Irish Men's League results

In Pool A With a match still to go (Banbridge v Instonians 7pm), Pembroke sit at the top of the table after a 3-0 win over Cork Harlequins. Corinthian and Monkstown hang onto 3rd & 4th place respectively after sharing the spoils of a 2 all draw this evening.

In Pool B Lisnagarvey secured the spot at the top of the table with a 3-1 win over fellow Ulstermen Cookstown. Cork C of I are right on their tails on five points with thanks to a 4-3 win over Annadale, while Glenanne found their winning ways once again putting in 4 goals against Three Rock's 3 in a fast paced thriller.

POOL A

Pembroke Wanderers 3 v 0 Cork Harlequins 2010-01-23 15:00
No Venue | Irish Men's Hockey League Pool A (Mens) | Match Report(s)

Monkstown 2 v 2 Corinthian 2010-01-23 16:30
No Venue | Irish Men's Hockey League Pool A (Mens) | Match Report(s)

Banbridge v Instonians 2010-01-23 19:00
No Venue | Irish Men's Hockey League Pool A (Mens) | Match Report(s)

POOL B

C of I A 4 v 3 Annadale 2010-01-23 14:30
No Venue | Irish Men's Hockey League Pool B (Mens) | Match Report(s)

Cookstown 1 v 3 Lisnagarvey 2010-01-23 14:30
No Venue | Irish Men's Hockey League Pool B (Mens) | Match Report(s)

Three Rock Rovers 3 v 4 Glenanne 2010-01-23 16:00
No Venue | Irish Men's Hockey League Pool B (Mens) | Match Report(s)

Ireland's Woman train in Spain

Ireland’s Women’s hockey team boarded the plane to Alicante on Friday 22nd February, to commence a week long training camp as they continue to build towards their World Cup Qualifier taking place in Chile from 24th April-3rd May.

Coach Gene Muller is clearly looking forward to the camp which will afford the squad quality and intense training time “Our WCQ preparations kick off with a week-long training camp in Alicante. This affords us the opportunity to train without distraction and competing demands for a week. We have settled on a World Cup Qualifier squad of 24 players so for these players the hard work is just beginning. We have a series of short competition events after we return from Spain which does not include a large training component, so this makes our time in Spain event more significant.”

Ireland will continue their preparations building up ample match practice in the next month. First off they play a double header against Belgium in Nivelles from the 5th-7th February, just two weeks later Ireland head to Bisham where they will play three test games against England from the 21st-24th February. The squad will not have much of a reprieve as a week later they will head to Nice, France to compete in the Senior Celtic Cup.

It is expected that Gene Muller will announce his World Cup Qualifier a week after the Celtic Cup.

http://www.ne14hockey.co.uk/article/irelands-woman-train-in-spain/1292/

http://ne14hockey.wordpress.com/2010/01/24/irelands-woman-train-in-spain/

Craig Parnham joins Elite Coaching Programme

Great Britain hockey coach Craig Parnham has been selected to take part in UK Sport’s new Elite Coaching Apprenticeship Programme.

The Elite Coaching Apprenticeship Programme (ECAP) has been designed for coaches not currently leading a national programme in their sport but who have been identified as having the potential to lead an Olympic programme in the future.

Congratulating Craig on his acceptance onto the programme, Great Britain Performance Director David Faulkner said, “We are all delighted that Craig’s potential has been recognised by UK Sport after a robust and thorough selection process. He is a highly regarded coach in the Great Britain and England set ups and now has an opportunity to develop that potential in the programme.”

An Assistant Coach to Danny Kerry for Great Britain and England, Parnham, 36, is also the Head Coach to the England Under 21 women’s team, whom he led to their best ever finish at a Junior World Cup in August 2009 when they finished fourth in Boston.

Parnham will be supported in the programme by Great Britain Head Coach Kerry. UK Sport’s Alan Olive will act as his mentor.

The ECAP is a two year programme during which time participants undertake personal development workshops specific to supporting them and their development requirements. It builds on the success of the Elite Coach programme, which began in 2004, and which Parnham’s fellow Great Britain coaches Karen Brown, Danny Kerry, Jason Lee and Bobby Crutchley have all either completed or are in the process of completing this year.



http://www.ne14hockey.co.uk/article/craig-parnham-joins-elite-coaching-programme/1291/

http://ne14hockey.wordpress.com/2010/01/24/craig-parnham-joins-elite-coaching-programme/

Scotland Women on the brink of Indoor relegation

Scotland have lost 3 of their 4 games in Germany and now must beat Poland in their last match of the weekend if they are to retain their A Division Indoor status.

It all started so well on Friday with a 5-2 win against Lithuania.. The Scots then lost to hosts Germany later that afternoon by the same score and hopes of a semi final spot were dashed when Ukraine beat them 6-4 on Saturday morning in the last pool match.

This put Scotland into the relegation pool and the first game was lost 4-2 to Belarus. They must now beat Poland to avoid finishing in the bottom two and being relegated to the trophy competition next time.

http://www.ne14hockey.co.uk/article/scotland-women-on-the-brink-of-indoor-relegation/1290/

http://ne14hockey.wordpress.com/2010/01/24/scotland-women-on-the-brink-of-indoor-relegation/

SealSkinz Spot the Ball - 6 Weeks Now Open

Week 6 is now open - the first 5 weeks are all still open which gives you 6 chances to win waterproof sports gear (socks, gloves or hats) suitable for field hockey, football, rugby, golf or watching from the stands.

Englands Women also win in France

England won the EuroHockey Indoor Nations Challenge in Rouen on Sunday morning after defeating Turkey, who finish bottom of the division, by ten goals. The result means that England has achieved its target or securing promotion to the 2011 Trophy division.

It was another commanding performance by the English whose goals were scored by six different scorers including a hat-trick from Beckie Herbert and one from 19 year old Georgie Twigg. Chloe Rogers, Susie Gilbert, Kerry Williams and Natalie Seymour also found the target for England who won the match 10-0.

England Head Coach Nick Clark said afterwards that he felt the team had earned its reward after a series of consistent performances: “We’re delighted,” he said. “The girls have thoroughly deserved this reward from the way they have played across the weekend. The highlight of the weekend was probably beating France 7-0 on Friday, although as I said at the time it wasn’t really a 7-0 game. The fact that we’ve only conceded three goals all tournament is particularly pleasing and reflects the strength of the team. We will look forward to playing in the Trophy in two years time.”

The win means that England have achieved exactly what they set out to do - sealing promotion to the EuroHockey Indoor Nations Trophy in 2011.

Courtesy of England Hockey

Final rankings:

1st England (promoted)
2nd France (promoted)
3rd Sweden
4th Croatia
5th Wales
6th Turkey

England win Indoor promotion and World Cup place

England will play in the top tier of European indoor hockey in two years time after a thrilling victory over Sweden in their final EuroHockey Indoor Nations Trophy match in Poznan on Sunday. Switzerland will also join England in the Championship in 2012 after finishing level with Poland; they are promoted on account of their win over the Poles. The victory over Sweden, coupled with Switzerland’s 4-2 win over Poland, means that England have also qualified for the 2011 Indoor World Cup in Poznan, just over two years after returning to international indoor hockey at the very lowest level.

There was even more reason to celebrate at the culmination of the tournament on Sunday afternoon when England goalkeeper Nick Brothers was awarded the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award and teammate Ashley Jackson won the Player of the Tournament trophy.

Going into their final match in Poland, Sweden and England, both of whom were promoted two years ago after finishing first and second in the Challenge at Ponds Forge in Sheffield, were gunning for a second consecutive promotion. Anything less than an English win would hand promotion to the Swedes, while England required a victory and a goal difference swing of three goals to reach the 2011 EuroHockey Indoor Nations Championship.

Knowing they required goals, England were the quicker out of the traps and with Sweden content to sit deep it was the English who created the best chances of the opening five minutes. However, it looked as though the frustrations of Saturday would continue when three English chances came and went without the deadlock being broken.

Jonas Bjorkman then stunned England by giving Sweden the opening goal on eight minutes but England rallied strongly with three goals in the final five minutes of the first half to go in 3-1 up at the break. Reading’s Jonty Clarke equalised in the 15th minute and in the final minute of the half Loughborough Students’ Richard Smith and England captain Richard Mantell both netted, the former from a penalty corner, to put England in front.

The second half was somewhat eventful as England began to take their chances but rode their luck at times. It seemed to be going to plan when Smith scored his second, this time from open play, but just before the half hour mark Christopher Hellstrand pulled one back for Sweden. There then followed a match turning moment when Sweden were awarded a penalty stroke. Reading goalkeeper Nick Brothers saved the Swedish effort and England immediately countered, charging upfield where Clarke was on hand to knock home his second of the match and his fifth of the tournament to put England 5-2 up.

As Sweden could see their grasp on promotion slipping away they upped the intensity and England were grateful to Brothers for a series of outstanding saves. With five minutes remaining even Brothers was watching as Sweden hit the post but England survived the scare and pressed forward again. Richard Smith rounded off the scoring in the 37th minute with his hat-trick goal from an England break and despite Sweden replacing their goalkeeper with a sixth outfield player England held on to win by four goals and secure promotion to the Championship division.

Speaking afterwards, Head Coach Andy Halliday told how he always believed England could secure promotion going into the final match: “We had a disappointing day yesterday but deep down I knew we could beat Sweden by three goals today,” he said. “It’s a tremendous achievement for us but one that we thoroughly deserve because we stuck at it. We have found it difficult at times to break down the defensive zones we have come up against but today we were much more creative.”

After watching Switzerland beating Poland 4-2, a scoreline that handed England a first ever Indoor World Cup place Halliday said, “Qualification is another great lift in what has been an excellent year for the England senior men’s group.”

The third Indoor World Cup will take place from 8-13 February 2011 in Poznan, Poland.

Courtesy of England Hockey

Scotland Squad for European Indoor

The final 12 representing Scotland at the men’s EuroHockey Nations Indoor Trophy in Poznan, Poland 15-17 January 2010 have been named by head coach Russell Garcia today.

“After a brief build up programme and training sessions this weekend we’ve put together a comprehensive final squad. There is a good mix in this squad, with six outdoor players and six indoor specialists, and a really strong team spirit. Due to circumstances, we weren’t able to play a tournament or many competitive matches before the Trophy, and recent weather conditions have disrupted training, but the guys are keen to make the effort and go for it,” explained Garcia.

Despite some setbacks, including David and Allan Forsyth (Kelburne) falling out of the line up due to injury, Garcia is focused on progress made: “Technically we’ve moved on from where we started and we’ve developed further tactics. This is a good group of guys.”

The Scots head into the Trophy after racking up two impressive wins over Wales, boasting score lines of 8-3 and 5-1, earlier this month in Perth. However, Scotland, who are currently ranked sixth and two slots ahead of England, have their work cut out for them as they hosted four challenging international matches against their southern neighbours in late December.

No doubt other competitors, such as number one ranked Switzerland, will arrive in Poznan with determination too as an Indoor World Cup qualification spot is up for grabs. The final men’s qualification place, seventh in Europe, will go to the winner of the Trophy. If hosts Poland, who also play host to the Indoor World Cup, qualify as winners of the Trophy, then the second placed team in the competition will take the final qualification position.

Scotland start the Trophy with a double header, taking on hosts Poland at 11:30 (CET) followed by Sweden at 14:45 (CET) on Friday, 15th January. First at the pitch on Saturday, Scotland face the Slovak Republic at 10:50 (CET) before pool stages start that afternoon.

GB Women lose last test in Argentina

Argentina 3 v 1 Great Britain 2009-12-18 20:00

No Venue | Friendly (National Ladies) | Match Report(s)

ARGENTINA: Maccari 19 (PC), Noel Barrionuevo 21, 26 (PC, PC)

GREAT BRITAIN: Crista Cullen 58 (F)

Great Britain’s intensive five match test series against Argentina came to its conclusion on Friday evening with a 3-1 defeat to Las Leonas in Salta. Three penalty corner goals had given the South Americans a comfortable half time lead before Great Britain rallied with an improved second half performance in which Crista Cullen scored, knocking home a loose ball. Shortly after scoring, Cullen received a blow to the face and left the field before travelling to hospital for further medical examination.

After Thursday’s 2-1 win Great Britain’s athletes would have been hoping for more of the same in their final test fixture but the intensive schedule since arriving in Argentina a week ago took its toll.

In a positive opening ten minutes Great Britain created and then squandered two good early chances when quick breaks put them through on the goalkeeper. And GB paid for those unconverted opportunities midway through the half when Maccari scored for Argentina with the aid of a deflection from a penalty corner before the hosts trebled their lead. Following Maccari’s opener, Noel Barrionuevo netted her third and fourth goals of the series with penalty corner drag flicks in the 21st and 26th minutes to effectively put the result beyond Danny Kerry’s young side by half time.

The Head Coach asked his team for more as they returned for the second half and they duly delivered, playing with more determination and control, keeping out Argentina’s attacks and creating opportunities of their own.

Eight minutes into the half Nicola White saw yellow, earning her a five minute suspension but GB were still intent on playing hockey.

Leicester defender Crista Cullen saw her shot from a penalty corner saved at full stretch by Argentina goalkeeper Laura Aladro but later Aladro could do nothing to keep out Cullen’s next effort; Cullen scoring after the ball fell to her in front of goal after good work from Alex Danson.

There then followed a significant stoppage after Cullen took a hefty blow to the face and she left the field of play to be taken to hospital for further treatment.

Late in the game Sally Walton also served a suspension for a yellow card but Argentina failed to capitalise against a resolute GB defensive.

After the match Danny Kerry was disappointed with the way in which his side had played for the opening spell: “If you only play for one half of a hockey match you’ll lose,” he said. “We were rightly behind at halftime. In the second half we got the goal and played better but the damage had already been done.”

Speaking at the conclusion of the week-long test series Kerry added, “Coming to Argentina has certainly been worthwhile. I have found out a lot about the players, such as who has the self motivational skills required to play five intense matches in seven days. I have discovered who can put in the performances, which will certainly help my thinking around selection as we progress towards the London 2012 Olympics.”

Scottish goalkeeper Abi Walker missed today’s match through illness. The squad will now fly home to the UK in time for Christmas. Great Britain’s centralised training programme will resume in February after the domestic indoor season.

GB Women win in Argentina Test

Argentina 1 v 2 Great Britain HT 1-1 | 2009-12-17 18:00
No Venue | Friendly (National Ladies) | Match Report(s)

Scorers

ARGENTINA: Silvina D’Elia 11 (PC)

GREAT BRITAIN: Kate Walsh 23 (PC), Hannah Macleod 51 (F)

Great Britain claimed a well deserved and memorable victory over Argentina in Salta on Thursday evening with goals from Kate Walsh and Hannah Macleod, her first for GB, completing a superb comeback after the hosts had taken the lead in the 11th minute.

The victory is no less than the young Great Britain side deserve having shown marked signs of development over the first four matches in the five test series. Great Britain are ranked seventh in the world (based on the Nominated Country, England’s, position) while Argentina are ranked second.

Throughout the series Las Leonas have won numerous penalty corners and events continued in this vain with the umpire awarding the hosts a set piece in the very first minute of the match. Great Britain have defended corners well though and the danger passed as quickly as it had arrived.

An unsuccessful British corner came and went before Argentina took the lead through Silvina D’Elia in the 11th minute; the goal was her third in three consecutive matches.

Great Britain worked well to get themselves back level midway through the first half when captain Kate Walsh scored from GB’s second corner of the game. The ball to the top of the circle was slipped left twice to Reading’s Walsh who slapped home for the equaliser.

The goal boosted GB who put Argentina under pressure at another corner immediately afterwards but Argentina survived the scare, eventually clearing the loose ball.

Just prior to half time, Walsh’s Reading teammate Helen Richardson had a drag flicked effort well saved by Las Leonas goalkeeper Succi while at the other end GB cleared a Noel Barrionuevo effort.

Into the second half and Great Britain piled on the pressure in search of their first win in the series. Bowdon Hightown defender Sally Walton nearly put the visitors 2-1 ahead in the 42nd minute but she was thwarted by Succi. Then Katie Long’s cross into the circle found Beckie Herbert but she failed to convert.

Two Argentinean corners followed GB’s spell of possession but the defence stood firm. At the other end Alex Danson had a chance inside the circle but shortly after it was Hannah Macleod who scored what would become the winning goal. A quick break down field saw Macleod’s first effort saved by Succi but the clearance rebounded back past her and into the goal to make it 2-1. The goal was the 25 year old Leicester forward’s first for Great Britain.

With just over ten minutes remaining Argentina’s search for an equaliser was not helped by the yellow card shown to goal scorer D’Elia and GB looked to control the match as it entered its final stages.

Even after the return of D’Elia, and with all of the hosts’ players, bar the goalkeeper, in the GB half Great Britain held firm for a memorable and thoroughly deserved victory.

After the match Head Coach Danny Kerry was pleased with the outcome and with the progression his young side had shown in the week since they arrived in South America: “I thought the win reflected the balance of play tonight. It was a very thorough and professional performance and we deserved to win. You can see from the way we played that the young players in particular have learnt a great deal from coming here.”

The fifth and final test takes place at 18:30 local time (21:20 GMT) on Friday.

GB Women win in Argentina Test