Sunday, January 26, 2014

ENGLAND WOMEN FOLLOW MEN IN INDOOR RELEGATION.



England women follow the men in being relegated from the top tier of the European Indoor Championships.

Playing in the Czech capital, Prague, England lost their opening Pool A matches against The Netherlands and the Czechs, 7-0 and 4-1 respectively.  Their third and last Pool match, against Germany, ended 5-3 in favour of the Germans.

England recorded their only win of the tournament when they beat France 3-0 in Pool C (the relegation pool). Their final match ended 3-4 to Belarus, leaving them in seventh place.  They are relegated to the European Indoor Championships II in 2016 along with France, who finished eighth.

The Championships were won by The Netherlands, who beat Germany 0-3 in the Final. It is the first European Indoor Championships won by The Dutch.  Third place was won by Poland, who beat Austria 2-1.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

'MAGIC' MORITZ GIVES GERMANS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS


It seems amazing that a second string German side could contain a player of the quality of Moritz Furste but, like England, the Germans have been at the World League Finals and Furste has been recovering from injury. But you have to hand it to their Austrian opponents in the European Indoor Championships finals here in Vienna. They took the Germans to the wire.

We've seen a lot of time-wasting over the last few days (something which England were not guilty of) but both the Germans and the Austrians looked as if they wanted to play hockey the old fashioned way - lots of attacking and lots of robust defending.

The Germans were in charge for much of the match, with Furste's talents complimented by Richardo Nevado – an indoor natural. But the Austrians had a fair share of attacking play and not a little flair.

The lead swung backwards and forwards between the two sides, with the Germans having a two goal lead with less than two minutes left. It was enough time for Austria's Micheal Korper to score twice, making his compliment in the match four in total.

At 5-5 the match went to a shoot-out and, when the issue went to sudden death, who should step up to score the winning goal? 'Magic' Moritz Furste of course.

Somewhat less entertaining was the match for the bronze medal, which was won by Russia.

And what of England? Their match this morning in the relegation pool was far from their best. You can somehow forgive them that. To have played so well in four matches, only to avoid defeat once, must have had a sapping affect on them. But they were not bad. They were just not as good as they had been on the previous two days.

Just for the record England took an early lead which they built on soon after the second half started. The scorers were Chris Griffiths and Simon Egerton. Unfortunately, England seemed to run out of fresh ideas – and they have been quite innovative at times - and the match ended 2-3 to the Czech Republic.

The result meant that England finished at the bottom of the relegation pool and are now relegated to Championships II.

Photographs from the weekend are on our web site at www.HockeyImages.co.uk.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

SUCCESS IN DEHLI - FAILURE IN VIENNA. A round-up of England's intermational results.


Writing this at the European Indoor Championships in Vienna, where the news is gloomy, we were half expecting some more gloomy news in the form of the outcome of the bronze medal match between England and Australia at the World League Finals in New Delhi. After all, wins against Australia over the course of more than a century have been rare enough.

Our mood was not relieved by the news that Tom Carson's early goal had given England a lead that only lasted three minutes before Australia equalised. But, to our pleasant surprise, captain Barry Middleton found the net in the 54th minute to give England a 2-1 win and a bronze medal at the end of the very first World League season.

Back in Vienna it is difficult to put a cheerful note on England's 6-7 defeat at the hands of Sweden. Sweden, like England, have played well during this tournament, but have struggled to find the knock-out punch against more experienced opponents.

What is probably more galling is that all seven Sweden's goals were scored by one player, Johan Bjorkman. Quite an achievement – it's only a pity that he did not wake up with a cold this morning. England's scorers contained all the usual suspects – Chris Griffiths, Ben Arnold, David Becket and, of course, Sam Ward.

We are informed that there is still a theoretical chance of England avoiding relegation. But with one game left to play tomorrow, do not expect a pig to be stealing an aeroplane any time soon.

Pictures from all England's matches in Vienna are on our sister site at www.HockeyImages.co.uk.

ENGLAND GO DOWN FIGHTING IN VIENNA.

England played their last Pool A match in Vienna this morning against the World Champions, Germany.

This is a bitter-sweet tale because seldom have I seen an indoor team in England colours play as well as this one has, but the record will show three games, one draw and two defeats. And with it, of course, comes finishing bottom of Pool A and the prospect of playing in the relegation league, the first match of which is later today.

The hero of the hour has to be Sam Ward. In this and in the two previous matches he has made us wonder why he is not in Delhi with the full England squad. His four goals, two of them before the Germans could find the net, accounted for half of England's not inconsiderable tally.

It was not until the closing stages of the match that England seemed to lose touch with their opponents. Although they had gone behind 13 minutes into the match, A Chris Griffiths goal brought the sides on even terms at 3-3. The Germans went ahead 5-3, but Ward was able to peg them back to a one goal lead. The German's scored again, but two goals from Simon Egerton and one from Ward put England into a 6-7 lead. These are the World Champions they are playing remember.

The Germans scored twice more to retake the lead. David Becket equalised with three minutes left on the clock. But two more German goals as the time ran out left a final score of 10-8 to the Germans.

England now play Sweden in the first of the relegation pool matches. Russia's pool position means that they qualify for the semi-finals, so England will not have the benefit of the point earned when the two sides met in the Pool. Sweden deserve to share with England the title of unlucky losers. Both sides have played a good tournament, and it will be a difficult match for both sides.

PICTURES OF THE MATCH BETWEEN ENGLAND AND GERMANY ARE AT www.HockeyImages.co.uk.

Friday, January 17, 2014

TODAY IN NEW DELHI AND VIENNA. A round-up of England's matches in the World Leage and the European Indoor Champs.


Today's hockey – in fact this weekend's hockey – is slightly unusual, inasmuch as several European nations are fielding more than one national side.

Let's look at the World League Finals in New Delhi first. Despite all the pre-tournament doubts (and to be frank, the men have been put in the shade by the exploits of England's women in the last few months), there is little doubt that England's performance up until today has been outstanding. With a 100% record from Day One, today's semi final match against New Zealand was a bit of a let-down. After all, England had beaten them only a few days earlier in the Pool.

We are not going to give a blow-by-blow account of the match. Enough to say that after suffering an early set-back, England took a 2-1 lead thanks to goals from Harry Martin and Mark Gleghorne. Unfortunately, New Zealand responded in kind to re-take the lead, and it was left to a Ashley Jackson penalty stroke to save the match for England.

At 3-3 the issue had to be decided on a shoot out. It took all of 20 attempts, 10 by each side, before Phil Burrows beat England's George Pinner to slot home the winning goal. The final shoot-out score 6-7 to New Zealand.

Surprisingly, in view of their recent form, England's opposition for the bronze medals will be Australia, who were beaten 4-3 by The Netherlands in the other semi final.

In common with The Netherlands and Germany, England had another team in action, this one in the European Indoor Championships in Vienna. England has played both The Netherlands and Russia today, and are in third place behind the Germans and The Dutch. Unfortunately, with one game left to play (against the Germans) England look destined to be playing in the relegation pool. This is a pity, because England have played very well, and have given today's opposition a run for their money.

In their opening match against the Dutch, England opened the scoring as early as the third minute, with a goal from Sam Ward. Darren Cheesman scored a second for England, but the Dutch clawed their way back into the match and took a 3-2 lead which they held for only four minutes before Ben Arnold scored an equaliser.

Two more goals from The Dutch gave them a 5-3 lead, but Ward managed to close the difference, only to see his opponents score less than a minute later. Then Simon Egerton scored for England, for the same thing to happen.bb

The final say in the match came from David Beckett who scored as the seconds were running out.

Final score 7-6 to the Dutch, but an England team beaten but not humbled.

The second pool match of the day was between England and Russia, and one sensed that this was the match that England coach Andy Halliday feared most. Unlike the other members of Pool A, Russia was able to send a full strength side.

Halliday's fears seemed to be founded as his side fell 3-0 behind in the first half. But showing huge determination, and not a little character, goals from Chris Griffiths and David Beckett put England back into the match. And then a Russian player did something he may now regret. Arrogantly taunting the English side by performing a spin around the ball, his behaviour resulted in even greater determination on the part of the England side. The debt was collected in the last minute when England was awarded a penalty corner. Sam Ward, who earlier in the match had snatched a ball off the line defending a penalty corner whilst the goalkeeper was on the bench, slotted it home to give England a 3-3 draw.

A draw is not a win, of course, but it was a very creditable performance. Unfortunately the way we approach indoor hockey in England works in a way that would stop Halliday in building this into a truly world-class team. Shame really.

IMAGES FROM ENGLAND'S GAMES IN VIENNA CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.HOCKEYIMAGES.CO.UK.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

ENGLAND REACH WORLD LEAGUE SEMI FINALS.



England men continue their unbeaten record in the World League Finals in New Delhi by beating Belgium 1-0 in their quarter final match.  England’s goal came from a penalty corner in the 47th minute converted by Tom Carson. 

England will meet New Zealand in the semi-finals on Friday.  New Zealand beat the promising Argentines after a shoot out decider. England played the New Zealanders only two days ago in Pool A, beating them 1-5.

The Netherlands beat Germany 2-1 in the other quarter final result. They will meet the winner of the match between Australia and India, the result of which is awaited.

Monday, January 13, 2014

100 PER CENT ENGLAND TOP POOL A. A round-up of today's play in the World League.



England has maintained its 100% record by beating New Zealand in the last of their Pool A matches in the World League Finals in New Delhi.

What showed every sign of being a goalless first half was changed when Ashley Jackson converted a penalty corner five minutes before the end of the half. He returned to the second half with a second after nine minutes. Mark Gelghorne made it 0-3 to England with his penalty corner shot mid-way through the half.

Although Hugo Inglis pulled one back for New Zealand, a brace of goals in open play from England in the last three minutes put the issue beyond doubt. The scorers - Tom Carson and Barry Middleton.

In the other Pool A match there was a surprise 3-3 draw when Germany played India.  It could have been worse for the Germans. India held on to a 2-3 lead for 16 minutes before Thilo Stralkowski scored the equaliser in the closing minutes.

Today’s results mean that England finish top of Pool A, followed by Germany, New Zealand and India.
England will now play Belgium in the Quarter Finals on Wednesday.  Belgium finally came good in their final Pool B match with a 2-2 win against The Netherlands, but a single draw is not enough to lift them off the bottom of the table.  

Argentina’s amazing campaign throughout the World League was slightly derailed when they lost 6-1 to Australia.  However, that leaves them in second place in Pool B behind Australia, separated by goal difference. They will face New Zealand in Wednesday’s quarter-finals. 

Wednesday’s Quarter Finals:
England v Belgium
Germany v Netherlands
Argentina v New Zealand
Australia v India

Sunday, January 12, 2014

SURBITON RETURN TO PREMIER DIVISION. Maxinutrition Indoor Championship Division One final table.



Surbiton make a return to the Premier Division of the Maxinutrition Indoor Championships after finishing their Division One campaign on maximum points this weekend. They are joined by Team Bath Buccaneers who finished as runners-up.  Havant, who failed to pick up a point over the two weekends of the League are relegated, as are Hampstead & Westminster.

Men’s Division One final table: 1. Surbiton, 2. Team Bath Buccaneers, 3. Soutgate, 4. Cannock, 5. Brooklands  MU, 6. Old Loughtonians, 7. Bournville, 8. Hampstead & Westminster, 9. Havant.

A clean sweep on the final weekend of the Women’s Division One resulted in University of Birmingham finishing top of the table with 22 points out of a possible 24.  They are promoted to the Premier Division next season, along with second placed Clifton.  Former Champions, Chelmsford, are relegated after finishing in eighth place.  They finished on four points, one ahead of bottom placed Sevenoaks.

Women’s Division One final table: 1. Uni of Birmingham, 2. Clifton, 3. Surbiton, 4. Buckingham, 5. Bristol Firebrands, 6. Brooklands Poynton, 7. Wakefield, 8. Chelmsford, 9. Sevenoaks.

ENGLAND TOP WORLD LEAGUE POOL. A round-up of results from the World League finals.



England won a noteworthy victory in Pool A of the World League Finals in New Delhi yesterday, beating Germany 2-1, with all the goals coming in the first half. 

Reading’s Tom Carson opened England’s account with a goal from open play. Marco Miltkau equalised seven minutes later, but England had the last word with a penalty corner converted by Ashley Jackson 15 minutes before the half time hooter.

England’s win puts them at the top of Pool A after two matches. Today is a rest day, and England play their next pool match tomorrow (Monday) when they meet New Zealand. 

If the tables remain unchanged England will meet Belgium in the Quarter Finals on Wednesday.  The Belgian’s have not managed to maintain their international form in this tournament and are currently languishing at the bottom of Pool B.  However, there are no easy opponents in Pool B, and whoever England play will be more than a challenging opponent.

The surprise of the whole World League has been Argentina, who continue their run of success in this competition with a 2-5 win over The Netherlands yesterday. They currently top Pool B.

Yesterday’s Results:
England 2 Germany 1
New Zealand 3 India 1
Australia 3 Belgium 2
Netherlands 2 Argentina 5

Pool positions after two matches:
Pool A: 1. England 6 pts (+3), 2. Germany 3 pts (+4), 3. New Zealand 3 pts (-3), 4. India 0 pts (-4).
Pool B: 1. Argentina 6 pts (+4), 2. Australia 3 pts (+0), 3. Netherlands 3 pts (-2), 4. Belgium 0 pts (-2).