GB COMPLETE PRACTICE MATCH VICTORIES IN HONG KONG

Great Britain played their second practice match against New Zealand in front of a packed ground at the Hong Kong Football Club earlier today. GB went into the second half 2-1 up after late first half goals from Barry Middleton and Simon Mantell. The Kiwis managed an equaliser five minutes after the break after Ryan Archibald (pictured) scored his second of the match. Simon Mantell scored his second and gave GB the win a few minutes later. Final score 3-2 to GB.

It looks as if NZ will start their Olympic campaign with two of their squad still serving out the remains of a suspension. They had hoped to make these matches official tests so that the players concerned could use up the balance of their suspension.

GREAT BRITAIN WIN PRACTICE MATCH AGAINST BLACKSTICKS

Ashley Jackson and Niall Stott scored second half goals in a practice match against New Zealand in Hong Kong earlier today. The Blacksticks Ben Collier opened the scoring in a first half which Great Britain coach Jason Lee described his sides performance as "appalling". Final score: NZ 1 GB 2.

Great Britain play New Zealand again on Thursday.

GB WIN TRAINING GAME

Great Britain's women overcame New Zealand in a training match played in humid conditions at the Hong Kong Football Club earlier today. A goal in the first half from Charlotte Craddock was followed by a second half goal by Bowdon Hightown's Jo Ellis. Both the travelling reserves, goalkeeper Katy Roberts and Scotland's Laura Bartlett, came off the bench to take part in this match. In the Olympics proper, both will have to live outside of the athletes village unless they are used to replace an injured member of the squad.

NZ KEEN TO PLAY GB by Pat Rowley

Great Britain have been asked to upgrade their women’s team’s practice match against New Zealand in Hong Kong tomorrow to a full international.New Zealand are keen to play two full internationals in Hong Kong because two of their players are under two match suspensions and they don’t want to have to play without them at the Olympic Games. The two players missed New Zealand’s match against Hong Kong which the Kiwis won 8-0 on Friday.

Great Britain’s teams are in a holding camp at Macau for acclimatisation before the Olympics, The men’s team are also scheduled to play New Zealand, twice in practice games this week

ENGLAND WOMEN SECURE EURO BRONZE

Neither final in the EuroHockey Junior Nations Championships could be settled in ordinary time in Spain this afternoon. England’s women managed a bronze medal in Valencia after overcoming Belarus 5-2, despite going into the break two goals behind. The Championship was won by Germany after their match against The Netherlands finished at 1-1 and went into golden goal extra time. The men’s final between Spain and The Netherlands ended in Spain’s favour after a goalless 70 minutes followed by golden goal extra time. The bronze was taken by Germany who beat Belgium 4-3. England’s play-off against Poland to decide fifth place saw England put six passed Poland. Final score 6-1.

ENGLAND FAIL TO REACH EURO FINAL

England’s women lost their semi final match in the EuroHockey Junior Nations Championships in Valencia this afternoon, going down 5-1 to Germany. England now face Belarus in the bronze medal play-off tomorrow. The other finalist will be The Netherlands, who beat Belarus 6-0. In the men’s version of the competition, being held in San Sebastian, England beat Scotland 2-1 in what is sometimes referred to as the ‘relegation league’. This result puts them at the top of the bottom four in the tournament. They play Poland tomorrow to decide who takes the fifth place overall in the competition. The men’s final will be between Spain and the winner of the semi final between the Netherlands and Germany.

ENGLAND WOMEN IN SEMI FINAL

After yesterday’s setback, England’s men managed a comfortable 8-1 win against Austria in the European Junior Nations Championships in San Sebastian, Spain, this afternoon. In the other Group A match, the Netherlands beat Spain 7-3. The current table puts the Dutch out in front, undefeated after three matches, followed by Spain (6 pts), with England in third place.

The England scorers in the match against the Netherlands on Tuesday were Marc Edwards and Richard Smith.

Tomorrow is a rest day. England will next be in action on Saturday when they play Scotland in the 3rd/4th place crossover. Scotland played their last pool match this afternoon, losing to Poland 3-2.
England’s women gave Italy a 6-0 thumping in the women’s championships in Valencia. They finish top of their group and will play Germany in the semi final on Saturday.

ENGLAND HUMILIATED BY DUTCH IN EURO TOURNAMENT

England’s men suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Netherlands today in the EuroHockey Junior Nations Championships in San Sebastian (Spain). 7-1 down at half time, they were able to stem the tide in the second half with a final score of 9-2. In the other Pool A match, Spain beat Austria 5-2. England play Austria tomorrow.

Pool A rankings: 1. Netherlands, 2. Spain, 3. England, 4. Austria.

England’s women, who are leading their pool in the women’s version of the tournament in Valencia, did not play today. They see action against Italy tomorrow. England’s scorer in the 1-1 draw against Belarus yesterday was Katie Long.

ENGLAND WOMEN RETAIN LEAD IN EURO POOL

England's women could only draw against Belarus in the second day of the EuroHockey Junior Nations Championships in Valencia this afternoon. However, the 1-1 result keeps them at the top of Pool B. In the other match in the pool, Lithuania beat Italy 1-0 to move into second place. Further details will appear on our blog later tomorrow (Tuesday). England are next in action on Wednesday, when they play Italy.

There was no action in Pool A in the Men's Junior Championships in San Sebastian. In Pool B Germany were involved in a high scoring match against Poland, which they won 8-1. Scotland held a 20 minute lead in their match against Belgium but lost out to a 61st minute goal. Final score 2-2. England play the Netherlands tomorrow.

BRAY'S HAT TRICK GIVES ENGLAND FIRST DAY WIN

Trojan’s Sophie Bray was on target for the England U21 women as she scored a hat trick in the match against Lithuania on the opening day of the EuroHockey Junior Nations Championship in Valencia yesterday. Bray (pictured) managed to find the net in open play with a regularity you could have set your watch by, scoring in the 7th, 14th and 21st minutes. Nicola White and Dilly Newton made it five for England for no reply. The other Pool B match played today, between Italy and Belarus, ended in a 2-2 draw. Pool A, which might rightly claim to be the pool of death, saw Germany beat Belgium 3-2, and the Netherlands beat Spain 7-1.

England play again this afternoon when they meet Belarus.

ENGLAND GO DOWN IN JUNIOR NATIONS OPENER

England got off to a disappointing start to the men's Junior Nations Championship in San Sebastian (Spain) by going down 1-0 to the host nation in their opening Pool A match. Scotland in Pool B managed a useful 2-2 draw against Germany. The other match in Pool A went to double figures as the Netherlands gave Austria a 15-0 drubbing. In the other match today Belgium beat Poland 4-3.
Pool A table after first day of play: 1. Netherlands 3 pts (+15), 2. Spain 3 pts (+1), 3. England 0 pts (-1) 4. Austria 0 pts (-15).

England next play on Tuesday when they meet the Netherlands.

SPAIN ESCAPE OLYMPIC BAN

The Intenational Hockey Federation (FIH) announced on Friday that Spain will not face any sanctions following the positive doping tests carried out on two of its players at the Olympic Qualifier in Baku in April. Following a hearing of the FIH Judicial Commission an announcement was made that Gloria Comerma (pictured) was in violation of an anti-doping rule but that it had been established that there was no fault or negligence on her part. In respect of a second, but so-far unnamed Spanish player, it was found that no anti doping rule violation had been committed.

For further news and comment see our on-line magazine, HockeyTalk, which is available from our main site (www.talkhockeyradio.co.uk) from Thursday (24/7/08)

GB IN GOOD HEART DESPITE DEFEAT by Peter Colwill in Boom

In their final match before travelling to the Olympics, Britain lost the second game against Belgium. Despite playing some superb attacking hockey in the second half, which brought them an equaliser to John-john Dohmen’s 10th minute strike, Belgium scored twice in the last nine minutes.

Ashley Jackson came close to scoring from Britain’s first penalty corner but was denied by defender Patrice Houssein who hooked the ball out from under the cross bar. Britain’s only other corner was more fruitful. A slipped pass set up James Tindall (pictured) who finished decisively. Belgium’s second goal came from a hotly disputed penalty corner when it appeared that Jon Bleby was fouled. Jerome Dekeyser scored from a direct shot. In the final minute Cerdic Charlier scored Belgium’s third with Britain fully extended.

In spite of this defeat in the second of their training games, Britain should leave on Wednesday for the Games in good heart.

STEPHEN DICK INJURED IN PRACTICE MATCH by Peter Colwill in Boom, Belgium

In an unofficial match played 18 a side, with local umpires, one of whom was recruited at short notice delaying the start of the game by 15 minutes, Great Britain scraped a draw with an equaliser six minutes from time by James Tindall from an opening created by Richard Alexander. Belgium had led from the 12th minute when Thomas Briels receiving a free hit outside the circle drove through the packed British defence and smashed the ball through Alistair McGregor’s legs. Britain showed little penetration until the 32nd minute when Barry Middleton produced a stunning shot well saved by Cedric DeGreve. Four penalty corners produced no dividends. Richard Mantell had three shots saved and Ashley Jackson put one wide. Rob Moore might have stolen a win for Britain with three minutes left but his diving effort was well saved by DeGreve.

In a match with a surprisingly high number of nasty challenges given the proximity of the Olympics, the worst incident was an off the ball challenge on Stephen Dick (pictured) early in the game which, although leaving him off the pitch for the rest of the match with a bruised cheek needing stitches, did not result in a more serious injury. The teams meet again tomorrow evening (Friday).

GB WOMEN WIN TRAINING MATCH AGAINST SPAIN

Great Britain played a training match against Spain earlier today (Tuesday). This is their last game before the squad head out to their holding camp prior to the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Great Britain's Mel Clewlow (pictured) was the only scorer in the match, which GB won 1-0.

ENGLAND IN EUROPEAN ACTION

England U21 and U16 squads were in action over the weekend. On Saturday England’s U21 men played the third and final test match against Belgium U21. Alastair Brogdon scored from open play in the opening minutes but the lead was wiped out by a Belgian penalty stroke in the 26th minute. Two goals in the closing stages of the first half, one from Jon Kinder from a penalty corner and the other from Peter Dobson in open play, enabled England to take a 3-1 lead into the second half. Jon Kinder scored his second just after the restart to give England a well-deserved 4-1 win. England lost the series 2-4, 2-3, 4-1.

In the EuroHockey Youth Nations Championships in The Hague on Sunday, England’s U16 girls were beaten 2-1 in the final by the Netherlands to take the silver medal. England had got off to a cracking start when Holly Brown converted a penalty corner in the second minute but a Dutch goal in each half gave a final score of 2-1 in favour of the hosts. The previous day England had reached the final via a super match against Spain, with goals from Holly Brown, Kate Maxie, Chloe Hunnable and Sophie Crosley. Final score 4-0. Final ranking: 1. Netherlands, 2. England, 3. Spain, 4. Ireland, 5. Belgium, 6. Czech Republic, 7. Lithuania, 8. Italy. England’s U16 boys did not fair as well as the girls, after finishing 3rd in their pool but managing to top the relegation pool and secure a final 5th place. Final ranking: 1. Netherlands, 2. Belgium, 3. Spain, 4. Russia, 5. England, 6 Ireland, 7. Austria, 8. Italy.

GB WOMEN PLAY LAST OFFICIAL MATCH

This must have been a doubly difficult match for Spain, as they await the outcome of the doping investigation that could well result in them being banned from this Summer’s Olympics. But no such worries for Great Britain’s women as they played their last official match before they fly off to their holding camp in Macau. Not that Spain gave them an easy game. Raquel Huercas gave Spain a fourth minute lead from a penalty corner and Spain retained the lead until an Alex Danson cross was deflected into the net by Jo Ellis (the Bowdon Hightown version).

It was Helen Richardson (pictured) who was GB’s match winner in the second half, first stopping a penalty corner that had gone wide of Katy Roberts in the GB goal and then, four minutes later, with a 30 metre run into the Spanish circle and a shot that beat Maria Rosa in the Spanish goal. Final socre 2-1 to GB.

Great Britain will remain in Terrassa to play in an unofficial match against Spain tomorrow (Tuesday)

OUR APOLOGIES FOR A RESTRICTED NEWS SERVICE OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS. THIS HAS BEEN CAUSED BY PORTING OVER DATA TO A NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM IN READINESS FOR THE OLYMPICS AND THE 2008-2009 SEASON.

CHARLESWORTH THROWS INTHE TOWEL

It will come as no surprise to listeners to TalkHockeyRadio to hear that Ric Charlesworth has resigned his post as technical director of Indian Hockey. It was a cagey Charlesworth that was interviewed by Susan Edghill at the recent Champions Trophy in Rotterdam where he made some thinly veiled comments about the set up he was dealing with in India.

Charlesworth had taken up his appointment as part of an initiative by the International Hockey Federation to revive the fortunes of Indian Hockey.

The interview with Charlesworth is available in the July edition of TalkHockeyRadio, available at www.talkhockeyradio.co.uk.

LEE NAMES HIS MAN

The captaincy of the GB men's squad to travel to Beijing has been settled with the appointment of Surbiton's Ben Hawes. Hawes was formerly the joint captain of the England side.

The question of whom was going to captain the side has been the subject of speculation for some weeks, with GB Head Coach Jason Lee arguing that the early announcement of a captain was not important. 27 year old Hawes has captained GB before and took the skipper's armband for the vital Olympic qualifier against India in Chile earlier this year.

ENGLAND U18 AND U21 SQUADS IN WEEKEND ACTION

England men's U18 and U21 squads were in action over the weekend. In Torun, Poland, England's U18 played Germany on Saturday and won 2-1 with goals from Dominic Bowden and Peter Jackson, both goals coming from penalty corners. The following day the two sides met again and this time England were on the wrong end of a 4-1 reverse, the England goal scored by Bowden.

The U21s had less luck, suffering two heavy defeats at the hands of Germany in Berlin. James Osborn managed to score in England's 5-1 defeat on Saturday but England could not find the net the following day and went down 5-0.

ENGLAND 'A' LOSE TO FRANCE

England A men played the second of two matches against France at Belle Vue, Manchester, yesterday (Tuesday). The French took a first half two goal lead which they held onto until the 67th minute when Gareth Andrew scored a consolation goal for England. Final score 2-1 to France. In the match between the two nations, played at Belle Vue on Monday, James Kellock scored the only goal of the game, giving England A a 1-0 win.