal, Australia held on to win 4-3.

“Our major focus coming into tonight’s game was to get a lead and hold it which was great to see because we held out all match,” Hendry said.

Tim Howard is hoping for a similar crowd at the gold medal match after the fans inspired his team to give it their all.

“The Aussie supporters got us over the line tonight. It was an amazing experience playing in front of the crowd and I can’t thank them enough,” the Queenslander said.

Australia will now play Canada in the gold medal match on Wednesday night at 20:30 (CST) after they beat Spain in a penalty shoot-out.

The green and gold have already beaten Canada in a pool match but as Howard knows, finals are a totally different game.

“We will go out there and do our job. Hopefully we will be on the right side of the scoreboard early and just never give up,” Howard said.

“Finals are such a massive event and whoever wants it the most will be awarded the gold medal.”

To watch the game live, head to Olympic.tv

Game Six (Semi-final)
Australia v South Africa
Youth Olympic Games
Nanjing, China

Australia: 4
Nathanael Stewart 17
Tim Howard 20, 33
Corey Weyer 30
South Africa: 3
Patrick Ryan Crowe 11
Raymond Garth Turner 27
Douglas Luke Schooling 35

Australia v South Africa
Athlete (Hometown, State)
Matthew Bird, WA
Jonathan Bretherton, VIC
Max Hendry,  VIC
Tim Howard, QLD
Max Hughes, NSW
Alec Rasmussen, WA
Nathanael Stewart, NSW
Mackenzie Warne, QLD
Corey Weyer, QLD

Australia Gold Medal Final Fixture, Youth Olympic Games
Wednesday 27 August - Australia v Canada 22:30 AEST / 20:30 AWST

Media Release Content
The above content has been supplied by the Australian Olympic Committee for Hockey Australia to distribute.

Hockey Australia media release



Second straight shootout win sends Canada to Youth Olympics final

Shaheed Devji

After a pool stage loss to Spain, the Canadian men's Under-18 team made good on their chance for redemption with an exciting 6-5 shootout victory in the Youth Olympic Games semifinal Monday morning in China.

Canada will now face the world’s number one field hockey nation, Australia, for gold in another pool stage rematch on Wednesday morning.

"Above all else we are proud of the poise, confidence and heart our young men display while representing our country and sport as part of our larger Canadian Olympic Committee team in Nanjing,” says Field Hockey Canada Chief Executive Officer Jeff Sauvé.

The semifinal versus started how the pool stage match ended, with Spain controlling. The Spanish got out to an early 2-0 lead four minutes into the game.

Canada's work was clearly laid out of in front of them, but after facing a considerable amount of adversity in their quarterfinal match against Pakistan - and coming out with a victory - they were up for the challenge.

The first response came in the form of an Amrith Sidhu goal in the seventh minute. The score stood at 2-1 for Spain.

The Spaniards added another in the thirteenth minute before Vikram Sandhu responded once again for Canada in the twenty-forth.

The score was 3-2 after two periods and the see-saw battle continued in the third.

Spain extended its lead by one with a thirtieth minute goal from Lucas Garcia.

But the resiliency from the Canadians continued when Sidhu made it a one goal game in the thirty-first minute with his second of the match, and Balraj Panesar tied the game at four in the thirty-sixth.

The Canadians headed to a shootout for the second straight match.

Two of three shooters scored for each team  (Amrith Sidhu and Vikram Sandhu for Canada) in the first round of shots, so with the match all square and sudden death shots were needed.

Sidhu, Panesar and Sandhu each converted during sudden death, as did three Spanish players to make it 5-5 after two rounds.

But a save from Liam Manning off Gonzalez de Castej on the fourth sudden death attempt and a third shootout goal from Sidhu sealed the victory for the Canadians and the berth in the gold medal match.

“Competing for Youth Olympic gold is the result of an integrated program designed with focus and intent. Our National coaches have created the conditions for success,” continues Sauvé.

“From trials to centralization to building the hockey 5s boards for training; the sustained commitment is outstanding."

Australia is the world’s number one ranked men’s field hockey nation, the defending World Cup and Commonwealth Games champion and faced Canada in the pool stage of the Youth Olympics, coming out on top with a 5-2 win.

Canada, however, has shown that they have a penchant for the newly introduced “Hockey 5s” version of the game, which is similar to sports like street hockey and basketball.

The final versus Australia will take place on Wednesday at 8:30pm local (5:30am PST/8:30am EST).

Field Hockey Canada media release



Men’s Hockey5’s set up fifth place playoff



The New Zealand Men’s Hockey5’s powered ahead of Mexico to win 9-2 overnight at the Nanjing Youth Olympics and will now play for 5th against Pakistan at 9.30pm tomorrow (NZT).

After a frustrating quarterfinal loss to South Africa where coach Dave Kosoof said nothing went their way, he was proud that his team turned it around and came out firing against Mexico.  

Richmond Lum, 18, Auckland, and Dylan Thomas, 18, Central, scored four goals each and North Harbour’s Robbie Capizzi also slotted one home. New Zealand led 4-1 after the first third, 8-2 after the second spell and scored once more in the final third.

“We have been starting matches well, and we started well again today and just got into a flow. We were always in complete control, we forgot about the result and just focussed on individual performances and knew that the result would take care of itself," said Kosoof.

“Richmond and Dylan were able to take the long range shots and that proved pretty effective, we weren't as good as we probably should have been at closer range, but the long range shots were paying off.

“It’s really positive how the boys have turned around that quarterfinal loss and as a team we have reset some goals. It's not only about the result, it’s also about making sure each player has really good individual  performances and they have achieved that today and hopefully will in the second game as well. We want the players to go home loving the experience and everything that goes with this event.”

Although Kosoof says it’s disappointing that his team wont get to match up against Spain or Australia, he is expecting the final game of the tournament against Pakistan to be a fantastic contest.

“We are all really looking forward to it, they are an attacking team, they won't hold back and it will be a really attacking, great spectacle to watch.”

There are ten nations competing in the Hockey5’s at the Youth Olympics, with two pools of five nations in each.

The NZ Women play Uruguay tonight for fifth position at 9.30pm (NZT). In the men’s finals, Spain will face South Africa in the bronze medal game and Canada will play Australia in the gold medal match.

The men’s team is David Brydon, Canterbury (17); Robbie Capizzi, North Harbour (17); Fynn Edwards, (GK) North Harbour (18); Richmond Lum, Auckland (18); Dominic Newman, Canterbury (17); Hayden Phillips, Central (16); Aidan Sarikaya, Midlands (17); Dylan Thomas, Central (18); Mackenzie Wilcox, Central (17). The team is coached by Dave Kosoof.

The women’s team is Isla Bint, Auckland (16); Frances Davies, Midlands (17); Su Arn Kwek, Auckland (18); Bridget Kiddle, Capital (17); Tayla White, Auckland (17); Ella Hyatt-Brown, North Harbour (16); Catherine Tinning, Canterbury (18); Casey-Mae Waddell, Central (17); Amy Robinson, Midlands (18). The team is coached by Caryn Paewai.

Hockey New Zealand Media release



Greenfields Men’s IPT set to be a cracker

JONATHAN COOK in Durban


SA defender Rhett Halkett will be representing Western Province in the Greenfields Men's Interprovincial Tournament at Queensmead Hockey Stadium, which starts in Durban tomorrow and ends with the finals on Saturday. Photo: ADY KERRY

If last year’s event is anything to go by, the elite A Section of the Greenfields Men’s Interprovincial Tournament (IPT) that starts at Queensmead Hockey Stadium in Durban Tuesday,  is going to provide some startling clashes.

The B Section, or second division, at the nearby Three Schools Trust turf will see the likes of Free State, North West and Border going all-out for promotion to the 2015 elite division of the showcase domestic tournament in SA hockey.

Tuesday’s opening round sees the pick of the action at Queensmead likely to be the match between the strong host province, KZN Coastal Raiders, and Western Province Peninsula at 4.30pm.

What ads further spice this year is that SA men’s head coach Fabian Gregory and the panel of selectors have decreed that this is a compulsory IPT for all players who wish to be considered for the national team in the future. Therefore, all current SA players will be at IPT and their presence is sure to rub off on the players around them.

Cape Town was the venue last year and torrential rain caused matches to be postponed and the consequent switching of venues, while in a remarkable semi-final, underdogs Northern Blues were 3-0 up against eventual IPT winners Western Province after 28 minutes before an alarming downpour left the pitch waterlogged and forced the players off the field.

The match was moved from Hartleyvale’s stadium pitch to the B pitch, and WP pulled a goal back in the five minutes of play before it was called off for good for the day. The semi-final resumed the next morning at University of Cape Town and WP came back from a 3-1 deficit to beat Northern Blues 4-3 in a stunning finish.

Seven hours later, WP edged Southern Gauteng 1-0 in the final, making it a super Saturday in every respect.

This year’s A Section’s Pool A features defending champs Tuffy Western Province, Northern Blues, Southern Gauteng Wits and Eastern Province while the Pool B line-up has Southern Gauteng, last year’s finalists, as well as KZN Coastal Raiders, KZN Inland and WP Peninsula in its ranks.

The B Section’s Pool A has North West, Border, EP Settlers and KZN Coastal “C, while the Pool B teams are Free State, KZN Mynahs, SA Country Districts and guest country, Namibia.

TUESDAY'S MATCHES

A Section (at Queensmead): Southern Gauteng vs KZN Inland (10.30am); Tuffy Western Province vs Southern Gauteng Wits (12.30pm); Northern Blues vs Eastern Province (2.30pm); KZN Coastal Raiders vs WP Peninsula (4.30pm).

B Section (at Queensmead): Free State vs SA Country Districts (8am).
B Section (at Three Schools Trust): North West vs EP Settlers (10am); Border vs KZN Coastal “C” (12 noon); KZN Mynahs vs Namibia (2pm).

SA Hockey Association media release



Jackson gears up for league season

By Mike Haymonds

ASHLEY JACKSON was the only Commonwealth Games medallist who played in the inaugural Five Feathers International Cup at East Grinstead as his England team mates continued their post-Games rest time, which is expected to end this weekend.

East Grinstead finished third in the four-team men’s competition, won by unbeaten Racing Club de Bruxelles, although Grinstead’s women, a Conference team,  finished top, after three wins.

Jackson had no hesitation in playing the tournament despite England’s busy schedule this summer.

“A first tournament at my home club was too good a chance to miss and it was a more realistic pre-season preparation than usual,” he said.

“It was also a welcome change from centralised England squad training at Bisham.”

The Belgians Racing Club were the outstanding men’s team, beating Reading 6-3, East Grinstead 3-1 and Canterbury 4-2.

Grinstead’s women beat Reading 3-1, Canterbury 2-1 and Slough 4-2.

The England League starts on September 13.

Daily Express



Racing Rats win Five Feathers tournament

Racing Club de Bruxelles landed the Five Feathers International Cup, hosted by East Grinstead last weekend, as they saw off the host club as well as Canterbury and Reading.

They started the competition with a 6-3 Friday night win over Reading with newcomers from Ireland Conor Harte (two) and Alan Sothern both on the mark with Thomas Balay and Canada’s Scott Tupper, pictured, also netting.

Sothern, Jonathan Beckers and John Dabin secured their win over EHL-bound EG before they closed out the competition with a 4-2 win over Canterbury.

East Grinstead ended with a win, a draw and a loss to their name but coach Karl Stagno said afterwards he was content with his side’s outing.

"It was really good to get everyone together for the first time as a group," he said.

"We were missing a few players at various stages through personal commitments or slight niggles, but that gave some of the younger players a chance to perform, which bodes well for the season ahead and we are excited about that."

His side are in preparations for the Euro Hockey League round one in Barcelona in early October.

Euro Hockey League media release



EHL sides continue preseason build-up



On a busy weekend of preseason games for EuroHockey League sides, SV Arminen played out two close fought battles with fellow EHL-bound side HC Bloemendaal over the weekend in Austria with the Dutch side landing a 4-2 win on Friday and a 3-2 success on Sunday.

Bloemendaal welcomed back Australian World Cup winner Matthew Swann to the fold following a spell back in his homeland while the Austrian side were content to get a high quality tie in against the two-time EHL champions.

Dominic Uher and Jan Petersen were on the mark in game on while Patrick Schmidt and Sebastien Eitenberger scored in game two.

German third seeds Rot-Weiss Köln beat Belgium's Daring 4-2 while Dragons drew 3-3 with Oranje Zwart with new Irish arrival Shane O'Donoghue scoring his first goal for the club. He was on the mark alongside efforts from Max Peeters and Felix Denayer. In reply, corner expert Mink van der Weerden fired home one set piece while Thys Bams scored twice.

Euro Hockey League media release



Project squad for friendlies in Belfast

By Jugjet Singh

THE Malaysian Project 2016 trainees will head for Belfast, Ireland, in the middle of September to play six friendly matches which will be used to select the final squad for the Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC) on Oct 12-18.

There are 25 trainees in the Project 2016 Junior World Cup squad, and 21 of them played in the recent Razak Cup where Perak became champions.

And the good news for the young brigade, is that five Project boys helped Perak achieve their eighth Razak Cup glory in Kuantan on Sunday.

“I am really proud of how all my trainees played in the Razak Cup, and the five that represented Perak have gained valuable practice, as well as getting the feeling of becoming champions ahead of the SOJC,” said Project 2016 team manager Mirnawan Nawawi.

In the last edition of the SOJC, India beat Malaysia 3-0 in the final.

“We need to make an impression in the Sultan of Johor Cup, even though we will be facing five other strong teams in Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Great Britain.

“This will be an early boost as we prepare for the Junior Asia Cup next year, where the gold medal will take us into the 2016 World Cup,” said Mirnawan.

For the record, Malaysia won gold in the last Junior Asia Cup and qualified for the New Delhi Junior World Cup, where the then coach K. Dharmaraj’s men finished fourth.

New Straits Times



Ventures reigns in hockey

Arin Kumar


The Ventures men's and women's teams after successfully retaining their titles at the Valerie Daveta Memorial Tournament in Suva on Sunday. Picture: ARIN KUMAR

THE Ventures men's and women's hockey sides respectively retained their titles at the Valerie Manueli-Daveta Memorial Tournament on Sunday.

The men's side came from behind to defeat Marist 3-1 in the final to retain their title for the eight consecutive year while their women's side defeated Stingers 1-0 in the final to retain the title for the ninth year in a row.

Men's captain Tevita King said they anticipated a tough final after defeating Stingers 1-0 in the semi-final at the National Hockey Centre in Suva.

"The final was very tough and it was a really good style of hockey that the Marist team played," King said.

"So we played our own simple and fast hockey to get those goals and I would like to thank the players for their efforts and our sponsors FMF and FSSL for their support."

For the women's final, it was a Myra Tora goal that allowed Ventures to keep the title for another year.

Team captain Alison Southey said they played their hearts out in the final.

"It was the final and both sides were really good in their games, in fitness and skills," she said.

The tournament is held annually in memory of Valerie Manueli-Daveta who passed away in 1993.

She was Fiji Hockey Federations first national hockey administrator and played a vital role in the development of hockey at primary, secondary and senior levels.

The Fiji Times

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