The Netherlands exacted revenge for yesterday’s defeat with a hat-trick from Maartje Pauman in their 5-0 thrashing of Great Britain in the women’s Four Nations Tournament in Rotterdam this afternoon. An early yellow card for Anne Panter for an overhead stop proved the sign of things to come in this final match of the ladies invitational tournament in Rotterdam. And worse was to come when Rachel Walker (pictured) suffered a broken nose as Great Britain were outclassed in the first half. The Dutch took a 2-0 lead into the break with yet more goals from Maartje Paumen’s stick, the second one a penalty stroke when Helen Richardson stopped the ball with the side of her head following a penalty corner. And it was more of the same in the second half as the Dutch girls finally managed to score from open play with goals from Kelly Jonker and Eefke Muller before another penalty corner strike from Pauman made it 5-0. Only more fine saves from Beth Storry stopped a complete rout. GB rallied in the final ten minutes to earn two penalty corners but the Dutch defence were up to the task of keeping the ball out of their own net. South Africa revenged the defeat of yesterday and beat India 5-1 in the 3 / 4 play-off. South Africa led at half time through goals from captain Marsha Marescia and another from Kathleen Taylor, with a reply from the Indian captain Surinder Kaur. But in the second half South Africa took control and eased to the win with further goals from Vida Ryan (2) and Jennifer Wilson.
Janneke Schopman was voted Best Player of the tournament, with India’s Rani Devi voted the Most Promising player. The leading goal scorer, not surprisingly, Maartje Paumen with 7 goals.
MEN’S CHAMPIONS TROPHY
Spain raced to an early lead against Germany when they scored through Pol Amat after only twelve seconds, one of the fastest goals ever scored in the Champions Trophy, and without a German touching the ball. The remainder of the first half saw pressure from both sides and a number of chances but the score remained at 1-0 at half time. Germany came out fighting in the second half and earned an early penalty corner but they failed to score and a moment later the defence let in Spain and David Alegre for his third goal of the tournament and Spain’s second. Two minutes later and Spain ‘s first penalty corner of the half was converted by Santi Freixa, now Spain’s all-time top scorer in the Champions Trophy, to give Spain a 3-0 lead, and final score. They will now play Australia in Sunday’s final and Germany will play South Korea for the wooden spoon.
Australia needed a win against the Netherlands to ensure their place in the final and they did so, but only in the final ten minutes. After five minutes a fine run by Laurence Docherty led to the Netherlands first penalty corner and they took the lead through Geert-Jan Derikx. But right on half time Australia equalised through Grant Schubert and then took the lead in the second half through another Jamie Dwyer special. There were a number of chances for both sides but it was The Netherlands who equalised with fifteen minutes to go through Jeroen Hetzberger. The final say though went to Travis Brooks when he netted after a mistake by the Dutch defence to give Australia the win and a final against Spain.
Tomorrow Germany take on South Korea for 5/6 place, The Netherlands take on Argentina for 3 / 4 place and Spain face Australia for the final.
The Netherlands exacted revenge for yesterday’s defeat with a hat-trick from Maartje Pauman in their 5-0 thrashing of Great Britain in the women’s Four Nations Tournament in Rotterdam this afternoon. An early yellow card for Anne Panter for an overhead stop proved the sign of things to come in this final match of the ladies invitational tournament in 