News 08 November 2014
All the news for Saturday 8 November 2014
Future Black Sticks bag big win against India
Pictured: Su Arn Kwek playing for Auckland at the National Under-21 Tournament
The Future Black Sticks Women have won 5-0 against the India Juniors today, backing up an earlier win and a draw in the series being held at the TET Multisports Centre in Stratford.
Head coach Jude Menezes said the work rate was extremely high today and it was encouraging to see a big step up from their drawn game on Thursday.
"It was so pleasing to see us execute the things we spoke about yesterday at training. We held our structure a lot better, we converted two out of five penalty corners and scored some great field goals,"said Menezes.
Siobhan Nuzum and Su Arn Kwek each converted a penalty corner giving the Kiwis a 2-0 lead at half time. In the second half, the Future Black Sticks put the foot down with Kelsey Smith, Su Arn Kwek scoring again and Erin Goad all adding to the tally.
"Sarah Matthews was great in goal and helped keep us in the game, but overall it was a really strong team performance – we wanted to come out and make a real statement today, and we did," said Menezes.
The first three games of the series have been 35 minute halves, but from tomorrow the teams will play 15 minute quarters.
"Our style of play will change tomorrow, our game plan will need to change to suit – so we will see how we go."
Tomorrow’s game is at 3pm at the TET Multisports Centre in Stratford. Free entry to all games.
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Confident India face Australia in third hockey Test
PERTH: Buoyed by their 2-1 win in the previous match, the Indian men's hockey team will look to build on their impressive showing when they face Australia in the third of the four-match Test series at the Perth Hockey Stadium here Saturday.
India came back strongly after the world champions thrashed them 4-0 in the opening encounter.
"It is a good learning process that we all are going through by playing against the world's top ranked team. As witnessed in the first two matches itself, where we lost the first match, the improvement was evident in the second match as we stunned Australia," skipper Sardar Singh said ahead of the match.
"The team is more prepared now and is learning to be more challenging. Our ball possession and long passes were good in the last game and we are hoping to deliver better results in the upcoming matches."
Speaking before the third match, chief coach Terry Walsh said: "We knew that this tournament will not be easy but with the way these boys fought back in the second match is really commendable.
"We are studying the faulty areas and are working hard to overcome them. The team is preparing hard and is looking in good shape to give a similar fight as the last match and delivering favourable results."
The Times of India
India aim to spring another surprise against Australia
PERTH: After a "commendable" series levelling win, India aim to spring another surprise in the third game of the four-match Test series against world champions Australia on Saturday.
India showed character in their unexpected 2-1 win on Wednesday after losing the opening match 0-4.
Speaking on the preparations for the crucial game, captain and midfielder Sardar Singh said the team's focus is on improving with every game against a top side like Australia.
"It is a good learning process that we all are going through by playing against the world's top ranked team. As witnessed in the first two matches itself, where we lost the first match, the improvement was evident in the second match as we took Australia down," said Sardar.
"The team is more prepared now and is learning to be more challenging with each day that passes. Working on the possession of the ball and the long passes has really helped the team put up a good show in the last game and we are hoping to deliver better results in the upcoming matches," he added.
India's Australian coach Terry Walsh, who is well aware of the conditions here, said his side is keen to give another tough fight to its formidable opponents.
"We knew that this tournament will not be easy, but with the way these boys fought back in the second match is really commendable. We are studying the faulty areas and are working hard to overcome them. The team is preparing hard and is looking in good shape to give a similar fight as the last match and delivering favourable results," said Walsh.
The Times of India
Kalinga Lancers axe local lad Prabodh
s2h team
While the Hockey India League is on a revamp mode with the swapping of owners and introduction of new franchisee for the upcoming season, an overhaul seems to be likely in the Bhubaneswar-based Kalinga Lancers team also.
According to reports, the team which is co-owned by IDCO and MCL, has axed the previous season’s captain Prabodh Tirkey along with three others. While Prabodh captained during the home matches of the team held in Bhubaneswar, he was also their local mascot.
The others who have been shown the door are Manjeet Kullu, Jasbir Singh and Gagandeep Singh. Initial reports suggest that Prabodh and Manjeet were found not physically fit during a fitness trial which was held at the Kalinga Stadium recently.
Earlier, the Kalinga Lancers had also faced coaching issues after their chief coach Terry Walsh, also the national team’s coach, had resigned from the top job last month. However, the team has found a replacement in Jude Felix, also a member of the coaching staff in the national team.
With the auctions scheduled to be held later this month, the changes would mean formulating new combinations and starting afresh for the Lancers after a dismal first season after finishing at the bottom of the points table this year.
Stick2Hockey.com
RCF girls lift Surjit hockey title 
Winners Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala, strike a pose with the trophy. PHOTO: Malkiat Singh
Chandigarh - Star-studded Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, clinched the women’s title by beating Haryana XI in the penalty shootout (3-2) of the 31st Surjit Hockey Tournament at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium.
Both teams were locked 1-1 at the end of the stipulated time. The winners bagged Rs 1 lakh and a glittering trophy while the runners-up bagged Rs 51,000 and the runners-up trophy.
The RCF girls wasted first penalty corner in the 20th minute. Five minutes later, the Haryana girls earned the first penalty corner, their captain Kiran sounded the board with cracking shot (1-0). In the 66th minute, RCF’s Deepika converted the penalty corner from left flank to equalise the score.
The Tribune
Terengganu remain unbeaten in Malaysia Hockey League
By S. Ramaguru
UniKL's Dedi Ariyadi Jumaidi (right) and Tenaga's Muhamad Amin Rahim tussel for the ball during their Malaysia Hockey League match at the National Hockey Stadium on Friday. Tenaga won 3-0. - IZZRAFIQ ALIAS / The STAR.
KUALA LUMPUR: Terengganu were made to sweat by Maybank before securing a slim 4-3 win for their third straight win in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League (MHF).
South Korean hitman Jang Jong-hyun was the hero for the East Coast side with a hat-trick at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil in Friday’s match.
Terengganu fielded their five South Korean national players – Jang Jong-hyun, Kang Moon-kyu, Kang Moon-kweon, Seo Jong-ho and Bae Jeong-seok – for the first time, but they were surprisingly given a fright by the Tigers.
Penalty corner specialist Jong-hyun delivered the opening goal when he scored from a set-piece move after 21 minutes.
But against the run of play, Maybank managed to draw level through Amirullah Zainol’s field goal in the 28th minute.
Jong-hyun added Terengganu’s second in the 37th minute off another penalty corner. But hardly a minute later Maybank drew level with another field goal through Mohamed Syafiq Zain.
As the third quarter was about to end, Maybank stunned Terengganu by taking the lead with Jiwa Mohan scoring through a penalty corner in the 45th minute.
Mohamed Firhan Azhaari, however, restored parity for Terengganu in the 47th minute.
The two sides fought to regain the lead and Terengganu ended up winners when Jong-hyun converted a penalty corner in the 58th minute.
There was also relief for former champions Tenaga Nasional as they finally clinched their first win by whipping Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) 3-0.
The Tenaga-UniKL match was played under a light drizzle. Tenaga adapted well to the conditions and scored their opening goal through a field attempt by Mohamed Shahril Saabah in the 12th minute.
But they had to wait until the 35th minute to net goal No. 2. They earned a penalty corner and it was converted by Mohamed Izzad Hakimi Jamaluddin.
Mohamed Ramadan Rosli then scored in the 47th minute to guarantee Tenaga of all the points.
Tenaga skipper Mohamed Madzli Ikmar was jubilant with the result.
“We were very determined to get our first points from this match. It is our first win in three matches and I am sure the players will use this as a springboard for better results in the coming matches,” said Madzli.
For UniKL, the defeat was their third in a row.
Coach A. Arulselvaraj, however, is not too worried.
“We played better today than we did in the previous matches. We had six penalty corners. The problem is converting these chances into goals.
“We have always been slow starters if you look at our past records. But that does not mean we are not trying. We need a win to get us going,” said Arulselvaraj.
Earlier, the opening match of the day between Sapura and defending champions Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) was called off due to a heavy downpour.
The Star of Malaysia
U-14 hockey meet to crown new champs
By S. Ramaguru
KUALA LUMPUR: There will be a new champion for the boys’ category in the 1MAS-MHC-Milo Under-14 hockey championships.
Since the inception of the championships in 2005, only Kuala Lumpur and Perak had emerged as winners. Perak were champions in 2005, 2006 and 2013 while KL ruled from 2007 to 2012.
On Friday, both teams failed to make the semi-finals for the first time.
Pahang topped Group A while Sabah emerged as Group B winners. Joining them in the last four are Penang and Kelantan.
Penang finished second in Group A after an emphatic 3-0 win over Selangor.
Mohamed Amirul continued his fine goal-scoring form with another brace for Penang in the sixth and 11th minutes. Izzuan Ismail contributed the other goal in the eighth minute. Amirul is now the top scorer with 11 goals followed by Sabah’s Muhajir Abdu Rauf on eight.
In the other Group A match, Pahang held title holders Perak 1-1.
In the girls’ category, KL are the favourites for the title after reaching the semi-finals with an unbeaten record in Group B.
The other three teams in the last four are Group B runners-up Sabah, Malacca and Kedah.
The Star of Malaysia
Battle royale for England's top dogs
English champions Beeston entertain new league leaders - and this year's EHL representatives - East Grinstead in the NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey League Premier Division on Sunday.
EG made the most of their game in hand last weekend, beating Southgate 4-0 to climb to the top of the table, but Beeston will be out to maintain their five-match unbeaten run.
“It’s going to be a nice tasty match, that’s for sure!” said Beeston Manager Graham Griffiths. “Our home fans are very enthusiastic, and we don’t expect to lose at home.
“It’s always a close one when we play East Grinstead - it took a shootout to beat them in the final last season – but that result won’t be a factor at all on Sunday.
“We are fresh after having a week off, although East Grinstead have the continuity from having played last week, but the big advantage for us is that it’s at Highfields.”
It is the highlight of a weekend that sees former leaders Surbiton head to Cannock in search of a win which could put them top again, while Wimbledon – who beat East Grinstead 4-1 in their last match – entertain struggling Canterbury.
Euro Hockey League media release
Leamington Ladies aiming for Investec Cup shock
Midlands hockey league side want Cup run to show their ambitions in reaching the national league as they prepare for clash with Manchester's Brooklands Poynton
By Rod Gilmour
On a roll: Leamington Ladies are looking for another Investec Cup upset Photo: JOANNE MCLEAN
Some leading hockey clubs may view it differently, but Leamington, the Midlands League women's side, have Investec Cup ambition and are out to prove themselves alongside the likes of Surbiton, Holcombe and Leicester when the last 16 takes place on Sunday.
Two weeks ago, Leamington upset the odds when they beat Liverpool Sefton of the Conference North to set-up another potential giant-killer against Manchester's Brooklands Poynton, the Investec Conference North leaders.
Against Liverpool, Kerry Luckett’s two goals gave Leamington the chance of an upset as the game went to a sudden-death shoot-out. Goalkeeper Vicki Waring’s performance between the posts as well as composure from the shooters then ensured Leamington of a historic place in the last 16 thanks to a nervy 6-5 win.
Ahead of Sunday's 2pm pushback, Rebecca Lascelles, the 30-year-old captain, said: “This is exciting for us. We have moved up progressively through the leagues and we are an ambitious club.”
A few seasons ago Leamington were playing in the county leagues and Lascelles admitted the club has “transformed itself” with lofty ambitions of playing in the National League.
“For us to compete in the Cup against sides we feel like we should be challenging is really exciting for us,” said Lascelles, captain for the past five years.
“It demonstrates the spirit of the team, the ambitions and how seriously we are taking the Cup.”
Lascelles now believes that Leamington, one of only three non-Investec league teams left in the knock-out competition, have the ability to garner another shock result and a place in the quarter-finals.
She said: “Bryan Frazer, our coach, has shown a lot of belief in us and we are now all playing exceptionally well together.
“You play your best hockey and anything can happen on the day. It’s inspiring for everyone in the team to get the results they are getting and we’ve learnt a great deal.”
This season there have been a raft of walkovers in both domestic Cup competitions, with seven alone in the Investec Cup, while Premier side Reading didn’t enter the competition.
Elio Saligoi, Reading Ladies manager, told Telegraph Sport: “We were in a state of transition post and pre-season, and felt we had other matters to prioritise this year.”
Lascelles summed up the situation by admitting that “this is a great opportunity for us, so it’s a real shame when you see the other big clubs who don’t fulfil the fixtures.”
She added: “We would never have the chance to play the teams that we are doing this season.
“The club are encouraging people to come and support. We have a great junior section so we want to get them involved and make it a big and inspirational day of it.”
Investec Cup last 16 ties
Ben Rhydding v Oxford Hawks
Chelmsford v Buckingham
Didsbury Northern v Gloucester City
Holcombe v Surbiton
Leamington v Brooklands Poynton
Leicester v Bowdon Hightown
Loughborough Students v Tulse Hill and Dulwich
University of Birmingham v Clifton Ladies
The Telegraph
Laughter at heart of fight against cancer
Shaved heads, moustaches and dyed hair...
(Photo: Field Hockey Canada )
Whether it is raising money at club days; making a statement with shaved heads, moustaches and dyed hair; hockey players across the globe are involved in the fight against cancer.
October was Breast Cancer Awareness month, but we mustn’t forget that breast cancer is just one of many strains of the disease that can have a devastating impact on our lives.
Although breast cancer largely affects women, there is an increasing number of men now being diagnosed with breast cancer. However, men are more likely than women to suffer from a wide range of cancers. The types of cancer that affect solely men are prostrate cancer, testicular cancer and cancer of the penis; while both genders are at risk from bowel cancer, lung cancer and bladder cancer, to name just a few.
Hockey is playing its part in the fight against the disease. Coaches versus Cancer is a national programme in the USA, in which coaches lead their teams in fund-raising and awareness-raising events. Coaches versus Cancer began life in Michigan, and was actually started as a basketball event, before hockey took up the baton. Now a wide range of sports and a number of neighbouring states are all involved in a series of events over the month of October. Money is raised through prize draws, selling merchandise, gate money and donations.
Across the border in Canada, hockey players at all levels are working hard in the fight against cancer. While the Canadian men’s team sport moustaches every November for the expanding Movember movement, at Surrey Field Hockey Club in British Columbia, participants in the Sixth Surrey Lions Cup raised more than $12,400 towards the Canadian Cancer Society.
The event, which went under the banner, Field Hockey Tackles Cancer, attracted teams from India, England, Germany and the USA. It runs over three days and more than 30,000 fans come along each year to watch the matches. This year, the Canadian U21 men’s team played an exhibition match in front of a capacity crowd.
And finally, taking a slightly more artistic approach to using hockey as a means to raising cancer awareness, several Great Britain male hockey players took part in a naked photo-shoot for Cosmopolitan magazine.The photo-shoot was in aid of the cancer charity, Everyman, which helps raise funds for research into prostrate and testicular cancer, just two of the virulent cancers that can strike anyone at any time.
FIH site