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All the news for Sunday 17 June 2012

Under 21s held again to a draw in Ulster

ULSTER  1  SCOTLAND 1  -  UNDER 21 CHALLENGE MATCH IN BELFAST

Scotland women`s under 21 side kept up their five game unbeaten run with a 1-1 draw against Ulster in Belfast, part of the build-up for the European Junior Nations Championships in Russia later this summer, but it took a last minute strike from Glynhill Kelburne`s striker Stephanie McInally to stave off defeat.

The Scots youngsters had the lion`s share of the possession but failed to find the net against a stuffy, and at times destructive, Ulster defence.  Towards the end of the first half Nicola Skrastin had her shot saved by the Irish goalkeeper after a good run and cut-back by Sarah Robertson, and just on the interval a penalty corner strike from Nikki Mollison was saved on the line by a defender.

Despite dominating proceedings, the Scots frustration took a further twist when Ulster took the lead from a set piece.   The Scots then pounded the Ulster goal in search of the equaliser, snatch shots from both Robertson and Hazel Hall were blocked by the goalkeeper.   Then in a three minute period Lucy Lanigan fired a shot over the goal while a good run and a reverse stick shot from Mollison rattled the cross-bar.   The Scots also had five penalty corner opportunities, but again failed to find the net.

Just when it looked as if Ulster were about to steal a victory against the run of play, Robertson`s shot was again saved on the line by a defender, the ball fell to McInally who buried the rebound with a low shot that deceived the goalkeeper.

"We had a lot of possession but found it difficult to make the breakthrough.   Ulster played a very defensive and containing game, but we failed to turn our dominance into goals until the final minute," said Dave Stott, Scotland`s coach.

Scottish Hockey Union media release

Scottish U18's hammer North of England

SCOTLAND 12  NORTH OF ENGLAND 0  - UNDER 18 CHALLENGE MATCH AT AUCHENHOWIE

Four goals from CALA Edinburgh striker Amber McNeill was the highlight in Scotland`s 12-0 victory over a North of England side at Auchenhowie.   It was the CALA player who opened the scoring with a double in the opening ten minutes to set the tone for the rest of the game.   Before the interval there were further goals from Emily Watson (Granite City Wanderers), Sarah Jamieson (Inverleith), Lucy Preston (Grange) and Kirsten Peters (Watsonians) for a six goal half time lead.

The second half was a carbon copy of the first, Peters kick started the goal rush when she beat three defenders and rifled the ball into the net.  McNeill picked up another couple, Jamieson scored her second and then captain Karin Belch completed the rout with a late double in the final five minutes.

"We have been working on our finishing over the last month and it was pleasing that all the hard work has paid off as all the goals came from open play.   We have some work still to do, particularly on ball retention, but it was pleasing to put in such a stirring performance," said Colin Clarke, Scotland`s coach.

Scottish Hockey Union media release

Win for under 16s

SCOTLAND UNDER 16  3   ULSTER UNDER 16  1

Scotland under 16 boys started their series against Ulster with a comfortable 3-1 win at Inverclyde yesterday.   After a fairly even opening 14 minutes, the Scots had their noses in front through a penalty corner strike from CALA Edinburgh`s Cameron Good.  The Scots youngsters continued to create chances and shots from Elliot Sandison (VWS Dundee Wanderers) and Patrick Christie (CALA Edinburgh) brought a double save from the Irish goalkeeper.

The Scots dominated the second half and sealed the game with two goals in as many minutes.   Enterprising build-up play from Good, Rory Pritchard (Glenalmond) and Ruairidh Grossart (Grange) created the opening for Glynhill Kelburne`s Andrew Duff who coolly slotted the ball past the keeper from close range.   Within a minute a move down the right from Christie, Alex Morrison (Aberdeen Grammar School) and Andrew Oliphant opened up the Ulster defence and Stuart Nickerson of Watsonians fired a low reverse stick shot into the net for Scotland`s third.  Ulster did pull one back with two minutes left, but simply a consolation by that time.

Coach Allan Law was much happier with the second half performance and is hoping for further improvement in today`s encounter.   A good overall team effort with the defensive pair of Ruairidh McArthur (Kelburne) and Sean Stewart (Dunfermline Carnegie) particularly outstanding.

Scottish Hockey Union media release

Rye men and NYCFHC ladies reign supreme at NEFHA Championships in New York

By Jawwad Qamar

Rye men and NYCFHC ladies won the 2011-2012 NEFHA (North East Field Hockey Association) championships held on Saturday at Columbia University’s Baker Field Complex in New York.

Rye FHC dominated the men’s championship final against NYCFHC 4-1, almost the same way they’ve dominated the 2011-2012 season, thanks to a hat trick by the ever elusive Swiss, Patrick Stutz. Stutz’s scored in the 2nd, 7th, and 27th minutes. Joachim Civico scored Rye’s fourth goal while Tom Sheridan had the lone tally for New York.

Rye was undefeated during the regular season winning all 14 matches in a dominating fashion scoring a whopping 125 goals while allowing only 11.

Rye FHC, established in 1931 and one of the oldest and most successful field hockey clubs in the US, won the league and playoffs for men last year too.

In the semifinals Rye blanked NY Islanders 3-0 while New York edged Greenwich 3-2.

It took a golden goal from the Katie Grant with 2 minutes left in sudden death overtime for NYCFHC to win the ladies title against Big Apple HC. It was Grants’ aggressiveness that earned a penalty stroke in the dying minutes of regulation time which was calmly converted by Julie Garrison on a low flick to the left thus sending the match to extra time. When it looked like the game was headed for a shootout to decide the winner, Jess Kacerak’s long pass from the midfield found Grant who drew out Jozann Jackson in goal for Big Apple for the winning tally. Nicole Brown had given New York a 1-0 lead in the first half but Sara Gonzalez leveled things at 1-1 on a penalty corner in the 62 minute and 3 minutes later gave her team a 2-1 lead, again on a penalty corner conversion.

Big Apple HC won the women’s league this season and last year, while Greenwich Rovers were the defending playoff champions.

In the semifinals NYCFHC defeated Greenwich FHC 5-1 while Big Apple HC beat Greenwich Rovers 6-3.

NEFHA is a non-profit association of Field Hockey clubs based in the New York and the Tri-State area. For over thirty years, NEFHA has provided the opportunity for competitive Field Hockey as well as the development of the sport for both Men and Women.

NEFHA runs a league competition for men and women that runs from September to November and continues from March to June. There are 16 active teams in the two leagues, representing 9 different clubs. All league games are played at Columbia University’s Baker Field Complex on 218th St and Broadway, which houses a state of the art Water Based Astroturf field.

Submitted by the Author

Edge takes Big Apple tournament honours


Kristin Abreu...helped Edge Under-16 team to gold.

T&T’s Kristin Abreu, in her debut at the Edge Field Hockey Club, helped its Under-16 team cop the Division’s title at the Big Apple Tournament in New York, last week. The Edge, under technical director, Kelvin Nancoo also of T&T, continued its run of success when the girls won two of the three major trophies. The U-19 team also grabbed gold, while the U-14s finished second. “Our U-19 team was superb and won as champions do,” said Nancoo. “They won the final by a margin of 4-0. The U-16 were also good, winning 4-2. However, my heart broke for the U-14 who lost 3-2.”

Nancoo, who is continuing the work of his late brother Kenwin, was happy about the wins as it qualified the club for the National Club Championship (NCC) in Virginia Beach in July. “Now we are going after NCC gold and I expect that we will improve on our third place finish in this national tournament last year. We are getting set for victory in Virginia as everyone drapped in gold and blue seek to enhanced the reputation and standing of the club.” Nancoo continued, “We lost Kenwin some 15 months ago and we are all trying to ensure his legacy continues. This result should have him smiling from above as it was the best result ever for our club at this tournament. Two from three is not bad but we really prepared to win them all. We failed in that aspect.” Kristin, daughter of former national hockey captain Cristina Abreu, is a member of the T&T national under-21 training squad. The mother and daughter duo are expected to be in action today when their club Ventures take on Harvard Maritime Checkers in the T&TBH’s Championship Division at the National Hockey Centre from 6.30 pm.

The Trinidad Guardian

Army blanks Dames hockeymen

Nigel Simon

National duo Marcus James and Mickel Pierre scored a goal each as Defence Force blanked Notre Dame 2–0 in the T&T Hockey Board Men’s Championship Division at the National Hockey Centre, Tacarigua, on Friday night. With the win, its seventh from nine matches, Defence Force joined Paragon on 21 points, three behind table leader and defending champion Petrotrin. Today, Paragon and Defence Force will have a chance to join the Oilmen at the top when they meet from 7.30 pm.  On Thursday in the Mixed Veterans Division, Ian Chong and Robert Ramsammy netted one each for Carib in a 2–1 triumph over Police to climb to third with 19 points, 11 behind runaway leader Queen’s Park.

Yesterday, Queen’s Park opened a four point lead in the Boys’ Under-19 Division with a 3–2 win in its top-of-the-table clash with Malvern. Mark Ayen, Damian Bright and Craig Cockburn were all on target for the Parkites while Marcano-brothers, Tariq and Teague scored for Malvern. Queen’s Park now has 25 points from nine matches, while Malvern stayed on 21 followed by Corona Fatima on 19. In the Girls’ Under-19 competition, Lisa Smith helped herself to a beaver-trick and Zene Henry one for Paragon in a 5–0 shut-out of Malvern. The win improved Paragon to second spot on 12 points from seven matches, three adrift of leader Shandy Carib Magnolias which has two matches in hand.

Fixtures
Today:
Boys’ Under-19: Paragon vs Fatima, 11 am
Trinity Women: Magnolias vs Malvern, 2 pm
Trinity Women: Magnolias II vs Paragon, 4.30 pm
Championship Women: Ventures vs Checkers, 6 pm
Championship Men: Defence Force vs Paragon, 7.30 pm

Standings
Men’s Championship:
Teams P W D L F A Pts
Petrotrin 9 8 0 1 51 16 24
Paragon 9 7 0 2 44 14 21
D/Force 9 7 0 2 26 16 21
QPCC 8 5 0 3 39 17 15
Notre Dame 9 3 1 5 15 22 10
Paradise 9 1 3 5 15 49 6
Fatima 9 1 1 7 17 51 4
Malvern 8 0 1 7 8 30 1

Mixed Veterans:
QPCC 11 10 0 1 69 16 30
Dames 13 8 0 5 39 32 24
Carib 12 6 1 5 38 24 19
D/Force 10 6 1 3 36 27 19
Fatima 10 5 0 5 27 37 15
Malvern 10 4 2 4 27 26 14
Police 11 1 0 10 5 52 3
Petrotrin 8 0 0 8 5 44 0

Boys Under-19:
QPCC 9 8 1 0 87 16 25
Malvern 9 7 0 2 51 13 21
Fatima 9 6 1 2 67 20 19
Notre Dame 10 4 1 5 36 28 13
Paragon 9 3 1 5 16 54 10
Paradise 7 3 0 4 24 18 9
Shape 8 1 1 6 22 31 4
Carib 9 0 0 9 4 126 0

Girls Under-19:
Magnolias 5 5 0 0 39 1 15
Paragon 7 4 0 3 30 13 12
Ventures 5 3 0 2 26 8 9
Paradise 6 3 0 3 14 18 9
Notre Dames 5 2 0 3 22 16 6
Malvern 6 0 0 6 1 76 0

The Trinidad Guardian

Notts hockey star hopes to make Olympic history for a second time in London

HELEN Richardson has already made history at the Olympics once. She wants to do it again in London.

It was 12 years ago in Sydney that Richardson, from West Bridgford, became the youngest player of all time to represent Great Britain on the biggest stage of all, aged 18.

Now 30, she is one of the most experienced players in a women's team that has set its sights on winning gold at the Olympics for the first time this summer.

It will be Richardson's third Games because she was also selected for Beijing in 2008 and she said: "I just feel so lucky. I remember being really excited about my first Games in Sydney because I desperately wanted to be part of the greatest show on earth and now I can't wait for London.

"For a home Games to come around in my lifetime is unbelievable and I'm so pleased and proud to have been picked for a third time. I hope we can make everybody proud now."

Britain only finished sixth on Richardson's Olympic bow in Sydney and eighth in Beijing, after failing to qualify for the 2004 Games in Athens.

Richardson, who has won 11 medals in a 13-year international career, inevitably looks back on those two performances with huge disappointment, but insists Britain are far stronger now.

"Our preparation for London has been the best we've ever had," she said. "We only came together to train as GB nine or ten months before Sydney and Beijing, which was crazy because we were competing against teams that had been building towards those Games for four years.

"I do look back with disappointment, but it was hardly surprising we came away with those results.

"It's different this time because we've been training full time since 2009. Now we want to go and win a medal.

"I remember watching Australia and Argentina in the final in Sydney and all I wanted was to be stood on the top of the podium. That has been my driving force and motivation ever since and we have now got a chance of doing that."

They do, indeed. Britain have been in encouraging form so far this year, finishing runners-up to Argentina in the Champions Trophy in Rosario in February and then beating the reigning world champions twice to win the Olympic test event earlier this month.

They also beat Korea and China to win all four of their matches at the Riverbank Arena – and did not concede one goal.

They are ranked fourth in the world and Richardson said: "Rankings don't lie. We are there because we've done well and won medals on the world stage and that will give us a huge amount of belief going into London.

"We're going to have the home support to spur us on too, which will make a massive difference.

"The test event was good for us too. The results didn't matter, but it gave us an opportunity to experience the pitch and crowd."

Britain have notably been drawn against the world's No.1 team Holland and Korea, ranked eighth, in Pool A. China, Japan and Belgium complete their group and the top two will qualify for the semi-finals.

They begin the tournament by playing Japan on July 29 and then face Korea (July 31), Belgium (August 2), China (August 4) and their final group game will be against Holland on August 6.

World No.2 Argentina, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, United States and South Africa will battle it out in Pool B.

"Our matches with the Dutch are always pretty close and Korea are quite high up the rankings so it's going to be tough, but you expect that, it's the Olympics," said Richardson. "In the other Pool there is Argentina, who are the current world champions, Germany, New Zealand and Australia. There will be no easy matches."

After their squad of 16 was officially announced, Britain completed their build-up to the Olympics by playing in the Investec London Cup.

But their squad was weakened by injuries to key players Crista Cullen and Alex Danson and they missed out on a place in the semi-finals.

"It all suddenly seems a lot closer now," said Richardson. "I've dreamed of winning gold for so many years it would mean the world to do it."

This is Nottingham

New coach on the agenda

By Jugjet Singh

THE Malaysian Hockey Confederation's (MHC) executive board meeting today is set to discuss a myriad of issues, with the most crucial being the appointment of a foreign coach.

Also hot on the agenda will be the calendar, as MHC has to accommodate the Malaysia Hockey League, the Sultan of Johor Cup, the Champions Challenge I, Razak Cup and the 2013 Asia Cup.

And then there is also the proposed attachment of juniors for overseas leagues.

"Yes, there are several issues to discuss and iron out in the meeting. The coach's appointment will also be touched on, and maybe a solution will be found at the end of the meeting," said MHC secretary Johari Aziz.

Current national coach Tai Beng Hai might find himself as the director of coaching, or coaching an age-group squad.

The front-runner among the foreign coaches is Paul Revington of South Africa, who last coached the Irish team to the silver medal in the Dublin Olympic Qualifier.

The other possible candidate to replace Beng Hai is Australian Paul Gaudoin.

New Straits Times

MHC to name national hockey coach today

By S. RAMAGURU

KUALA LUMPUR: The new national hockey coach will be known today when the Malaysia Hockey Confederation (MHC) executive board meet to decide on the two shortlisted candidates.

South African Paul Revington has now become the frontrunner for the job ahead of Australian Paul Guadoin. The issue over the last few days had centred around the financial package and it is learnt that it would be cheaper to hire the South African.

Still, in the final analysis it is the MHC who will make the final decision although the National Sports Council (NSC) had been in the picture when the coaches were shortlisted.

Revington was the Ireland coach at the Olympic qualifiers and South Africa before that.

Guadoin, a former international, is currently coach of the Australian national juniors.

MHC decided to opt for a foreign coach after the failure to qualify for the London Olympics. The new coach’s main task will be seeing the team qualify for the 2014 World Cup..

The meeting today is expected to be a long-drawn out affair with 14 items on the agenda. The board also needs to reassign former national coach Tai Beng Hai, who still has a contract until December.

They are also expected to decide the position of national team coordinator Stephen van Huizen.

The board will also discuss the reports on the various tournaments, including the Dublin Olympic qualifier.

Also on the agenda are the upcoming events like the Sukma, Razak Cup and international commitments for both the men’s and women’s teams.

Also to be discussed are the recent resignations of the MHC secretary and his assistant.

MHC have yet to streamline their administration as they had planned to hire four secretaries to handle the various sub-committees.

With so much on their plate, it will not be a surprise if the big decisions are, as usual, put on hold.

The Star of Malaysia