News for 18 December 2017
All the news for Monday 18 December 2017
Leijs provides defining moment from the PSi showdown in South Africa
Dutchman Nicki Leijs provided the crowning moment at the inaugural PSi Showdown to hand the International All-Stars selection the laurels, winning the deciding final night of the four-night competition.
Each night of the showdown featured three matches with the top two sides playing off in a Showdown for the bragging rights on the night.
The World All-Stars triumphed on Day one, while South Africa’s BlitzStoks were triumphant on day 2 and the International All-Stars won Showdown 3. It was perfectly poised for the final showdown as the winner on the night would be the overall champion. Here is how the final night played out.
The most dominant performance of the week came in the opening match of Showdown Four as the International All-Stars dismantled their opposition with meticulous ease.
AH&BC Amsterdam’s Teun Rohof was in fantastic form setting up Robert Tigges to score the opening goal. Then followed a goal from the cool, calm and collected Sjoerd de Wert from SV Kampong, then Spaniard Andreu Enrich made it 3-0.
The World All-Stars then pulled one back when the sensational Joaquim Gonzalez set up Three Rock Rovers’ Ross Canning to score! Leijs, Benni Wess and Enrich netted to really seal home the most one-sided game of the tournament.
The South African team subsequently beat the World All-Stars in a shoot-out that went 11 rounds before the home side were finally declared the winners after a 1-1 draw in normal time.
With both the International All-Stars and South Africa already winning, they had both qualified for the Final of Showdown Four already. As a result, their game was sacrificed and the final showdown, a Golden Goal showdown, took place.
The rule was simply that every two minutes a player had to leave the field. It took six minutes and the removal of two players each before Leijs scored one of the best goals of the week so far to get the International All-Stars a showdown title and the overall PSi Showdown championship having won two of the nights!
PSi Founder Simon Martin said of the tournament: “The format is incredibly exciting and it brings the best out in exhibition hockey. From a spectator point of view the future entertainment could be in something like the showdown. Who knows, maybe indoor hockey could become the Olympic code of the sport one day.”
South African captain Matt Fairweather added: “It’s the most exciting format for the fans, its different and compact. From a player’s point of view, you have to be on your game and the learning from that could be great. All focus is on the World Cup now and we will be doing whatever we can to make our country proud!”
Leijs, meanwhile, was delighted to have provided the defining moment: “I think it was a great first time and its special for the crowd to see more players of quality! I don’t score that many goals at home so to score the golden goal on both nights was special for me. I definitely would like to score more to entertain the crowds!”
Euro Hockey League media release
'Discipline a problem in all sports teams'
Paulini Ratulailai
Fiji's goal keeper Sereima Bolalailai defends during the final of 2017 Oceania Cup at the National Hockey Centre yesterday. Picture: JONA KONATACI
FIJI Presidents XI hockey team coach, Hector Smith Sr has stressed the importance of discipline when it comes to playing teams such as Japan, New Zealand and Australia.
Smith said this during the Oceania Hockey Championship in Suva last week.
"Japan played by following one rule and one game plan which showed the level of discipline within the players," Smith said.
"The level of discipline among the Japanese players is an eye-opener and the players knew what is expected from them. It is the coach who speaks and this is something that our hockey players need to take on board.
"In all sports, attitude is a big issue. For example, during training if they are not supervised, they don't do what they are supposed to do.
"Japan intended to tour Australia and they were encouraged to join us in the competition. They brought in their under-18 women's and U21 men's team.
"Coming back to the competition, it was a tough tournament. For the men's, we drew nil-all in the first-half and we became sluggish in the second-half, so we had to fix that up.
"It is good to see the youngsters play against these teams. We want the competition to be brought here.
"We don't want to waste money to go to a place that is cold. We have our environment here which is friendly."
Smith said the men's and women's U18 teams were preparing for the Olympic Games qualifier for Argentina next year.
"We have the women's team participating and the men's team have begun their team training. Vanuatu and PNG are the two teams that will challenge us for a spot in the Olympic Games."
The Fiji Times
PIA, WAPDA, KPK & Punjab victorious in National Hockey
Defending Champions PIA and the star studded WAPDA enjoyed big wins on the second day of of the 64th National Hockey Championships in Sukkur.
-Pakistan's former captain Haseem Khan with four goals starred for PIA in their 7-2 win over PTV
-WAPDA defeated Air Force by an even bigger margin of 9-0
Asad Bashir scored two goals for WAPDA
The matches between the provincial sides, who are playing in separate pools, turned out to be closely fought affairs.
-KPK defeated hosts Sindh 2-1
Adeel Zaman and Naveed Iqbal scored for the winners
-Punjab had to struggle hard to overcome Islamabad 1-0
Ahmer Ali netted the only goal of the match.
PHF Media release
Irish Mens EYHL Weekend Round Up
Glenanne produced a truly incredible comeback, netting twice in the closing three minutes to complete a stunning first half of the men’s EY Hockey League season.
It earned them a 4-3 win over Pembroke, transforming a 3-2 deficit into their eighth win out of 10 games to date, keeping them four points clear of the chasing Three Rock Rovers.
Gary Shaw was the match-winner, scoring from a brilliant move with the last play at St Andrew’s. It was the first time the Glens had led since the first half after Sam O’Connor had given them a second-minute advantage.
Stephen Sweetnam equalised before Alan Sothern put Pembroke in front in the second half. It stayed that way until nine minutes from the end when Shannon Boucher levelled at 2-2 only for Richard Lynch to scoop in for 3-2. Shane O’Donoghue won and scored a stroke in the 68th minute before Shaw snatched the victory.
Three Rock won a top quality tie at Lisnagarvey 3-2 to stay in the hunt, setting up a big date with Glenanne on January 20 in the league. A brilliant counter was finished off by Matthew Nelson for 1-0 to Garvey but Ross Canning and Luke Madeley swapped the lead before the end of the first quarter and Madeley wrapped up the points with a few minutes remaining.
Railway Union landed their first win of the season – and their first points – when they beat Cork C of I 2-1. Rob Devlin and Andy Gray exchanged first-half goals before Simon McKeever’s penalty corner in the third quarter won it for Railway.
It halves their gap to Cookstown, giving them hope that they can escape the bottom rung of the table in the new year. Cookstown, for their part, shared a 1-1 draw with Annadale with Michael Kerr’s goal annulled by a Rhiley Carr corner goal.
Monkstown closed the gap to the top four when they just about held on to a three-goal half-time lead as they beat Banbridge 3-2. Guy Sarratt, Davy Carson and Stephen Cole had them flying high only for Jamie Wright and Fraser Mills to trim the lead to one with six minutes to go. The Dubliners survived a last-minute corner to take the points.
The league now goes on a break until January 20th with Glenanne holding a four-point advantage with Three Rock lurking while Lisnagarvey have two games in hand that could also see them enter the frame.
EY Hockey League – day 10 results: Glenanne 4 (S O’Connor, S Boucher, S O’Donoghue, G Shaw) Pembroke 3 (S Sweetnam, A Sothern, R Lynch); Annadale 1 (R Carr) Cookstown 1 (M Kerr); Lisnagarvey 1 (M Nelson) Three Rock Rovers 3 (L Madeley 2, R Canning); Railway Union 2 (R Devlin, S McKeever) Cork C of I (A Gray); Banbridge 2 (J Wright, F Mills) Monkstown 3 (G Sarratt, D Carson, S Cole)
Day 10 round-up
Glenanne 4 (S O’Connor, S Boucher, S O’Donoghue, G Shaw) Pembroke 3 (S Sweetnam, A Sothern, R Lynch)
Glenanne showed yet another incredible example of their fighting spirit to net twice in the last three minutes to turn a potential 3-2 defeat into a 4-3 win at St Andrew’s against Dublin rivals Pembroke.
It was their seventh win of the campaign by a single goal and their eighth in total, seeing them remain unbeaten into Christmas and four points clear of the chasing Three Rock Rovers.
Sam O’Connor got the greens off to a dream start when he exchanged passes with Richie Shaw and then applied a dinked finish over Mark Ingram. Pembroke replied with three corners in the first quarter while Jack Ryan and Nick Burns had big chances with Iain Walker excelling. Ingram tipped over Shannon Boucher’s rasping reverse.
In the second quarter, Walker brilliantly denied Patrick Shanahan from point blank range from a fifth corner before Pembroke got level after good baseline play opened the chance for Stephen Sweetnam to score.
Shane O’Donoghue was denied from Glenanne’s first corner on the half-time whistle while another big chance for him went high and over in the second half. Alan Sothern put Pembroke in front for the first time in the 45th minute when Richard Sweetnam intercepted and laid on a delicious pass which the striker added a finish to match on his backhand over Walker.
Walker won the next duel with Sothern with an out-stretched toe, keeping the scoreline at 2-1 at the third quarter break. Glenanne tied the game up with nine minutes to go when Boucher took on drag-flicking duties to score low on the stick side.
Within a minute, Walker made two great saves but the latter fell to Richard Lynch who scooped in to restore the Pembroke lead. Burns then had a chance to wrap up the game but he saw Walker come out to get a touch that lifted his shot onto the top of the goal.
The goalkeeper was pulled after that and the Glens duly profited. O’Donoghue was felled when through one-on-one, stepping up to score a stroke in the 68th minute for 3-3. And they did not rest on their laurels, forging two big attacks in the closing phases, the last of which saw Gary Shaw exchange passes down the left with his brother Richie before racing in and lifting over the goalkeeper – the last act in a classic tie.
Lisnagarvey 1 (M Nelson) Three Rock Rovers 3 (L Madeley 2, R Canning)
Three Rock produced their strongest performance of the season to date in a high quality tie at Comber Road, reversing the result from their first meeting this season.
Garvey had more of the possession in the first quarter and had a couple of circle enteries before opening the scoring in the 8th minute. Andy Williamson fed Matthew Nelson sliding in on the back post after a quick counter-attack set them through two on two.
Rovers equalised 15 minutes in when a mis-injected corner led to a couple of attempts at goal before falling to Ross Canning near the baseline and he quickly flicked in, indoor-style.
Luke Madeley then struck from a corner for 2-1 at the end of the first quarter and it stayed that way into the big break. High quality play from Garvey got them to the baseline on a couple of occasions after half-time but Rovers defended well to limit the danger.
The fourth quarter was again played at a very high pace. Jamie Carr made two stunning saves, the latter the best as he somehow got up to swat away for close range after an initial save.
Rovers put the result to bed with three minutes to go when Madeley – one of just three attackers at the head of the circle – scored his second. Garvey’s hopes of a fightback were then stymied as Paul Gleghorne picked up a card.
Railway Union 2 (R Devlin, S McKeever) Cork C of I (A Gray)
Simon McKeever’s second half goal saw Railway Union claim their first win and their first points of the men’s EY Hockey League campaign, putting a much brighter complexion on their hopes of avoiding the drop in the new year.
After a scoreless and reasonably chanceless first quarter, Railway skipper Rob Devlin broke the deadlock from play in the second only for Andy Gray to tie things up for C of I from a corner.
McKeever put Railway back in front in the third quarter from a set piece and the Sandymount side managed to hold on to that slender advantage until full-time. It halves the gap between them and Cookstown, meaning they are one-win off ninth spot, raising hopes they can avoid the automatic relegation spot.
Banbridge 2 (J Wright, F Mills) Monkstown 3 (G Sarratt, D Carson, S Cole)
Monkstown just about clung on to a three-goal half-time lead to continue Banbridge’s miserable run of results this season. The Dubliners went in front from a corner in the 14th minute with Guy Sarratt netting a low drag-flick.
Davy Carson then scored when Bann – who had Jonny McKee finally back in their line-up – failed to clear while Stephen Cole got the third before the half-time whistle arrived.
The three-goal advantage held throughout the third quarter as Gareth Lennox kept out a few more corners while McKee also drew a good stop from Dave Fitzgerald.
Jamie Wright got Bann on the board with 12 minutes to go after good work from Fraser Mills who subsequently scrambled home a second six minutes later on his reverse. And they won a corner with the final play but Fitzgerald saved to see Town hold on for the three points.
The result sees them close the gap Pembroke in fourth place to one point while Banbridge reamin in eighth place, waiting for their first win since day two of the campaign.
Annadale 1 (R Carr) Cookstown 1 (M Kerr)
The two promoted sides shared the spoils with Michael Kerr’s second quarter goal cancelled out by a blockbuster drag-flick from Rhiley Carr. The result means Annadale remain in sixth place on 11 points after their nine matches while Cookstown are in ninth in the relegation playoff position on six points.
Irish Hockey Association media release
Irish Women EYHL Weekend Round Up
UCD and Cork Harlequins set up a thrilling January showdown as they both produced big wins over the weekend, keeping the women’s EY Hockey League very tight going into the winter break.
The students ran up six second half goals on Sunday en route to a 7-1 win over Trinity, a result that returned them to the top of the table after nine matches in the competition. Deirdre Duke and Katie Mullan were in spectacular form, making and creating many of the goals, while Bethany Barr also played a starring role.
Cork Harlequins scored a 5-1 win over the usually tight-knit Ards at Farmer’s Cross. The key spell came early in the second half when Naomi Carroll scored twice a minute either side of a goal from Olivia Roycroft. It turned a 1-0 advantage – created by Roisin Upton – into a four-goal lead to kill off the tie.
UCD and Quins will meet on January 20th in what promises to be a big showdown in the battle for the regular season title.
Pegasus are the third side in the title mix following their 1-0 win at Railway Union with Lucy McKee scoring the only goal of the game. They have five points to make up but have a game in hand.
On Sunday, Pegs recorded a 6-0 win over Genesis to advance to the next round of the Irish Senior Cup.
Hannah Matthews’ amazing hat trick helped Loreto come back from 3-0 down to draw at Belfast Harlequins in the other tie of the weekend. Zoe Wilson’s drag-flick and further strikes from Jenna Watt and Jenny McAuley put the Ulster side in control but a pair of penalty strokes in quick succession allowed Matthews to close the gap. She then scored from a penalty corner breakdown in the last minute to secure a draw.
Women’s EY Hockey League, day nine results
Saturday: Railway Union 0 Pegasus 1 (L McKee); Cork Harlequins 5 (N Carroll 2, R Upton, O Roycroft, Y O’Byrne) Ards 1 (C Brown); Belfast Harlequins 3 (Z Wilson, J Watt, J McAuley) Loreto 3 (H Matthews 3)
Sunday: UCD 7 (D Duke 2, S Clarke, K Mullan, S Young, F McDermott, A Richardson) Trinity 1 (E Noone)
Day nine – extended reports
Saturday: Railway Union 0 Pegasus 1 (L McKee)
Lucy McKee’s single goal saw Pegasus win the battle of third and fourth, raiding Railway Union for a 1-0 win that puts daylight between the sides. In a scoreless first quarter, Railway dominated possession and chances.
Jean McDonnell whipped a cross across the circle which banged off the post but there was no-one there for the rebound. Kate Lloyd put in a reverse cross but it was deflected wide for the long corner. The hosts won a corner at the end of the quarter and was awarded another one for a Pegasus infringement but the ball was not stopped.
Pegasus were dominant in the second quarter with Lucy McKee drawing a save from Riona Norton soon after the restart. The same player scored the only goal in the 23rd minute when she scored on her reverse following a period of Pegasus pressure.
Taite Doherty had a chance to add another when she was put through on a one-on-one with the keeper but Norton was quick off her line to avert the danger. At the other end, Michelle Carey beat a number of players to get to the circle but her final pass failed to find a Railway stick.
In the second half, Railway went in search of the equaliser while Pegasus doggedly defended their lead in a feisty midfield battle, especially between Emma Smyth and Shirley McCay.
Railway failed to find a way through and, in the fourth quarter, took off their keeper in an effort to get the equaliser. Pegasus took advantage of the defensive deficit and won two corners but were unable to capitalise while Railway also had further corners but could not find the elusive goal.
Cork Harlequins 5 (N Carroll 2, R Upton, O Roycroft, Y O’Byrne) Ards 1 (C Brown)
Cork Harlequins moved into the Saturday evening lead in the table as the league’s top scorers cut loose in front of their home crowd, playing at Farmer’s Cross for just the second time this term.
Roisin Upton got the only goal of the first half when her shot from the top of the D was half-blocked, looping the ball up and over the stranded Naomi McKnight. The result was quickly killed off in the second half with three goals in a three minute spell with Naomi Carroll bookending the run.
She got on the end of a lovely flowing move for 2-0 in the 43rd minute; Oliva Roycroft added the third before Carroll extended the lead further. After a spell of three corners, Chloe Brown got one back with four minutes to go but Harlequins finished on a high with a couple of their own corners with Yvonne O’Byrne on the mark.
Belfast Harlequins 3 (Z Wilson, J Watt, J McAuley) Loreto 3 (H Matthews 3)
Hannah Matthews scored a second half hat trick to inspire Loreto to a dramatic comeback from 3-0 down to earn a share of the spoils against Belfast Harlequins. The tie was quickly relocated from a frosty Deramore Park to Grosvenor Grammar School to make sure the tie got the go-ahead.
After a lively start with chances at both ends, Quins went ahead when Robyn Chambers won a corner which Zoe Wilson dragged home for 1-0. Jenna Watt extended the lead a minute into the second half from a fine individual effort and a deflection goal from Jenny McAuley seemed to have primed them for all three points.
But two Matthews’ strokes – the latter vehemently contested by the hosts for a perceived back-stick in the build-up – got Loreto right back into the game. And they kept pushing, winning a corner in the final minute which fell to Matthews on the rebound to slam home.
Sunday: UCD 7 (D Duke 2, S Clarke, K Mullan, S Young, F McDermott, A Richardson) Trinity 1 (E Noone)
UCD were in irresistible form at times in the second half to beat Dublin student rivals Trinity and return to the head of the women’s EYHL table. They got off to the perfect start with a very early goal created by Deirdre Duke and Katie Mullan’s slip pass, allowing Sorcha Clarke to finish off on her backhand for 1-0.
UCD had much of the play after that but were almost caught a couple of times by Sally Campbell while had other chances been controlled better, the hosts could have been in trouble. Abbie Russell had to depart the scene early following a collision with Carolyn Crampton, adding to injury issues for UCD who were without Ellen Curran (ankle ligament injury) joining Sarah Robinson and Sara Twomey on the sidelines.
The second half was a different story with UCD scoring at will with Duke, Mullan and Bethany Barr in breathtaking form. Mullan’s cheeky pass found Duke unmarked to slam in the second goal. Mullan rocketed in the next moments later and Freya McDermott made it 4-0, picking up the pieces from a corner rebound.
Ellie Noone scrambled in one for Trinity and her gentle lift over Clodagh Cassin required a covering Emma Young to save off the line. But UCD finished strong with Mullan locating a Duke touch for 5-1. Sarah Young hit home her first goal of the season and Anna Richardson volleyed in a Duke shot for the seventh.
Irish Hockey Association media release
UCD and Cork Quins close in on massive EY showdown
Loreto’s Jessica McGirr and Belfast Harlequins’ Gemma Frazer battle for the ball. Pic: Billy Pollock
UCD and Cork Harlequins set up a thrilling January showdown as they both produced big wins over the weekend, keeping the women’s EY Hockey League very tight going into the winter break.
Women’s EY Hockey League – day 9 round-up
Saturday: Railway Union 0 Pegasus 1 (L McKee)
Lucy McKee’s single goal saw Pegasus win the battle of third and fourth, raiding Railway Union for a 1-0 win that puts daylight between the sides. In a scoreless first quarter, Railway dominated possession and chances.
Jean McDonnell whipped a cross across the circle which banged off the post but there was no-one there for the rebound. Kate Lloyd put in a reverse cross but it was deflected wide for the long corner. The hosts won a corner at the end of the quarter and was awarded another one for a Pegasus infringement but the ball was not stopped.
Pegasus were dominant in the second quarter with Lucy McKee drawing a save from Riona Norton soon after the restart. The same player scored the only goal in the 23rd minute when she scored on her reverse following a period of Pegasus pressure.
Taite Doherty had a chance to add another when she was put through on a one-on-one with the keeper but Norton was quick off her line to avert the danger. At the other end, Michelle Carey beat a number of players to get to the circle but her final pass failed to find a Railway stick.
In the second half, Railway went in search of the equaliser while Pegasus doggedly defended their lead in a feisty midfield battle, especially between Emma Smyth and Shirley McCay.
Railway failed to find a way through and, in the fourth quarter, took off their keeper in an effort to get the equaliser. Pegasus took advantage of the defensive deficit and won two corners but were unable to capitalise while Railway also had further corners but could not find the elusive goal.
Cork Harlequins 5 (N Carroll 2, R Upton, O Roycroft, Y O’Byrne) Ards 1 (C Brown)
Cork Harlequins moved into the Saturday evening lead in the table as the league’s top scorers cut loose in front of their home crowd, playing at Farmer’s Cross for just the second time this term.
Roisin Upton got the only goal of the first half when her shot from the top of the D was half-blocked, looping the ball up and over the stranded Naomi McKnight. The result was quickly killed off in the second half with three goals in a three minute spell with Naomi Carroll bookending the run.
She got on the end of a lovely flowing move for 2-0 in the 43rd minute; Oliva Roycroft added the third before Carroll extended the lead further. After a spell of three corners, Chloe Brown got one back with four minutes to go but Harlequins finished on a high with a couple of their own corners with Yvonne O’Byrne on the mark.
Belfast Harlequins 3 (Z Wilson, J Watt, J McAuley) Loreto 3 (H Matthews 3)
Hannah Matthews scored a second half hat trick to inspire Loreto to a dramatic comeback from 3-0 down to earn a share of the spoils against Belfast Harlequins. The tie was quickly relocated from a frosty Deramore Park to Grosvenor Grammar School to make sure the tie got the go-ahead.
After a lively start with chances at both ends, Quins went ahead when Robyn Chambers won a corner which Zoe Wilson dragged home for 1-0. Jenna Watt extended the lead a minute into the second half from a fine individual effort and a deflection goal from Jenny McAuley seemed to have primed them for all three points.
But two Matthews’ strokes – the latter vehemently contested by the hosts for a perceived back-stick in the build-up – got Loreto right back into the game. And they kept pushing, winning a corner in the final minute which fell to Matthews on the rebound to slam home.
Sunday: UCD 7 (D Duke 2, S Clarke, K Mullan, S Young, F McDermott, A Richardson) Trinity 1 (E Noone)
UCD were in irresistible form at times in the second half to beat Dublin student rivals Trinity and return to the head of the women’s EYHL table. They got off to the perfect start with a very early goal created by Deirdre Duke and Katie Mullan’s slip pass, allowing Sorcha Clarke to finish off on her backhand for 1-0.
UCD had much of the play after that but were almost caught a couple of times by Sally Campbell while had other chances been controlled better, the hosts could have been in trouble. Abbie Russell had to depart the scene early following a collision with Carolyn Crampton, adding to injury issues for UCD who were without Ellen Curran (ankle ligament injury) joining Sarah Robinson and Sara Twomey on the sidelines.
The second half was a different story with UCD scoring at will with Duke, Mullan and Bethany Barr in breathtaking form. Mullan’s cheeky pass found Duke unmarked to slam in the second goal. Mullan rocketed in the next moments later and Freya McDermott made it 4-0, picking up the pieces from a corner rebound.
Ellie Noone scrambled in one for Trinity and her gentle lift over Clodagh Cassin required a covering Emma Young to save off the line. But UCD finished strong with Mullan locating a Duke touch for 5-1. Sarah Young hit home her first goal of the season and Anna Richardson volleyed in a Duke shot for the seventh.
Irish Senior Cup, second round: Pegasus 6 (R McMillan 2, M Harvey, S McCay, T Doherty, K McKee) Genesis 0
Pegasus advanced to the third round of the Irish Senior Cup with a 6-0 win over Genesis, eventually pulling clear of a game Leinster Division One side for whom Sorcha Cunningham was once again superb.
Rachael McMillan scored the only goal of the first half before they pulled away in the second half with Michelle Harvey making it two, Shirley McCay snagging a corner goal before McMillan’s second and further efforts from Katie McKee and Taite Doherty completed the win.
The Hook
UCD and Cork Harlequins still setting the pace
Hannah Matthews’ hat-trick helps Loreto stage a gutsy comeback in Belfast
Mary Hannigan
Katie Mullan: was on target for UCD in the big win over Trinity. Photograph: Paul Walsh/Inpho
With 12 goals between them, UCD and Cork Harlequins comfortably retained their spots in the top two of the Hockey League at the weekend, UCD putting seven past Trinity on Sunday while Harlequins remain the only unbeaten side in the competition after a 5-1 win at home to Ards.
It was a tale of two halves for UCD, an early goal from Sorcha Clarke all that divided the teams at the break, but the defending champions proved much more clinical from there on, scoring three goals in each of the final quarters.
Katie Mullan set up Deirdre Duke to make it 2-0, before Mullan’s reverse strike increased the lead. Freya McDermott added a fourth and while Ellie Noone pulled one back for Trinity, Duke again, Sarah Young and Anna Richardson completed an emphatic victory in the final quarter.
Cork Harlequins had a similarly slow start against Ards before Róisín Upton broke the deadlock just before half-time.
A Naomi Carroll double and another goal from Olivia Roycroft had them 4-0 up by the time Chloe Brown pulled one back for Ards, with Yvonne O’Byrne making it 5-1 from a penalty corner late on.
Pegasus stay third – four points behind Harlequins and another one adrift of UCD, but with a game in hand – thanks to a Lucy McKee goal that gave them the points away to Railway Union.
And the Belfast club were back in action on Sunday in their refixed Irish Senior Cup second round tie at home to Genesis, Rachael McMillan scoring twice in a 6-0 win.
The comeback of the weekend was produced by Loreto who were 3-0 down in their Hockey League game away to Belfast Harlequins, but fought back for a draw thanks to a Hannah Matthews hat-trick, two of her goals from penalty strokes.
The Irish Times
High Five from Mackey as Buccaneers go top
Five goals from Ben Mackey helped Team Bath Buccaneers go clear at the top of the Jaffa Super 6s Men’s Indoor Premier Division table at Bromsgrove School on Sunday.
He scored twice in a 3-2 win over Reading, and they followed that up with a 5-2 win over Holcombe with Mackey securing a hat-trick to take his tally for the competition to eight goals.
Those victories put Team Bath Buccaneers in the driving seat in the race to reach the finals, which this year are taking place at the Copper Box Arena in London on January 28.
Wimbledon are second in the table and two points behind after day two. After beating Brooklands MU 4-3 in the day’s opening game they had to settle for a 2-2 draw with East Grinstead.
But 22-year-old England ace Ed Horler tops the scoring charts with ten goals, after scoring one in both of Wimbledon’s games on Sunday to add to his scoring prowess from day one.
Surbiton are third after securing two wins on Sunday. Hendrik Geyer scored a hat-trick for them in a 6-1 win over Sevenoaks, while they battled to a 5-4 win over Reading in their second match, with GB ace Alan Forsyth scoring twice to take his tally for the competition to eight so far.
David Flanagan of Brooklands MU lies second in the scoring table. He scored a hat-trick in their 6-6 draw with Loughborough Students, while brother Peter Flanagan scored a hat-trick in their 4-3 loss to Wimbledon.
And in other matches East Grinstead and Holcombe also drew 3-3, while the day’s final game saw Sevenoaks secure their first victory, winning 7-3 against Loughborough Students.
England Hockey Board Media release
East Grinstead go clear in the Jaffa Super 6s
Slough goalkeeper Asha Tranquille-Day tries to save a Holcombe shot. Credit Andrew Smith
East Grinstead are the only team left with a 100% record after day two of the Jaffa Super 6s Women’s Premier Division at the Phoenix Sport and Leisure Centre in Telford.
Two more wins on Sunday put them two points clear at the top of the table, having beaten Canterbury 5-2 and Reading 6-0.
With GB Olympic aces Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh in their line-up, East Grinstead will be aiming to continue their good form and reach the finals which this year take place on January 28 at the Copper Box Arena in London.
Two goals from Kate Richardson-Walsh – plus others from Bara Kavanova, Pippa Chapman and captain Zoe Burrell - helped East Grinstead beat Canterbury.
And then Helen Richardson-Walsh also scored twice in their 6-0 win over Reading, with Kavanova also scoring a brace and Chapman and Ellie Cockburn adding the others.
Also unbeaten are Bowdon Hightown and Leicester, although draws on day one mean they are second and third respectively.
Bowdon Hightown were 5-1 winners over Reading in the day’s opening match, with 47-year-old GB Olympian Tina Cullen scoring two in that game.
And in their second match, Bowdon Hightown had another GB Olympic ace to thank for victory, with Sally Walton scoring a hat-trick to take her tally to four for the day and an impressive nine for the weekend.
That was only bettered by Leicester’s Lauren Turner who has 12 for the weekend. She scored a hat-trick in their first match of the day, beating Clifton Robinsons 5-4. And then she scored all six as Leicester beat Canterbury 6-2.
After losing both their games on Saturday, Holcombe turned things around well with two victories on Sunday.
They were 2-1 winners against last season’s champions Slough, then battled back from two-nil behind to win 5-3 against Sutton Coldfield in the day’s final match.
Rio Olympic gold medal winner Ellie Watton scored a hat-trick in the comeback win, taking her tally to four for the day and five for the weekend.
Slough bounced back from their loss to Holcombe with a 3-1 win over Clifton Robinsons, with Georgina Bathurst scoring two and Charly Brydon the other.
England Hockey Board Media release
Dundee Wanderers extend lead at top of women`s indoor
Grove Menzieshill v Edinburgh Uni – photo by Duncan Gray
Dundee Wanderers extended their lead at the top of the women`s indoor National League 1 to four points following a hat-trick of victories over Wildcats, Hillhead and CALA Edinburgh, but both Edinburgh University and Grove Menzieshill are tucked in behind after winning both their encounters.
Edinburgh opened their day with yet another big result, they inflicted a narrow 3-2 victory over second placed Milne Craig Clydesdale to move alongside the Glasgow club on 12 points.
The first half finished all square on 1-1, Sophie Maunder put the students ahead but just on the interval Susie Gilman levelled. Two goals inside a minute by Ella Watt gave Edinburgh a winning 3-1 lead, and although Gilman scored again for Western the students were not to be denied their moment of glory.
University followed up their initial success with a single goal win over city neighbours CALA Edinburgh. The only goal of the game came just after the interval from a penalty corner conversion by Louise Campbell.
Wanderers started their day with a 5-1 taming of Wildcats, they were 3-1 ahead at the interval with a double from San Sangster along with a goal by teenager Emily Dark, Emma McDiarmid replied for the underdogs.
Wanderers moved further ahead in the second half with strikes from Katie Mulholland and Ruth Blaikie.
The champions then motored past Hillhead with a comfortable 5-0 victory. There were two goals each for Blaikie and Amy Snelle while Dark notched the fifth in the final minute.
In the final game of the day a possible shock looked a possibility when CALA took the lead in four minutes through Harrie Bascombe, but by the interval normal service had been resumed with the champions scoring three times, two came from Sam Sangster with Emily Dark getting the other.
Wanderers added three more in the second half through Blaikie, Sangster for her hat-trick and Mulholland for a comfortable 6-2 win.
Dundee Wanderers v Clydesdale Western – photo by Duncan Gray
Earlier Western kept up the pressure at the top with a narrow 3-2 victory over Hillhead. It was level at the interval, Margery Justice opened for Western at a penalty corner but Becky Osbourne replied for Hillhead just before half-time.
There was a further exchange of goals in the second half, Susie Gilman put Western 2-1 ahead but Teresa Murio-Fernando again equalised. But with only two minutes left Justice again converted a penalty corner to have her side the valuable three points.
Grove Menzieshill certainly started off their day at Bells with a bang, a 12-0 win over bottom side Bromac Kelburne. The Taysiders were four up at the interval courtesy of a hat-trick by Ali Glasse-Davies and a single from Jamie Lyon.
The roles were a little reversed in the second half as Lyon picked up her hat-trick while Glasse-Davies scored another two in the goal avalanche.
The direct confrontation between Western and Grove Menzieshill proved to be a 12 goal cracker, the latter emerging victorious by 7-5 to move into second place alongside Edinburgh University. Grove Menzieshill`s Jamie Lyon proved the catalyst with a personal total of five.
The Dundonians reached half-time 4-2 ahead, Lyon scored a hat-trick with Glasse-Davies getting the other, Millie Steiger and Gilman replying for Western. Grove Menzieshill also took the second half 3-2, Lyon picked up another couple and Lauren Kingston got the other, at the other end Steiger completed her own hat-trick and sister Holly was the other scorer.
Wildcats finally recorded their first victory of the tournament with a 6-0 win over bottom side Kelburne. There were two goals each for Lucy Findlay and McKenzie Bell while Emma McDiarmid and Iona McIntyre-Been supplied the others.
Scottish Hockey Union media release
With Hockey World League coming to an end, what does the future of the struggling sport look like?
Jitendra Nath Misra
The hugely-successful Hockey World League (HWL) Finals at Bhubaneswar have set the benchmark for the 2018 World Cup in the same city. But the spectators’ toast was also an unintended farewell.
The four-round World League was an ambitious innovation running into three seasons. But it will now have a new format. From 2018, there will be a two-tier competition: the Hockey Series Open and the Hockey Series Finals.
The winners of the Hockey Series Open will qualify for the three Hockey Series Finals, which will be played in 2019. The top two finishing teams from the three Hockey Series Finals will play in the Olympics qualifying event. So far, 170 countries have subscribed to the Hockey Series Open.
Why is the World League format being modified?
Launched in 2014, the 'Hockey Revolution' was meant to address two vital issues in the consumption of sport: attendance and revenue. As the flagship project of the Hockey Revolution, the World League failed to deliver either.
It was unable to fulfill the vision of crowds turning up in large numbers at the venues. Between 2014- 2016, I was witness to virtually-empty stands at Lousada and Lisbon during early-round World League games, even with Portugal playing.
Talking to the media at Bhubaneswar, Jason McCracken, CEO of the FIH, manfully owned up the lukewarm response: “A few years ago, I was the tournament director for this event in Delhi and we didn't have such strong support and crowd. It has been growing but unfortunately we still see some earlier rounds where we didn't have such strong support from TV, media, athletes and also fans coming to the game.”
Is hockey’s future under threat?
The answer is no, because the innovative FIH has a strategy of perpetual pre-emption. If something does not work, it finds another way to get around the problem. Thus, the World League has made way for the Hockey Pro League.
What is the Hockey Pro League?
This is a home-and-away round robin tournament over a four-year cycle, featuring the top nine men’s and women’s teams in the world. Beginning in 2019, the league will be played between January-June, as a qualifying tournament for the Olympics and World Cup. Each of the 144 games will be a home game for one team or another. The top four finishers will qualify for the grand finals.
In a home-and-away structure, good spectating is expected. The FIH might have drawn a lesson from India, where stadia are full when India plays. Will the same happen in other countries, as the FIH hopes?
McCracken told Firstpost at Bhubaneswar: “It is the first time for a home and away pro league. The home team means [something] big, [getting] a big crowd, something the media and athletes want. Even when you are playing away, we want to create rivalries.”
Is McCracken’s optimism about the Pro League justified?
At Bhubaneswar, coaches like Shane MacLeod expressed the hope that the FIH would succeed in selling TV rights: “I think there’s a good chance for our sport to move on and become a world sport again.”
AB Subbaiah, the former Indian international player, expressed a different view though.
“It is the right experiment but will it be sustainable? With one match at home and one match away, the cost is too heavy.” For example, travel from Malaysia to Argentina will be very long. Within Europe travel is easier, he said.
Players also weigh in on the long travel for another reason. In conversations with the media at the World League Finals, German player Christopher Ruhr and Dutch player Seve Van Ass complained about fatigue resulting from lengthy travel.
But it is the same in any sport with a home and away format. Europeans, accustomed to short travel for play within Europe, might recoil at something they don’t often do. Down Under, Australia has no qualms about travelling long distances for competitive hockey.
In July earlier this year, Hockey India withdrew from the Pro League, clarifying that it does not ensure direct qualification for the Olympics, and that it would be difficult for the women’s team to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics through this league. India being hockey’s financial powerhouse, this was a blow to the league.
This is the context of McCracken’s public call for India to reconsider its withdrawal: “At this stage Hockey India has withdrawn. The door is open for them to return. Hockey will be stronger with India as part of the Pro League.”
What of the future?
Constant changes in format may seem to augur in instability, but innovation has a better chance of yielding success than inaction. The fact is that hockey has struggled to create its niche. A home-and-away format looks set to get the spectators’ emotions into the equation, stimulating interest.
In a 2013 decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), wrestling, after struggling to develop a grammar for the layman, almost got knocked off the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The FIH does not want hockey to go the same way.
FIH President Narinder Batra’s vision of creating a financially-sustainable model for hockey, and McCracken’s emphasis on the importance of India in achieving this goal, point to the shift in hockey’s power structure.
There is a realisation that the Pro League’s revenue model might not work without India’s participation. Officials from Europe, Africa, Oceania and the Americas will not admit it openly, but the FIH is clear about the need to cajole India into readmission into the Pro League.
But even after the launch of the Pro League, hockey has a mountain to climb. Being, like cricket, an English export to the colonies, hockey got left behind in creating a sustainable revenue model. But we can take cheer from its retention in the 2024 Paris Olympics, and the continuing conversation on it featuring in the Olympics beyond.
Jitendra Nath Misra is a former ambassador to Portugal and Laos, and vice president of Jawaharlal Nehru Hockey Tournament Society.
Firstpost