FIRST BLOOD TO ENGLAND!

In the first of the home Summer internationals, England overcame Australia 2-1 at Reading yesterday (Thursday). The two teams are due to meet again on Sunday at 12:00, again at Reading. Tickets for seats for this match are sold out, but standing tickets were still available as at PM today (Friday). TalkHockeyRadio will be there and photos and a report will appear on this blog on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a men's side has jetted off to Germany to play two matches against the World Cup host nation over the weekend. Matches will be played in the new Warsteiner HockeyPark, Monchengladbach, the venue for this September's FIH World Cup. The squad for the matches is Brothers (SW Neuss), Lewis (Gross Flottbeker), Garrard, Marsden, Moore, Alexander, Daly, Tindall (Surbiton), Bleby, Wilson, Kirkham, Goudie (Loughborough), Mantell R, Mantell S, Todd A, Clarke (Reading), Hawes (Canterbury), Middelton, Taylor, Jones (Cannock).

BRONZE MEDAL HERO CALLS IT A DAY

She was the hero of the hour in Melbourne when her dramatic penalty stroke save gave England the Commonwealth Games bronze medal. Carolyn Reid (pictured right) has decided to retire from international hockey after fifteeen years as a senior international, during which she won 115 England and 23 GB caps. She said of the team she has played such an important role in revitalising, "I know that the team we have now is capable of going on to bigger and better things and the talent in our squad in unbelievable. More than anything, I know the team spirit that we have is the best of any team I've been in, and that our spirit and team togetherness is what will win us medals."

Meanwhile, England has announced its squad for the upcoming series of intenationals on home soil. The line up includes two new caps, Jo Ellis of Doncaster and Kerry Williams of Leicester. The choice of Ellis seems bound to cause confusion for commentators, as she will be playing alongside Jo Ellis of Ipswich. The core of the squad - who will be playing against Australia on 29/6/06 and 2/7/06 and Argentina on 3/7/06 - will be Bimson, Cullen, Herbert (Leicester), Danson, Walsh (Slough), Duggan (Canterbury), Ellis (Doncaster), Ellis (Ipswich) Rogers, Wooding (Chelmsford), Story (Hurley, The Netherlands), Walton (Bowdon Hightown), and Wright (Olton). The following will also play on 29/6/06: Scott, Rachel Walsh (Slough), and Williams (Leicester). The following will also play on 2/7/06 and 3/7/06: Clewlow, Gilliat-Smith (Canterbury), Grant (Rotterdam), Richardson (Leicester) and Walker (Olton)

CULLEN AND TINDALL PREMIER TOP SCORERS

EHL has announced its awards for the Premier Divisions for the 2005/2006 season. James Tindall and Tina Cullen (pictured right) win the top scorers slot. Cullen netted 19 times for Bowdon Hightown, whilst England's James Tindall found the net 24 times.

Martin Jones of Cannock won the Player of the Season, as did Jo Ellis of Doncaster. The most hospitable club award went to Doncaster in the women's division, and Chelmsford in the men's. The awards are made on the basis of votes received from other members of the Divisions.

This weekend there is a programme of international women's hockey for you to enjoy. At 19:00 this Thursday, England entertain Australia at Reading, whilst at 12:30 Saturday the visitors play Argentina at Bisham Abbey. On Sunday at 12:00 England and Australia meet again at Reading. Details can be found at the England Hockey website at www.englandhockey.co.uk. TalkHockeyRadio will be at Reading on Sunday with a report on this blog and photographs on our site.

LUCKES HONOURED BY QUEEN.

We are pleased to announce that former England goalkeeper David Luckes has been awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

READING LOOK ON AS CANNOCK WIN SUPER CUP FOR READING! by Peter Savage at the Morris Ground

The often criticised format for the Super Cup – each team plays the others in a round robin – created a bizarre state of affairs this afternoon at Cannock. Earlier in the day Reading had overcome Loughborough Students 3-2 to give them six points. They then had to watch helplessly as spectators in the last match, as twice beaten Cannock took on Surbiton. Surbiton, with four points, had to win this match to overhaul Reading. The chances of this happening looked decidedly slim, when Surbiton went three ahead in eighteen minute, with two goals by James Tindall and a penalty corner conversion by Robert Moore. The goal scored just before the break by Cannock’s Barry Middleton looked little more than a consolation. However, in a match where frayed tempers were much in evidence – Middleton was sin binned twice and yellow cards were also shown to Cannock’s Martin Jones, and Moore and Andy Sheridan of Surbiton – Cannock suddenly started to perform like the team who had gone unbeaten in the league. A field goal by Chris Mayer reduced the deficit just after the restart, and a penalty corner goal from Richard Lane left Surbiton with just the one point from the game. The Reading team, who had been supporting as if they were born and bred in Cannock, won the England Hockey Super Cup and qualify for next years European Club Championships.

Chris Mayer may not have actually won a match with Cannock during this tournament but he did win a winner’s medal by virtue of being the coach of Leicester in the women’s section. Leicester and Canterbury had met in their last game with both teams on maximum points but with Leicester having the superior goal difference. The match started disastrously for Canterbury, with short corner goals by Leicester’s Hannah Macleod putting them two behind within fifteen minutes. I don’t know how many times I have said or written this, but Canterbury are at their most lethal when they are one of two goals behind. It took less than ten minutes for Canterbury to pick themselves up and field goals by Hayley Brown and Laura Gittings put the two teams on level terms. Canterbury for much of the second half looked much the better team and a Mel Clewlow corner looked set to give them victory. But it was not to be Canterbury’s day. Just as Clewlow’s shot had been true, hard and low, when it was her opposite number’s turn, Crista Cullen, she found the net with a cracking shot. Final score 3-3 and Leicester qualify for the European Club Championships next year. Canterbury do not go away completely empty handed, as their runners-up place gives them entry to the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

CANNOCK'S END OF SEASON MISERY CONTINUES

Premier Division champions Cannock were beaten for the second time in two days in the Super Cup today, losing 3-2 to Reading. The other men's match ended in a draw, Surbiton being held 2-2 by Loughborough Students.

In the Women's section both Canterbury and Leicester are assured places in European club competitions next year. Leicester had already qualified for the rather mis-named Cup Winners' Cup by virtue of being EHL champions. Both clubs won today, Canterbury 2-1 against Bowdon Hightown and Leicester 2-0 against Olton. They meet tomorrow (Sunday) and the winner will qualify for the more prestigious European Club Championships. If Canterbury lose, they will take Leicester's place in the Cup Winners' Cup, a competition in which they won silver in 2004.

CANNOCK TASTE DEFEAT IN SUPER CUP

Unbeaten in the Premier Division all season, Cannock's cup woes have dogged them for a second time in two weeks. Finishing a disappointing fifth in the European Club Championships on home turf at the beginning of the month, they went down 3-2 to Loughborough Students in the first day of play in the England Hockey Super Cup. In the other men's match Surbiton overcame Reading 5-3. The women's matches in the Super Cup went more to form. Canterbury beat Olton 2-1, whilst Leicester overcame Bowden Hightown 5-3. These results set Canterbury and Leicester up to a potential head-to-head on Sunday for the cup. The prize is a place in next year's Women's European Club Championships, a competition in which Canterbury took the silver in Berlin two weeks ago.

The Super Cup is decided on a round-robin basis - a format which has come in for some criticism in the past as it has led to the cup being decided before the third day matches are played.

FIH ANNOUNCE WORLD CUP SCHEDULES

The International Hockey Federation have announced the pools and schedules for the Men's and Women's World Cups in the Autumn.

In the BDO Hockey World Cup for Men in Monchengladbach, England are in Pool B with Germany, India, Korea, the Netherlands. and South Africa. England's campaign starts on day two (7/9/06) with a match against India. England then go on to play Korea on 8/9/06, Germany on 10/9/06, the Netherlands on 11/9/06 and South Africa on 13/9/06.

In the Samsung Hockey World Cup for Women in Madrid, England are in Pool A with China, Germany, India, Netherlands and Spain. England play their opening game against China on 27/9/06, followed by games against the Netherlands (29/9/06), India (1/10/06), Germany (3/10/06), and Spain (4/10/06).

Further details will be available on our dedicated World Cup pages on www.talkhockeyradio.co.uk and in on-line magazine HockeyTalk

A SUMMER OF HOCKEY STILL AHEAD

Remember the days when the hockey season started in October and finished in March? Not any more! This year there is hockey all the way through June into August. Coming up we have the England Hockey Super Cup at Cannock over the weekend of 16th-18th June. Matches start at 13:00 on the Friday and the last match is at 16:00 on Sunday. Clubs taking part are Canterbury, Olton, Leicester, and Bowdon Hightown in the women's section, and Surbiton, Reading, Cannock, and Loughborough Students in the men's section. The winners in the round-robin event qualify for the European Club Championships next year. Both Canterbury and Cannock will be hoping to qualify and build on their experience in this year's competition. Further details can be found at the England Hockey web site at www.EnglandHockey.co.uk. Directions to the ground are on Cannock's site at www.cannockhockey.org.

In the run-up to the World Cups in the Autumn, touring sides will be visiting England, with England women playing Australia at Reading (29/6 and 2/7), Argentina at Reading (3/7), and Germany at Cannock (17/8 and 19/8). There will also be an opportunity to see the Australians play Argentina at Bisham Abbey on 1/7/06. Englands men play Spain at Canterbury (14/8 and 15/8) and the Netherlands at Belle Vue, Manchester (17/8/06) and Cannock (19/8/06). There are also plans for matches between England's men and Argentina some time in late August. For further details watch this blog or go to England Hockey's web site.

NEXT SEASON'S ENGLISH HOCKEY LEAGUE

Firstly, an apology for the lack of up-dates on this blog over the last few days. Berlin was really manic and we have had to go and lie down in a darkened room for three days. If you listen to the June podcast you will hear exactly what we mean by 'manic'.

The shape of the England Hockey League for next season has been decided, partly as a result of decisions on the pitch and partly as a result of decisions in the committee room. Last weekend's play-offs saw Old Loughtonian men relegated and replaced by Beeston, whilst their ladies came through their two play-off matches to survive another season in the Premier Division. Joining the EHL are the women from Sevenoaks, Staines, Durham University, and Cannock, and the men from Peterborough Town, Bromley and Beckenham, Sheffield UB, and Sikh Union Notts, all promoted from their regional leagues. The arrival of Cannock women will be interesting and one wonders whether they will eventually join that select band of clubs who have both a men's and women's team in the Premier Division. Worcester women and Barford Tigers have been moved from their respective South Divisions to the North Divisions to maintain the geograhic spread of clubs.

Next season our weekly EHL update on Sunday evening will include an up-to-date league table, as well as a featured match from the weekend.

DONNERS KEBABS CANTERBURY, by Peter Savage in Berlin

In their final against Den Bosch in the Women's European Club Championships in Berlin today, Canterbury were caught napping and went down to a Vera Vorstenbosch goal with only forty five seconds on the clock. Canterbury managed to regain their composure and there were times when they matched or even exceeded their opponents for skill and determination. But the clock proved a cruel master twice more in this match. Having kept their opponents at bay for thirty-four minutes they conceeded a second goal almost on the halt-time whistle - Mijntje Donners the scorer. A third goal scored in open play from Janneke Shopman sealed Canterbury's fate, but that cruel clock was to strike again. A penalty corner awarded in the last few seconds resulted in Donners stepping up and striking an unstoppable shot. Final score 4-0 to Den Bosch. The player that impressed me during both this match, and the whole tournament was Minke Booij, who was like a rock in defence. Her distribution, often to the ever-dangerous Donners, caused Canterbury several nervous moments. Her contribition was acknowledged by being voted the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament by the media contingient. Donners was the top scorer during the tournament.

Earlier in the day Berliner won the gold medal against Ata Sport on penalty strokes.

A full report on the tournament will be on the June TalkHockeyRadio podcast, available from 7 June 2006, together with some 'live' commentary on the match. Photographs of some of the matches taken by Paul Robins will be posted on our News page, and copies of these and other photographs from Berlin will be available from his website in due course. Check our Links page for details of Paul.

ROUND-UP FROM SUNDAY'S MATCHES IN BERLIN

In the final day’s play in the pool stage of the Women’s European Club Championships here in Berlin yesterday, Scotland’s Bonagrass Grove continued to disappoint in Pool B, drawing 1-1 against the team from Ritm Grodno. As reported yesterday, Canterbury had an outstanding game against Ata Sport from Azerbaidchan, Cathy Gilliat-Smith scoring twice, with a third coming from a penalty corner strike by Mel Clewlow. There were upsets aplenty in Pool A, with the Irish contingent from Belfast drawing 3-3 against Spain’s CD Terrassa, although the Irish left it until the 70 minute to score the equaliser, courtesy of Sarah Wilkinson. The main upset of the day was when favourites Den Bosch went behind to a goal from the Berliner skipper, Birgit Borkman shortly after the re-start from half-time. Until then the Dutch defence had seemed an almost impenetrable wall of yellow and white. This reverse seemed – and not for the first time in the tournament – to spark Den Bosch into action, and three penalty corner strikes from Booije, Vorstenbosch, and Donners killed off any chance of the host club getting into the final. Bonnagrass Grove, Ritm Grodno, Pegasus and Terrassa now go into the relegation stages of this competition, whilst Berliner will play Ata Sports for the bronze medal and Canterbury will meet Den Bosch in the final.

Cannock finished fifth in the men’s version of the competition which finished yesterday (Sunday). They beat Stroitel Brest by a massive 10-0 and there is irony in the fact that Cannock have scored a total of 25 goals in two matches and yet finished playing off in the relegation area.

ATA WAY TO DO IT, by Peter Savage at the Women's European Club Championships in Berlin

Mystery solved. Ata Sport are good. Canterbury are better. It was some energetic and imaginative play that broke down the team from Azerbaidschan’s close marking, and despite some early scares in the first half, Canterbury looked much the better side. Canterbury initially concentrated on gaining territorial advantage before going onto the offensive. Cathy Gilliat-Smith shaved the near post with a well taken shot after ten minutes and it soon became clear that a Canterbury goal was only a matter of time. It was Gilliat-Smith who was on target fifteen minutes later when Jenny Wilson made one of her trademark passes from the right and Gilliat-Smith calmly struck the ball home. In the second half Gilliat-Smith was again on the score sheet when she collected a pass from Nikki Triggs on the twenty-five and drifted the ball into the Azerbaidschan goal. You could have been forgiven for thinking that the Houslop sisters were not the only twins on the pitch. Mel Clewlow seemed to be everywhere, and it was a Clewlow corner that gave Canterbury their third goal. At previous corners Clewlow had dummied the ball and then laid it off to her left. This time she just struck it first time. Fominova in the Ata goal was substituted shortly afterwards. Final score 3-0 to Canterbury. Players of the match were again undoubtedly Clewlow and Wilson, but Gilliat-Smith effectiveness in front of goal and Jenny Milne’s running on the right wing made this a comprehensive victory for the Kent team. They will almost certainly meet Den Bosch in the final, but whatever happens tomorrow the girls from Kent have acquitted themselves with honour today.

ROUND-UP FROM SATURDAY'S MATCHES IN BERLIN

Canterbury’s fortunes as they went into day two of the Women’s European Club Championships in Berlin relied heavily on the Scots beating their opponents from Azerbaidchan. A win for Bonagrass Grove would have left three teams on three points with the prospect of Canterbury winning their remaining two games and thus a ticket to the final. But the Scots seemed to have no strategy for dealing with their opponent’s close marking and too many defensive retreats turned into routs as the Scots were robbed of possession in their own half. An early goal by the Ata Sports skipper, Zeynab Nuriyeva, put the Scots onto the back foot, and a second half penalty stroke left Grove without a point from their two matches. As reported yesterday, Canterbury put on a fine performance against Ritm Grodno to take six points from two matches. Canterbury meet Ata Sports in the final Pool B game tomorrow. A win or a draw will see Canterbury through to the final. The question everyone is asking is whether the team from Azerbaidchan is good, or whether their opposition has been poor. We will find out later today.

In Pool A the host club were made to look very ordinary by the Irish side Pegasus, the two teams only separated by a goal from Berliner’s Annika Melchert. The other Pool A match was between the tournament favourites, ‘sHertogenbosch and the Spanish side CD Terrassa. The match might have been a foregone conclusion – many of the Dutch supporters stayed in the clubhouse out of the rain – but this enterprising Spanish side gave their opponents a scare by scoring an equaliser in the 15^th minute. The Dutch then stepped on the gas pedal and their supporters took to the terraces, and soon they were dominating the game. A moment of controversy – in the 39^th minute a corner strike by Donners hit the back of the net a foot above the backboard. After heated Spanish protests the umpires conferred but the goal remained, much to the disgust of the Terrassa supporters in the stands. Viewing the video afterwards it seemed as if the ball had struck a defender’s stick during its flight towards goal, and so the umpires appear to have been right. Final score; 5-1 to Den Bosch. With no points from two matches Terressa will find themselves playing to keep Spain in next years tournament in the classification matches on Monday. On what I have seen so far they deserve better.

Later today Den Bosch meet the out-of –form host club, Berliner, for which the Dutch must surely be favourites. Just how good Ata Sport is something which Canterbury will discover at 11:00 GMT today.

Back in England, Cannock have had the rare experience in recent years of not being amongst the front runners in a competition. Drawing 2-2 against Athletic Terrassa yesterday, they finish their pool matches in third place and play Stroitel Brest this morning. The losing team's nation is relegated out of next year's tournment, possibly the last before the introduction of a European Club's League.

SCOTS GIVE CANTERBURY'S SILVER LINING A CLOUD, by Peter Savage in Berlin.

Canterbury were on top form for their second Pool B match of the Women’s European Club Championships here in Berlin this afternoon. They played Ritm Grodno from Belarus and despite Canterbury’s dominance goals were hard to come by. It took twenty-five minutes of almost continuous pressure by the Kent side to eventually find the net, courtesy of a penalty corner conversion by Laura Gittings. Canterbury continued to exert pressure but it took 17minutes of second half play for the second goal to come, this time by a penalty corner goal by Jenny Wilson. Wilson had an outstanding game and it was her who had a hand in the third goal. Her cross from the right was met in the circle by a melee of players, but somehow Cathy Gilliat-Smith was able to get enough of a touch on the ball to send it into the Belarus net. Final score 3-0 to Canterbury. An all-round team effort, but the player of the match for me was Canterbury’s England player, Mel Clewlow, who played a relaxed and confident game. I have seldom seen her play better.

Canterbury’s day was somewhat spoilt by the failure of the Scots from Bonagrass Grove to overcome Ata Sport. It was a game that was lost rather than won, but it puts the team from Azerbaidschan into a head-to-head with Canterbury tomorrow for a place in Monday’s final.

Today’s play has been mainly in torrential rain and the availability of photographs from the Canterbury match looks poor. Please check this blog tomorrow for updates.

ROUND-UP FROM FRIDAY'S EUROPEAN CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS IN BERLIN, by Peter Savage

As reported yesterday, Canterbury got off to a good start in their European Club Championship campaign with a 2-1 victory over the Scots of Bonagrass Grove, the winning goal scored in the closing minutes by 16 year old Susannah Townsend. Canterbury go joint top of Pool B with Ata Sport, the team from Azerbidschan, who saw off Ritm Grodno from Belarus in an evenly fought contest. Canterbury play Ritm Grodno later today (3/6/06). As expected, Dutch side ‘sHertogenbosch, look set to dominate Pool A. Despite a plucky performance by Pegasus, the Irish representatives, they were seen off by a hat-trick by Maartje Paumen, and goals by Janneke Shopman and captain Mijntje Donners. Final score, 6-0 to the Dutch. The host side Berliner, without their star player Natasha Keller, made hard work against a very lively Spanish team from Deportivo Terrassa. An early goal by Lea Loitsche was soon cancelled out by a penalty corner conversion by the Spanish No 12, Marcela Mosovich. The score remained at 1-1 until Berliner were awarded a penalty corner with three minutes left on the clock. The conversion by Franziska Stern set Berliner up for a potential place in the final when they play ‘sHertogenbosch on Sunday. However, the Dutch side, with players of the quality of Paumen, Donners and Booij, already look like gold medal winners. Off the pitch, former English Hockey League umpire Margaret Hunnaball, who is attending the tournament as a trainee umpire manager, had a mishap as she alighted from the bus on her arrival at the ground. Breaking her wrist in the fall, she later arrived at the ground bandaged, “sore”, but in good spirits.

Later today Canterbury play Ritm Grodno is their second Pool B match. The Scots should overcome Ata, and a victory by Canterbury would leave them as the only team in the pool on six points.

Meanwhile, Cannock managed to recover from Thursday's setback in Men's European Club Championship when the host club put fifteen passed Slavia Praha yesterday. Final score 15-2 to Cannock.

CANNOCK FALL AT THE FIRST FENCE.

Cannock had a dissappointing start to their European Club Championships at home yesterday (1/6/06), losing 3-4 to polish side Pocztowiec.

TOUGH SCOTS GIVE CANTERBURY DIFFICULT START by Peter Savage in Berlin

This was the game that Canterbury had to win to stand any chance of qualifying for the final of the European Club Championships on Monday. The Scots of Bonagrass Grove have shown themselves difficult opponents when playing English opposition and today was no exception. Some sloppy marking in defence allowed Ainsa Robertson to latch onto a speculative pass, which she netted at full stetch with only five minutes on the clock. But Canterbury are at their best when the going gets tough, and ten minutes later Cathy Gilliat-Smith picked up a loose pass in the Scots defence and cooly slotted it passed Debbie McCleod in the Bonagrass Grove goal. Never a team not to keep us on the edge of our seats, Canterbury left it until the last three minutes to wrap the game up with a goal from Susannah Townsend in the last three minutes after a period of increasing pressure on the Scots defence. Tomorrow's match is against Ritm Grodno of Belarus.

A photograph from today's match will appear on our blog tomorrow.