News for 24 June 2012
Sunday, 24 June 2012 08:25 | 
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All the news for Sunday 24 June 2012
Kookaburras Outclass Blacksticks in Second Test
Tim Deavin makes a break. Image by Murray Clemence Anderson of Extreme Photography
The Kookaburras once again outclassed New Zealand with a convincing 5-1 win in the second game of a three test series at the Cairns Hockey Association in Queensland tonight.
Stars Eddie Ockenden and Des Abbott were rested but it made no difference to the Australians, who once again showed the depth in their ranks, proving them a formiddable opponent.
Coach Ric Charlesworth said it was a solid performance but he felt the side was still stretched in some areas.
"There's nothing that we don't need to do better," he said. "We let one in and that was a little bit sloppy, so we've got to get sharper."
Queenslander Rob Hammond opened the scoring to the crowd's delight when he sent home a bullet from the top of the circle at the 13 minute mark in the first half.
Charlesworth then decided to play with eleven field players for valuable practice when games are tight at the Olympics but it didn't come off with the Blacksticks Stephen Jenness scoring minutes after Kookaburras keeper Nathan Burgers went off.
"They scored when we had our goal keeper off, which is a bit of a worry but we said this morning we were going to try that because we've got to learn from playing in that situation," he said.
"We learned a valuable lesson tonight so that's hopefully good for us."
The Kookaburras had tried the move on Friday night, however and expected the Blacksticks to have a counter strategy, which they executed well.
"They will catch teams out but our strategy against it worked tonight," Blacksticks coach Shane McLeod said.
"Overall though we're disappointed our guys are competitive and there's always a big rivarly between Australia and New Zealand, so the loss will hurt.
"But that is why we are here testing our game, so come London we are better for it."
The Kookaburras went to the break 2-1 up but another solid second half saw Kieran Govers dominate on penalty corners, scoring a rebound off his own drag flick and converting a second.
Queenslander Jason Wilson then stunned the crowd with a superb solo run showing off his silky skills and slotting one past New Zealand keeper Kyle Pontifex from an impossible angle.
Glenn Simpson rounded out the assault on the New Zealand goals, putting away Australia's fifth after a sequence of quality passes.
Tasmanian Tim Deavin, Hammond and Wilson all impressed with strong performances.
Australia 5 d New Zealand 1
Goals:Robert Hammond(AUS) FG 13m, Stephen Jenness(NZ) FG 24m, Kieran Govers(AUS) PC 31m, Kieran Govers(AUS) PC 47m, Jason Wilson(AUS) FG 62m, Glenn Simpson(AUS) FG 66m.
Hockey Australia media release
Australia beat Black Sticks 5-1 in second test
The world champions Australia punished the Black Sticks Men for the second night in a row, winning 5-1 in Cairns tonight.
“Overall, we put on a better performance tonight. It was a very competitive first half, but the Aussies were relentless in the second half and mentally and physically we struggled to keep up with their pace,” says Black Sticks coach Shane McLeod.
In a repeat of last night’s game, Australian Rob Hammond opened the scoring in the 13th minute. The Black Sticks replied eleven minutes later, after a good pass from Phil Burrows found Stephen Jenness who hit it to the back of the net.
Kookaburra Kieran Govers made it 2-1 at half time, and then got his second goal of the night in the 47th minute. The Australian momentum continued with Jason Wilson and Glenn Simpson taking the score to 5-1 by the 66th minute.
Despite the Black Sticks working hard in the last ten minutes, the game and a series win were out of reach for the seventh-ranked Kiwis. Australia won last night’s first test 6-1.
The Black Sticks play their third and final test against Australia this Monday at 8pm (NZT). For live score updates go to www.twitter.com/blacksticks.
Hawke’s Bay is the Principal Partner of the Black Sticks Men and Women.
RESULT
Australia 5 (R Hammond, K Govers x2, J Wilson, G Simpson) New Zealand 1 (Steve Jenness) HT: 2-1
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Black Sticks men suffer another heavy defeat
The world champions Australia punished the Black Sticks Men for the second night in a row, winning 5-1 in Cairns last night.
In a repeat of last night's game, Australian Rob Hammond opened the scoring in the 13th minute. The Black Sticks replied eleven minutes later, after a good pass from Phil Burrows found Stephen Jenness who hit it to the back of the net.
Kookaburra Kieran Govers made it 2-1 at half time, and then got his second goal of the night in the 47th minute. The Australian momentum continued with Jason Wilson and Glenn Simpson taking the score to 5-1 by the 66th minute.
Despite the Black Sticks working hard in the last ten minutes, the game and a series win were out of reach for the seventh-ranked Kiwis. Australia won the first test 6-1.
The Black Sticks play their third and final test against Australia tomorrow at 8pm (NZT).
Australia 5 (R Hammond, K Govers x2, J Wilson, G Simpson) New Zealand 1 (Steve Jenness) HT: 2-1
Stuff
Black Sticks hammered
The Black Sticks went to Australia to discover how much progress they had made in recent times and found out the Kookaburras still set the bench mark in world hockey.
The New Zealanders were vastly improved last night from the side hammered 6-1 in the first of three tests between the two sides 24 hours earlier, but still found themselves well beaten - 5-1 this time - in Cairns.
They defended stoutly and forced Australia goalkeeper Nathan Burgers into some fine saves but Australia showed their class as they won comfortably. The Kookaburras are hot favourites for gold in London and play at a pace few teams are able to match.
They opened the scoring in the 16th minute through Rob Hammond but New Zealand levelled 11 minutes later through Stephen Jenness, who took advantage of Australia's gamble to substitute goalkeeper Burgers for an additional outfield player.
Kieran Govers ensured his side took a 2-1 lead into the break when he scored from a rebound from his own penalty corner five minutes before halftime.
He grabbed his second with a drag flick 10 minutes after halftime and Jason Wilson put the game beyond doubt with a great solo run six minutes from time. Glenn Simpson gave the score a flattering look two minutes later.
Both teams are using the series as Olympic preparation and the good news for the Black Sticks is Australia have been drawn in the opposite pool in London.
The third test is in Cairns on Monday night.
Australia 5
New Zealand 1
The New Zealand Herald
Field hockey event a draw for aspiring Olympians
By Lee Tolliver
Paige Selenski, left, hugs Katie O’Donnell as Keli Smith races in after Selenski scored Team USA’s second goal in the field hockey match against Argentina on Saturday, June 23, 2012.
VIRGINIA BEACH: Dodi Allocca sensed despondency in the crowd.
Team USA was down 1-0 to the world's second-ranked field hockey team, and more than 3,000 fans at the National Training Center had gone quiet in front of a national television audience.
So the Richmond 16-year-old did what any self-respecting patriot would do to help her country's team - she took off frantically down a path between the field and bleachers waving the flag for all her worth.
And it worked.
"USA... USA... USA," the crowd responded loudly.
Team USA also responded, tying the score a few minutes later en route to a 2-2 draw against Argentina in the fourth of four friendlies between teams that will meet in a few weeks in pool play at the Olympic Games in London.
Each team won one game, and there were two ties - providing a big shot in the arm for the United States.
"This really is a big day," said Allocca, who was in Virginia Beach for USA Field Hockey's Futures Program as a member of Team Rio de Janiero. "I went to the game at U.Va., too."
Sporting all things red, white and blue, Allocca blended in nicely with the nearly 800 other Futures Program players who started competition last week and will continue into next week - sandwiching what likely was the biggest field hockey event ever in the United States.
"When I think of great field hockey, I think of Argentina," said the Richmond Collegiate standout. "USA, too.
"This is such a big help for all of us here participating in Futures. This is the best hockey in the world."
Allocca said she held no Olympic dreams. But somewhere in the audience, there undoubtedly was a girl or two who did.
"I think this will help make the sport more popular and maybe make more girls strive to reach this level," said Kayla Devlin, a 17-year-old from Annapolis, Md., who sported American flags painted on her cheeks. "All of us (in Futures) being able to watch them - the game at a higher pace just before the Olympics - who wouldn't want to try and achieve that."
Saturday's event was a celebration of field hockey in the United States, with an avenue of vendors selling everything from uniforms, to sticks, to shoes and sunglasses. Fans sported pro-USA signs and waved flags. Faces were painted, and the nation's colors were everywhere.
And on a blazing and humid afternoon, it also was a celebration of women's sports. The day marked the 40th anniversary of Title IX, a push for equality between men's and women's amateur athletics.
But Saturday's match mostly was about hockey.
"This is awesome," said Tracey Fuchs, a two-time Olympian and one of the sport's most recognizable figures in the United States. "To see this crowd in a great field hockey area watching two of the best teams in the world playing on national television... this is really nice for our sport to get some good recognition."
One particular member of Team USA was especially proud of the recognition the afternoon brought.
"To be able to do this in front of my hometown crowd is awesome," said Caroline Nichols, a two-time Olympian who played at Salem High School in Virginia Beach and at Old Dominion. "We'll play in front of bigger crowds at the Olympics, but they won't be cheering for us like this one.
"When they're cheering your name because you are the local girl, well... it's just really special for me."
And a special day for field hockey.
The Virginian-Pilot
U21 Teams Do The Double!
Ireland's U21 Men & Women's Teams both secured wins in Wrexham over Scotland and hosts Wales ensuring both travel home this evening with trophies.
The U21's got off to flying starts the Women secured a 2-0 win over Wales two hours before their male counterparts did the exact same with a 2-0 win.
Scotland was next earlier today the women with a 2-1 win and the men with another 2-0 win ensuring the two U21's secured the titles.
Irish Hockey Association media release
Missed chances sink young Scots
SCOTLAND 0 IRELAND 2
It was a case of missed chances by the Scots and clinical finishing by the Irish, that was the essential difference between the sides as Ireland took the under 21 Celtic Cup with a 2-0 victory in Wrexham - they had beaten Wales by the same score on Friday.
"We created eight or nine good chances in the game, in another day we could have scored several goals, but at the end of the day the Irish took their chances and we didn`t, so they won the game," said Neil Allan, Scotland`s manager.
In a competitive opening the Scots had their fair share of opportunities falling mainly to Alan Forsyth, Duncan Riddell and Alasdair Irvine, but the score sheet remained blank. With four minutes remaining in the half, Riddell came sliding in to deflect the ball but his effort went just wide of the target. Ironically, a couple of minutes later it was the Irish who took the lead, Thomas O`Kelly made the initial save but then unluckily collided with defender Chris Duncan, leaving Owen Magee the simple task of finding the empty goal.
The Scots youngsters exerted some early pressure in the second half and again Forsyth and Irvine had the best of the chances. Failure in front of goal by the Scots attack was again punished by the Irish, David Carson made it 2-0 at a counter-attack. Ireland then put the Scots under pressure going for the third, but at three consecutive penalty corners O`Kelly frustrated the Irish set piece experts with comfortable saves.
With 15 minutes left, a great shot by Riddell produced a penalty corner for Scotland, Forsyth had the ball in the net but his effort was disallowed for dangerous play. Yellow cards and the sin bin to Stuart Allan and Michael Bremner reduced the Scots to nine players and greatly limited their ability to get back into the contest. The Scots almost struck with a late penalty corner, but Fraser Sands` low strike was directed straight at the keeper and the chance was lost.
Tomorrow Scotland play hosts Wales in a game only for pride and second place.
Scottish Hockey Union media release
SA hockey men look to get in the groove again
JONATHAN COOK
South Africa men’s hockey team head coach Gregg Clark is looking for specific outcomes as the team embarks on an 18-day tour to Ireland and Spain Monday ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games, which is just five weeks away.
“The emphasis of the tour is to get back to playing at the top level again, having had a seven- week break since the Olympic qualifier in Japan,” Clark said Saturday. “We want to come away from the tour feeling confident with our general level of play, whilst having put a great deal of detail on a few specific aspects we will identify.”
SA Hockey Association CEO Marissa Langeni said Friday that the programme leading up to the Olympics has been funded by the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC). Langeni said one of the world’s top umpires, Pretoria-based John Wright, will be travelling with the team as part of his London 2012 preparations.
The team have undergone a gruelling physical training programme in the last month, which started on May 26 at a camp run by ex-Springbok conditioning coach Dr Derick Coetzee at University of the Free State.
Captain Austin Smith and the world’s 12th-ranked team will be playing against world number 16 Ireland, world number 27 Wales and world 22 Scotland in the Celtic Cup in Northern Ireland from June 28 to July 1; then Ireland and world number 11 Belgium in Dublin on July 3 and 4; and finally world number 10 India (twice) and the world’s fifth-ranked Spain in Santander, Spain from July 8 to 11.
Apart from the Olympic 16, the Olympic reserves, midfielder/defender Clint Panther and goalkeeper Jacques le Roux, make up the 18-man tour squad.
SA TEAM
Austin Smith (capt), Andrew Cronje, Lloyd Norris-Jones, Ian Haley, Jacques le Roux (all Western Province); Tim Drummond, Marvin Harper, Lloyd Madsen, Taine Paton, Wade Paton (all KZN Coastal Raiders); Lance Louw, Thornton McDade, Rassie Pieterse, Clint Panther (all Southern Gauteng); Justin Reid-Ross, Rhett Halkett, Jonty Robinson (all Northern Blues); Julian Hykes(North West).
SA TOUR FIXTURES
(SA time).
Celtic Cup (Lisburn, Northern Ireland): vs Ireland (7 pm June 28); vs Wales (1 pm June 30); vs Scotland (11 am July 1).
Dublin, Ireland: vs Belgium (6.15 pm July 3); vs Ireland (6.15 pm July 4).
Santander, Spain (times tbc): vs India (July 8); vs Spain (July 9); vs India (July 11).
SA Hockey Association media release
SA hockey men out to gain confidence
South African men's hockey coach Gregg Clark said he hopes his team builds confidence on an 18-day tour to Ireland and Spain. “The emphasis of the tour is to get back to playing at the top level again, having had a seven week break since the Olympic qualifier in Japan,” Clark said before they departed on Monday.
“We want to come away from the tour feeling confident with our general level of play, whilst having put a great deal of detail on a few specific aspects we will identify.”
The team have undergone a gruelling physical training programme in the last month, which started on May 26 at a camp run by ex-Springbok conditioning coach Derick Coetzee at University of the Free State.
Captain Austin Smith and the world’s 12th-ranked team will be playing games against Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Belgium and India.
Apart from the Olympic squad of 16, the Olympic reserves, midfielder/defender Clint Panther and goalkeeper Jacques le Roux, make up the 18-man tour squad.
South Africa squad: Austin Smith (capt), Andrew Cronje, Lloyd Norris-Jones, Ian Haley, Jacques le Roux, Tim Drummond, Marvin Harper, Lloyd Madsen, Taine Paton, Wade Paton, Lance Louw, Thornton McDade, Rassie Pieterse, Clint Panther, Justin Reid-Ross, Rhett Halkett, Jonty Robinson, Julian Hykes.
South African tour fixtures:
(Time are all SA time).
Celtic Cup (Lisburn, Northern Ireland): v Ireland (7 pm June 28); v Wales (1 pm June 30); v Scotland (11 am July 1).
Dublin, Ireland: v Belgium (6.15 pm July 3); v Ireland (6.15 pm July 4).
Santander, Spain (times tbc): v India (July 8); v Spain (July 9); v India (July 11).
Independent Online
Threatened by the bailiffs: Olympics hockey star left with £1,500 council tax bill because she took time off law degree to train for Games
- Bristol University student Georgie Twigg, 21, spread the teaching of her final academic year over two to focus on a training for the GB hockey team
- But she is now only part-time student in a house of six Bristol - leaving her liable for a hefty council tax bill on a property in band E, totalling £1,500
By Graham Smith
Bailiffs calling: Bristol University student Georgie Twigg, 21, spread the teaching of her final academic year over two so she could focus on a tough training schedule for the GB hockey team
A young Olympic hopeful who took time out from her law degree to train for a place at the London 2012 games has been threatened by balliffs over council tax payments.
Bristol University student Georgie Twigg, 21, spread the teaching of her final academic year over two so she could focus on a tough training schedule for the GB hockey team.
But this loyalty to her country makes Miss Twigg the only part-time student in a house of six, in Clifton, Bristol - leaving her liable for a hefty council tax bill on a property in band E, totalling £1,500.
Full-time students are exempt from paying council tax while they study, but as Miss Twigg only attends university for one day a week, she no longer qualifies for this bracket.
Miss Twigg spends the other four days of her week training with her GB hockey team in Maidenhead, Berkshire - living in a property that she pays full council tax on.
She received a court summons after returning from Argentina in February, where her GB hockey team won a silver medal at the Champions Trophy for the first time.
Miss Twigg, who carried the Olympic torch through Clifton, Bristol, earlier this month, contacted Bristol City Council to ask to be treated as a student as she does not have the money to pay the bill - but her plea fell on deaf ears.
The summons stated that because she was completing her final year in two years instead of one, she was classed as a part-time student and was no longer exempt from paying council tax, as full-time students are.
Miss Twigg's parents wrote to the council, including to leader Simon Cook and chief executive Jan Ormondroyd to ask that she be made exempt due to her exceptional circumstances.
In action: Miss Twigg spends four days of her week training with the GB hockey team in Maidenhead, Berkshire - living in a property that she pays full council tax on
But the council told the family there was nothing it could do and demanded the money.
At the start of this month, just as she was about to take her final law exams, Miss Twigg received a notice of 'intended bailiff action'.
Her father Robert Twigg, 57, said: 'We feel that Georgie has been penalised for trying to complete her studies while at the same time qualifying for the Olympic team.
'It can't be right that this charge wouldn't have been put on her if she had opted out of such a fantastic opportunity.
'Bristol City Council has been completely unsupportive and unreasonable - no-one seems to want to stick their head above the parapet and realise that these are exceptional circumstances - it just seems so wrong.'
Miss Twigg challenges with Ireland's Niamh Atcheler during their fifth/sixth place play-off in the Investec London Cup at the Quintin Hogg Memorial Ground in Chiswick, west London, earlier this month
A spokesman for Bristol City Council said: 'Unfortunately the law regarding council tax discount is quite clear and does not allow any leeway on the part of the city council.
'Miss Twigg forfeited her eligibility for the council tax discount when she reduced the number of days she was studying in Bristol.
'We have looked at this case sympathetically to see if there was any room for discretion on our part, given that she is about to represent the UK at the highest level, but regrettably there is none and we are bound by national legislation.
'It is a situation that can also affect other individuals who give up their time for good causes such as special constables and charity volunteers.
'We have offered as reasonable terms as we can for the repayment of the debt incurred. It goes without saying that we wish her all the best at the Olympics.'
Daily Mail
Dar Hockey Academy Trounces SW NEUSS 8-2
By Ijaz CHaudhry
Dar Hockey Academy’s fourth match in Germany was against SW Neuss, a Bundesliga side.
Two excellent balls sent by Salman from the right side went untouched in the circle during initial minutes.
Neuss made a good move on the counter. The post denied them the goal but Lennard Leist was alert to slot the rebound in to give his side the first goal of the match. That was the only joy for them in the first half as the Dar academy dominated the show with their breathtaking moves and the German side simply crumbled.
The nimble footed Pakistanis created many chances both open as well as through set pieces and scored five goals before the half time: In the nineth minute, skipper Saleem sent an inch perfect pass to Aamir Ali standing in the circle and the rebound on his not so good attempt was calmly put in by Bilal Mahmood to level the cross.
Three minutes later, Bilal was again in a good position to put his team ahead when Salman supplied him the ball after a beautiful weaving run.
Third goal arrrived in the 19th minute, this time courtesy a penalty corner as Asad’s force and placement gave the Neuss goalkeeper no chance.
In the 25th minute, Salman had a dribbling run Lionel Messi would have been proud of beating five players but his try was well taken by the rival custodian only for Aamir Ali to put the rebound in.
Aamir Ali was again there to give the finishing touch to a move, which had goal written all over it, and make it 5-1 in the 33rd minute.
Dar HA introduced all their reserve players in the second half but still had the better of the exchanges.
Their sixth and seventh goals both came via penalty corners. First Abid Bhatti sounded the board with a forceful hit followed by a two touch indirect drill off the seventh PC, the scorer this time was Aamir Ali who thus completed his hat trick.
Neuss did make a few raids and also earned a couple of PCs in the second period. One such rare foray fetched them their second goal, by Philip Weide after some neat passing in the striking zone.
Dar HA tally was completed by Adeel who pounced upon a rebound with about 10 minutes to go. Then the game slowed down for the remaining time.
Dar Hockey Academy, Pakistan: 8 (Aamir Ali 3, Bilal Mahmood 2, Adeel, Asad, Abid Bhatti)
SW Neuss, Germany: 2 (Lennard Leist, Philip Weide)
Ijaz Chaudhry writes on hockey and other sports. For more about him and his work, visit: http://www.sportscorrespondent.info/