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All the news for Wednesday 25 May 2016

Dwyer sticks to script

Two goals on home send-off

By Holly MacNeil


                                                                                         
The final test in the series between Australia and Great Britain was held in front of a full capacity crowd of 5,000 at the Perth Hockey Stadium tonight, with Australia taking out the win 5 – 1 in the last game the Kookaburras will play in Australia before Rio 2016.

Jamie Dwyer started the game off in fine form scoring the first field goal of the match within minutes in his final game for the Kookaburras in Australia. Great Britain were quick to react, getting the ball down into their scoring circle to give Simon Mantell the opportunity to even the score with a swift field goal.

Jeremy Edwards followed up giving the Kookaburras a chance at a penalty corner. Gohdes injected, but the team narrowly missed the goal thanks to a great save from the visitors. A second chance at a penalty corner was shot well outside of goal and Great Britain took full advantage, flying the ball back up to their shooting circle but they were unable to convert the opportunity.

Simon Orchard gave Australia the lead right on the quarter time buzzer with a penalty corner from a deflection after the ball was injected by Aran Zalewski.

Into the second quarter and Blake Govers extended Australia’s lead to 3 - 1 thanks to a penalty corner swooping in above Great Britain’s goalkeeper.

Fourteen minutes into the third quarter and Captain Mark Knowles stretched Australia’s lead to 4 - 1 following a penalty stroke shot. Great Britain answered with their first penalty corner attempt of the game, but Australia’s defence was on point and they couldn’t convert the goal.

The fourth quarter saw Jamie Dwyer finish the game off with a penalty corner, nailing the victory for Australia with just a minute to go.

Post-match Dwyer commented: “It started off well with a goal in the first minute, I think it settled down my nerves a little bit. Overall we played a great game, especially defensively, and it was good to get a solid win against Great Britain.

“The amount of people that were here tonight was crazy, it was awesome and I was really happy to have my family here so we’ll celebrate tonight, but now I’m looking towards Rio.”

Head Coach Graham Reid said: “I was very happy with the second half of the game tonight. I thought we held the ball very well and played with a lot of sustained attacking pressure which we’re always trying to do, and that showed in the full time score.”

The Kookaburras will next play the Champions Trophy in London from 10 – 17 June.

KOOKABURRAS 5 (3)
Jamie Dwyer 2, 59 (FG, PC)
Simon Orchard 15 (PC)
Blake Govers 24 (PC)
Mark Knowles 44 (PS)

GREAT BRITAIN 1 (1)
Simon Mantell 5 (FG) 
                                                                                            
Full series Results
Narrogin Game 1, 21 May: AUS 2 – 2 GBR
Narrogin Game 2, 22 May: AUS 4 – 3 GBR
Perth Game 3, 24 May: AUS 5 – 1 GBR
                                                                                           
Kookaburras’ squad v Great Britain
Started
Kiel Brown (Toowoomba, QLD) 172/6
Chris Ciriello (Melbourne, VIC) 186/114
Tristan Clemons (Bunbury, WA) 26/0
Jeremy Edwards (Tasmania) 8/1
Jamie Dwyer (Rockhampton, QLD) 359/241
Jeremy Hayward (Darwin, NT) 54/17
Mark Knowles (Rockhampton, QLD) 285/24
Trent Mitton (Perth, WA) 88/33
Eddie Ockenden (Hobart, Tasmania) 272/64
Flynn Ogilvie (Wollongong, NSW) 28/11
Aran Zalewski (Margaret River, WA) 87/10

Used Substitute
Andrew Charter (Canberra, ACT) 110/0
Timothy Deavin (Launceston, Tasmania) 126/6
Matthew Gohdes (Rockhampton, QLD) 153/51
Blake Govers (Wollongong, NSW) 26/24
Fergus Kavanagh (Geraldton, WA) 225/15
Simon Orchard (Maitland, NSW) 197/56
Matthew Swann (Mackay, QLD) 135/6

Hockey Australia media release

Dwyer double downs Great Britain in final test


Mikey Hoare made his 100th international appearance against Australia. Credit (Photo by Ian MacNicolGetty images

A double strike from Australia’s Jamie Dwyer in his final appearance on home turf helped put Great Britain to the sword in the third and final test. Dwyer struck in the first two minutes and again in the last minute to add to strikes from Simon Orchard, Blake Govers and Mark Knowles, giving the hosts a 5-1 win. Simon Mantell notched the consolation but it was in vain as Great Britain crashed to defeat. 

The home crowd got the start they dreamed of as Jamie Dwyer, playing his last match on home soil deflected in the opening goal from Australia’s first attack. Undeterred it took Bobby Crutchley’s side just three minutes to level it up. A lovely move involving Harry Martin and David Ames set up Simon Mantell who made no mistake from close range to slot home. Australia forced their first penalty corner just minutes later. Chris Ciriello took the shot but George Pinner continued his fine form with a super save diving to his left to deny him. Australia won another penalty corner on the stroke of quarter time. Although Pinner saved again from Ciriello the re-awarded corner was scored by Orchard to put Australia ahead at the break.

Barry Middleton went close at the start of the second quarter but his shot was well defended by Tim Deavin, deflecting it over the bar. Despite Great Britain enjoying good spells of pressure they fell further behind on 24 minutes via another penalty corner goal, this time from Govers. Sam Ward couldn’t quite connect as he slid in aiming to touch home a hard hit pass into the circle and it remained 3-1 at the break.

Great Britain defended well in the third quarter as Australia sought to extend their lead. Pinner did well to repel another shot from Kiel Brown and then Trent Mitton in quick succession but it was definitely the hosts who were in the ascendancy. Their pressure paid off in the 44th minute when Knowles despatched a penalty stroke to make it 4-1. Great Britain won a penalty corner at the other end but Ashley Jackson’s shot was well saved by the post man.

In the fourth quarter Great Britain continued to try and build their way into the contest. Nick Catlin did well to steal the ball on half way and break into the Kookaburras’ circle. As he wound up to shoot Deavin once again appeared from nowhere to get a crucial stick on the ball to deflect the shot over the bar. At the other end Dwyer had a great chance to get his second but Pinner did superbly to block from the Kookaburras’ striker. Late on, the Great Britain No1 did superbly to save a Ciriello penalty corner and then the rebound from Flynn Ogilivie but he was powerless to stop Dwyer turning in the loose ball for his second and Australia’s fifth just before full time.

Bobby Crutchley, Head Coach:
“It’s very tough to beat the top teams in the world when you gift them goals. Our deep defence was not as strong as in recent games and after conceding the third it was always going to be tough getting back in the game.”

Australia 5 (3)
Jamie Dwyer 2 59 (FG, PC)
Simon Orchard 15 (PC)
Blake Govers 24 (PC)
Mark Knowles 44 (PS)

Great Britain 1 (1)
Simon Mantell 5 (FG)

Both teams are next in action at this summer’s Hockey Champions Trophy in London. For all the details, click here.

England Hockey Board Media release

Great Britain lose 5-1 to world champions Australia in Perth

By Mike Haymonds


Bobby Crutchley has coached Great Britain's men's team since 2005. GETTY

GREAT BRITAIN men lost 5-1 to Australia in the last of a three-match test series won 2-0 by the hosts in Perth.

The first match was drawn 2-2 while Australia, the world champions and top-ranked nation, won the second 3-2.

Jamie Dwyer, playing in his last international on home turf, scored in the second minute and again at the death.

Although Reading's Simon Mantell equalised three minutes after Dwyer's opener, the Australians cruised to victory with further goals from Simon Orchard, Blake Govers and Mark Knowles.

GB head coach Bobby Crutchley said: "It's very tough to beat the top teams in the world when you gift them goals. Our deep defence was not as strong as in recent games and after conceding the third it was always going to be tough getting back into the game."

Daily Express

Twenty men selected for Canada’s pre-Olympic European tour in June

Shaheed Devji



Canada’s Men’s National Field Hockey Program has confirmed the twenty athletes selected for a pre-Olympic tour in Europe from June 6-21, 2016.

The trip to Europe will consistent of training, and matches against Olympic-bound teams Ireland and Spain. Canada will play four games against Ireland, two in Belfast and two in Dublin, before faces Spain three times in Madrid.

Canada’s Men’s National Team for the European tour consists of all 18 players who participated in the 2016 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia, which was the Canadian men’s last competition.

Rounding out the twenty are midfielders Floris van Son and John Smythe.

Van Son, who was born in the Netherlands and raised in Belgium but holds Canadian citizenship, joined the Canadian program in January to pursue his Olympic dream after taking a leave from his Dutch second division team: HIC.

John Smythe, the younger brother of Canadian forward Iain Smythe, has been with the Canadian National Program for a number of years and has consistently been one of the players part of Canadian touring rosters over last two years.

The European tour will be Canada’s last block of preparation before selection for Canada’s 2016 Olympic Games field hockey team will be made in early July. It is therefore expected that the 16 athletes (and two reserves) for the Olympics will selected from the pool of 20 players headed to Europe.

After Europe and Olympic team selection, Canada’s men will host the United States in the “Summer Games Send-off presented by London Drugs,” which is a three game test series to be played in Surrey and West Vancouver, British Columbia July 7, 9, and 10.

The series against the U.S. is part of an Olympic-themed week from July 4-10, which will also include the Olympic team announcement as well as the 2016 Field Hockey Canada Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

Canadian Men’s National Team – 2016 European Tour

*Team Captain

Field Hockey Canada media release

The OCI contribute €50,000 to Hockey Ireland Rio Preparation


Photo: David Harte ( Irish Hockey Team GK) , Stephen Martin (Chief Executive OCI), Pat Hickey (President OCI), Craig Fulton (Head Coach) , Kevin Kilty (Chef de Mission)

Pat Hickey President of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) today announced that the OCI are contributing €50,000 towards Ireland Men’s Hockey’s final preparations for Rio 2016.

“The OCI are delighted that Irish Hockey will be competing at an Olympics Games for the first time since 1908 and will be the first team of any sport to represent Ireland at an Olympic Games since 1948.”

Hickey paid his compliments to the team’s achievement:

“I’m delighted for the team, and Hockey Ireland. It will create a new team dynamic within Team Ireland and we very much look forward to helping them maximise their potential in Rio.”

Head Coach, Craig Fulton said:

“On behalf of all of the squad, we are very grateful for this generous contribution from the OCI. This is an invaluable injection supporting our preparation to compete against the best teams in the world at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. It is a privilege to be part of Team Ireland and we are relishing the prospect of representing Ireland on the biggest stage in the world.”

The official schedule for the hockey event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games has been announced.

The schedule see’s Ireland open their tournament against India at 11:00 on 6 August, before facing world number 2 the Netherlands on 7 August at 18:00.

The Green Machine have a rest day on 8 August and face Germany on 9 August at 12:30. Their pool games draw to a close against Canada on 11 August at 11:00 and Argentina on 12 August at 19:30.

From there, depending on pool standings, they could be in quarter final action on Sunday 14 August.

Ireland sit in Pool B alongside world number two ranked Netherlands, defending Olympic champions Germany (3); Argentina (6); India (7); and Canada (14).

Pool A sees reigning World and Hockey World League champions Australia, currently ranked number one in the world, face Great Britain (4 – based on England’s ranking); 2015 Hockey World League runners up Belgium (5); New Zealand (8); Spain (11) and hosts Brazil (32).

Irish Hockey Association media release

Ireland and Wales earn extra EHL spot



Ireland and Wales are the main movers in the latest Euro Hockey League with both increasing their quota of teams in the elite club competition for the 2016/17 at the expense of Russia and Austria.

It follows the release of the latest final ranking positions following the EHL FINAL4 in Barcelona and the EuroHockey Club Champions Trophy in Glasgow last week.

The top four ranked nations – the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Spain – stay in the same order with each nation guaranteed three places in the EHL next season.

England are still in fifth place while France and Poland swap places, the French clubs moving into sixth rank and Poland dropping to seventh.

Ireland, meanwhile, are up to eighth place follow Banbridge’s run to second place in the Trophy, a result that does enough to lift them above Russia who fall to ninth place. The move is significant as it brings with it a second EHL berth, one which Banbridge will take up themselves as Ireland’s runners-up this season.

Scotland and Italy move up a place each while Wales oust Austria for the last place in the EHL. It is thanks to Cardiff & Met’s victory at the Trophy, meaning the Welsh side will play next season in the EHL.

So far, subject to confirmation from the respective national associations, 17 sides now have their place confirmed in next season’s Euro Hockey League. From the Netherlands, Oranje Rood – the new name for Oranje Zwart following their merger with EMHC – and AH&BC Amsterdam are destined for the KO16. Reigning champions SV Kampong will go to Round 1.

Belgium’s top two – KHC Dragons and Racing Club de Bruxelles – have a KO16 ticket while Royal Leopold play in Round 1 once again.

From Germany, Mannheimer have booked one of the places following their regular season victory. The remaining places will be filled by two from Rot Weiss Köln, Harvestehuder THC, UHC Hamburg and Crefelder HC who are all still battling for a place in the German playoffs.

Spain’s playoffs continue next weekend. Club Egara have won the first EHL spot as regular season champions with Club de Campo, Atlètic Terrassa and Real Club de Polo battling for the other places.

Wimbledon are England’s number one seed with Holcombe – the one absolute newcomer confirmed at this stage – second seed and destined for Round 1.

France’s representatives will be Racing Club de France and St Germain. In Poland, WKS Grunwald Poznan have won the regular season with two games to spare but their playoff series remains to be played out. From Ireland, Lisnagarvey go into the KO16, the second time in their history, while Banbridge have a Round 1 group to look forward to.

Russia’s league has six rounds still to play in the regular season but Dinamo Kazan look in formidable form with Dinamo Elektrostal and Dinamo Stroitel in the chasing pack. Scotland’s Kelburne, Italy’s Amsicora and Wales’s Cardiff & Met have their places confirmed.

To view the full rankings table, click here

** All places are subject to final confirmation from each country's national association. As usual, all entries need to come to the EHF via the National Associations; entry forms will be sent in due course .

Euro Hockey League media release

Razak Cup: Perak check into semis

By Jugjet Singh

RAZAK Cup silver medallists Perak beat Kuala Lumpur 4-2 to move into the semi-finals from Group B at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil Tuesday.

Terengganu, who were held 2-2 by Negri Sembilan, will have to beat Perak today to claim their spot in the semi-finals. Negri Sembilan also have an outside chance, provided they beat Kuala Lumpur by a big margin and Terengganu lose to Perak.

Meanwhile, despite nursing an injury, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin scored five goals to help Perlis hammer Kedah 6-1 in their Group A Division Two match to book a semi-finals ticket.

In the other Group A match, Penang beat Selangor 2-0 to finish tops on nine points.

 On Friday Perlis will play Armed Forces in the semi-finals, while in the other semis, Kelantan will meet Penang.

Perlis, who faced a must win situation, were saved by Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin.

Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin scored in the 19th, 23rd, 32nd, 34th and 40th, while Azwadi Ridzuan (28th), scored the other goal. The Perlis goal was scored by Fahmi Nasir in the 39th minute.

Perlis coach Badrisham Che Yob praised his star performer.

"Despite carrying an injury picked up in an earlier match against Selangor, he is irreplaceable for us. Most of our players are still young and they look to him for guidance on and off the field, which he delivers.

"Today (yesterday), it was a must-win match for us if we wanted to advance and the score line says much about our team spirit."

RESULTS: Division One: Group B: Negri Sembilan 2 Terengganu 2, Kuala Lumpur 2 Perak 4.

Division Two: Group A: Selangor 0 Penang 2, Kedah 1 Perlis 6; Group B: Kelantan 4 Sabah 1, Sarawak 0 Armed Forces 12.

Women's Group A: Selangor 1 Police 0, Sarawak 1 Pahang 5; Group B: Sabah 0 Armed Forces 3, Negeri Sembilan 0 Kuala Lumpur 10.

WEDNESDAY: Division One: Group A: Malacca v Police (6pm, Pitch I), Pahang v Johor (6pm, Pitch II); Group B: Perak v Terengganu (8pm, Pitch I); Negri Sembilan v Kuala Lumpur (8pm, Pitch II).

Women's Group A: Pahang v Johor (4pm, Pitch I), Police v Sarawak (4pm, Pitch II); Group B: Kuala Lumpur v Terengganu (7.30am, Pitch I), Armed Forces v Negri Sembilan (7.30am, Pitch II); Group C: Malacca v Kedah (9.30am, Pitch I); Perak v Penang (9.30am, Pitch II).

Jugjet's World of Field Hockey

Perak march into Razak Cup semis

By S. Ramaguru


Kuala Lumpur's Harvinder Singh (left) fights for the ball with Perak's Muhammad Haziq Shamsul in the Razak Cup competition at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil. – FAIHAN GHANI / The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Last year’s runners-up Perak have booked their semi-final berth in Division One of the Razak Cup hockey tournament.

Perak defeated 19-time winners Kuala Lumpur 4-2 at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday to confirm their ticket.

Perak got their goals through international Mohd Haziq Shamsul (29th and 60th minutes), Syed Mohd Shafiq (33rd) and Mohd Ashran Hamsani (34th).

KL replied through Mohd Syamin Yusof (23rd) and Nor Hizzat Sumantri (54th).

Perak coach K. Yogesweran was happy that his team have made the last four.

“That was our initial target – to make the semi-finals,” he said.

“We still have to play Terengganu, but that match is of academic interest.”

Terengganu and Negri Sembilan, who drew 2-2, are still in the running to join Perak in the semi-finals.

Terengganu need just a draw against Perak while Negri have to beat Kuala Lumpur and hope that the east coast side lose to Perak.

In Group A, Malacca and Police have already qualified for the semi-finals. The two teams meet Wednesday to decide who will top the group.

In Division Two, Perlis have discarded their whipping boys tag to qualify for the semi-finals for the first time.

A 6-1 demolition of Kedah in their Group A match, which saw Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin scoring five goals, was enough for Perlis to join leaders Penang in the last four.

Penang top the group after beating Selangor 2-0, courtesy of goals by Mohd Haikal Abdul Muthalib (23rd) and Jiwa Mohan (39th).

In the women’s competition, Selangor, Armed Forces and Malacca have made the second round.

Three more places are up for grabs, with Pahang, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Perak in contention.

The Star of Malaysia

Ali powers Punjab to triumph in National U-18 Hockey

Mohsin Ali



ISLAMABAD-Hat-trick boy Ali Aziz powered Punjab Colours to thumping 7-1 triumph over Sindh Whites in the 1st National U-18 Hockey Championship match played here at the Naseer Bunda International Hockey Stadium on Tuesday.

Punjab was given a tough resistance by Sindh Colours, who remained rock solid and survive a barrage of attacks and their goalie was especially outstanding and saved a number of attempts.

Sindh started the match with a superb goal by Arsalan in the 7th minute, which stunned high-flying Punjab.

It was also like an eye-opener for Punjab, who regrouped and leveled the match at 1-1 in the 10th minute through Awais, who scored on a rebound.

Faizan Ali scored a goal in the 13th minute to give Punjab 2-1 lead.

After playing so well, Punjab again went to sleep and failed to score in next two quarters.

They wasted at least dozen of golden goal-scoring opportunities in next 30 minutes of play, which could have cost them dearly, but no damage was done and Punjab was again back to the goal scoring way.

In the 47th minute, Ali Aziz scored his first and Punjab’s third goal, while Shahzad Butt scored the 4th goal in the 49th minute and Waqar slammed the 5th in the 53rd minute to make it 5-1.

After that, it was a wonderful exhibition of hockey by the centre forward Ali Aziz, who scored his second and his team’s 6th goal in the 58th minute and then completed his hat-trick in the 59th minute to finish another wonderful day for Punjab teams, as all the Punjab teams so far remained undefeated in the event.

Meanwhile, a huge controversy was erupted in the event, which was already marred by age issues and scrutiny problems.

Only one match was played on the third day of the mega event, as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Whites and Sindh Colours match, which was supposed to be started at 3:30pm, was called off due to strong protest by KP chef-de-mission Zia Buneri, who wanted director tournament Col (R) Ahmed Nawaz Malik to allow KP Whites field banned players, who were barred after age scrutiny.

Col (R) Ahmed was not ready to breach the code of conduct of the event and was insisting on allowing only those players who were cleared by the PSB doctor Shabeena Aftab.

But on the other hand, KP Hockey Association and Zahir Shah threatened to boycott the event, if their all 10 players would not be allowed to represent their respective teams.

While talking to The Nation, Col (R) Ahmed said: “I am a man of principles.
Rules are rules, so the players, who were barred for age issues, were given three opportunities i.e. appearance, medical and even Nadra services were also utilized.

After failing in all the three categories, it was my national and moral duty not to allow such players to play in the event.

“Now, I have again offered them that we are ready to take seven players for Nadra verification today (Wednesday) at 10am, if they fail again, they will not be allowed at any cost to play in the event, or else I will quit.

We have been conducting the event to get fresh pool of players for the national team, so we are not going to allow overage players to play in the event,” he added.

The inside sources have confirmed to this scribe that high-profile personalities were highly active and wanted to accommodate players even they were clearly looking overage.

“As the organisers don’t want any controversy and want the event to be a mega success at any cost, but this attitude of some high-profile personalities can damage the cause of PHF.

It is high time persons like Col (R) Ahmed should be given powers to stop injustices, or else no need of staging meager eye-washing dramas in the name of junior championships.”

Meanwhile, one more player was cleared by Dr Shabeen Aftab namely Abdul Rehman, while Ilyas failed to clear the wrist test and Nadra test as well.

Col (R) Ahmed said: “Now we have made adjustments and the postponed match between KP Whites and Sindh Colours will now be played today (Wednesday) at 3:30pm, while the actual match between Sindh Colours and Balochistan Whites will now be played tomorrow (Thursday).

“In case, the boycott threat looms large, we have plan B in place as well.
I will ensure rule of justice at any cost,” he concluded.

The Nation

Match rescheduled after age row

ISLAMABAD: A controversy over age marred the National Junior Under-18 Hockey Championship when Sindh Colour refused to play their scheduled fixture against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa White at the Naseer Bunda Stadium here on Tuesday.

After Punjab Colour had whipped Sindh White in the day’s opening fixture, Sindh Colour protested that at least nine players in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa White team were over-age.

The organisers were left with no option but to call off the game. Later it emerged that six of the players, who protested their innocence and submitted documentary proof to verify that all of them are under-18 years of age.

A tournament official confirmed the authenticity of the players’ claim and said they have been cleared to play in the game now rescheduled for Wednesday. The remaining three players were trying to collect documents to verify their ages.

Meanwhile, Punjab Colour outclassed Sindh White 7-1 with forward Ali Aziz scoring thrice in the 29th, 36th and 47th minutes. The other goals were scored Mohammad Owais (10th minute), Faizan Ali (11th), Shiraz Butt (42nd) and Ghulam Rasool (59th minute).

The solitary goal for Sindh White came from striker Arsalan in 38th minute.

Dawn

PAHF Representative to visit CalCup 2016

After the successful experience in 2015, with two technical courses ran in during the California Cup. Followed by the good feedback from all involved, this year the PAHF will send a representative to attend the event and look for more ways to engage with the most traditional hockey event in the Americas, now sanctioned by the United States Field Hockey Association (USFHA).

The schedule is very interesting and includes hockey players from all ages and levels. It is a very participative event and the reach is wide.

The PAHF, in the constant seek for officials (the third team in the field), recognizes the opportunity for officiating, as many international officials and umpires from all PAHF Regions participate every year. Of course, to fit the 13 divisions grouping 140 teams in the available time and space (fields), the format and some regulations vary from international competitions, but still stimulating the development of players, technical officials, umpires, managers, coaches and event organizers.

Check the link >> www.calcup.com

Pan American Hockey Federation media release