Eurohockey Junior Nations Trophy - Women
Prague (CZE), 20th - 26th July 2008
Pool A
Wales
Poland
France
Pool B
Scotland
Russia
Ukraine
Czech Republic
Day 1: Sunday 20 July 2008
| 12:45 | Poland (A) | 2 | France (A) | 3 |
| 15:00 | Scotland (B) | 2 | Czech Rep. (B) | 1 |
| 17:15 | Russia (B) | 0 | Ukraine (B) | 1 |
Day 2: Monday 21 July 2008
| 12:45 | Wales (A) | 0 | France (A) | 3 |
| 15:00 | Scotland (B) | 4 | Ukraine (B) | 1 |
| 17:15 | Russia (B) | 0 | Czech Rep. (B) | 4 |
After watching the other teams kick off their tournament campaigns the previous day, Wales were chomping at the bit to get their Czech Republic experience underway.
Wales took on France in their first game in a rematch of the Celtic Cup clash from 2 weeks previous. With a Welsh win the outcome of the previous game the French were ready to redress the balance in this match. The French needed a point to secure a place in the top four following their win against Poland.
Wales started positively with a counter attack in the 5th minute leading to the French keeper having to make a save. Wales also gained a penalty corner in the 7th minute but the shot was saved. From then on the French took control and following a turnover ball they countered and the striker's shot deflected up off a defender's stick and looped into the top left corner to give the French the lead 0-1. The French had 5 penalty corners awarded throughout the course of the half but were unable to convert. Wales' second corner went just the wrong side of the left post and Sophie Clayton's deflection just before half time went past the right post.
The 2nd half started strongly for the Welsh but the ball hit the post rather than the backboard in the 4th minute. Within ten minute the French were back on top and beating the Welsh players to the ball. The harder the girls tried to push forward the larger the gaps for the French to counter. The French had 3 more penalty corners but it was their counter attacking which brought them more goals. With 2 almost identical plays in the 23rd and 24th minutes, the French scored a further 2 goals to effectively kill the game. Final score 0-3.
The defeat was hard to swallow for the Welsh as a win was needed to try and achieve top spot in the group, and also as they had beaten the French 2 weeks earlier. Turning the hard work into results requires greater consistency and being able to carry out the game plan.
Day 3: Tuesday 22 July 2008
Rest Day
Day 4: Wednesday 23 July 2008
| 12:45 | Wales (A) | 4 | Poland (A) | 8 |
| 15:00 | Scotland (B) | 3 | Russia (B) | 0 |
| 17:15 | Ukraine (B) | 4 | Czech Rep. (B) | 2 |
With a win needed to guarantee a place in the promotion pool, Wales knew they had to start strongly, but unfortunately couldn't. The Polish opened the scoring in the 5th minute following mistakes in the Welsh defence. Wales did respond and came close as Charlotte Rees sent the ball to Sophie Clayton who in turn played Sophie Robinson in. More poor defensive play led to Poland being awarded a further two penalty corners and they converted their 2nd to double their lead.
However, the game really changed when Hannah Richardson received a disputable yellow card just over the half way line, and the Polish scored their 3rd. Within two minutes the Polish had four as the re-organised Welsh defence allowed the opposition attack to run round the back. Wales were awarded a penalty corner but were unable to convert and the Polish finished the half by scoring their 5th.
With their backs against the wall, Wales through caution to the wind in an effort to get a goal back early but were punished heavily when, within the first ten minutes of the second half, saw the Poland scored from three of their four short corners to take the score to 0-8. Thankfully Wales then did dig in and saw Becky Slater drive through midfield passing the ball to Alys Brooks and on to Emma Batten to put the ball in the net, 1-8. With Wales now in the ascendency, two Polish players were yellow carded within a minute and Wales made the difference count with two goals scored. First as Rees sent the ball to Batten and second from a penalty corner as the ball slipped to Clayton found Batten on the line to get her hat-trick. The final Welsh attack saw Angharad Griffiths send the ball the Sianne Robinson who found her sister Sophie and then Batten in the D again for her fourth. Final score 4-8.
A very hard lesson to be learned as the team now has to fight to remain in the division. Two games against Russia and the Czech Republic will determine the final placings.
Day 5: Thursday 24 July 2008
Rest Day
Day 6: Friday 25 July 2008
| 12:45 | Wales (C) | 1 | Russia (C) | 1 |
| 15:00 | SF1 Poland | 1 | Scotland | 4 |
| 17:30 | SF2 France | 1 | Ukraine | 0 |
Wales needed at least a point to keep their campaign alive and started strongly gaining a penalty corner in the first eight minutes. Play from then on was well balanced between the teams with Wales having the majority of possession. In the 20th minute the Welsh were awarded another penalty corner but again the ball went passed the post. Russian indiscipline earned them a yellow card. Unfortunately Wales could not explore the numerical advantage, and came under a little more pressure towards the end. Wales showed character to hold strong until the end of the half.
The second half started with a Welsh attack and were slightly unfortunate to have an opening goal disallowed. After this, the Russians pressured the Welsh and gained two penalty corners in two minutes but were unable to convert. The Welsh attack opened the scoring in the 22nd minute of the half as Sophie Robinson directed a shot at the far post for Emma Batten to claim her fifth goal of the tournament. Emma Batten had a rest following a second offence and a yellow card. The Russians stepped up a gear and the Welsh had to weather the storm. In the 28th minute the Russians converted one of their chances and levelled the score at 1-1. After this Wales regained the ascendency and were unfortunate to see the Russian goalkeeper pull off a brilliant save from Sophie Robinson's snap-shot.
Tomorrow sees the Welsh play the Czech Republic when both the score and goal difference will be important. A huge step up for the team today. Girls followed a plan and in the midday heat can be proud of their performance.
Coach Jo Nightingale said "This was a step in the right direction. Defensively we were sound, and players fulfilled their roles more effectively. As a team we progressed today, and it is important that we continue this trend."
Day 6: Saturday 26 July 2008
| 12:15 | Wales (C) | 2 | Czech Rep (C) | 2 |
| 15:00 | 3/4 Poland | 2 | Ukraine | 4 |
| 17:30 | Final Scotland | 0 | France | 1 |
With everything to play for the Welsh girls stood up to the challenge and finished the tournament with a draw against arguably one of the best teams at the tournament. With two penalty corners on target in the first nine minutes the Welsh should have opened the scoring but it was the Czechs that took the lead off a second phase ball at a penalty corner in the 20th minute. The Welsh then equalised in the 35th minute as Sophie Robinson's reverse shot beat the keeper. Half time score 1-1.
The second half saw both teams on the attack, each with their share of chances. The Czechs took the lead again from another penalty corner but nine minutes later a Welsh counter from Robinson and Emma Batten, with Sophie Clayton drawing a defender away, saw Batten put the ball passed the Czech keeper. Score 2-2. The remainder of the match was evenly balanced and even with a minute to go the Welsh were pushing for the win. With the final score 2-2 the Welsh finished in 6th place and remain in the division for the next tournament.
Coach Merijn van Willigen commented: "We learned a lot this week, and in the end we came much closer to achieving the standard required to perform at international tournaments. The players were told some ‘home truths' after the first two games, but in fairness to them, they responded in the right way. We are now starting on a two-year development path in preparation for success in 2010."
Final Positions
1st: France (Promoted)
2nd: Scotland (Promoted)
3rd: Ukraine
4th: Poland
5th: Czech Republic
6th: Wales
7th: Russia (Relegated)
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