HOCKEY WALES : HOCI CYMRU

U-18 Boys, Four Nations Tournament

Cardiff (WAL), 29th July - 1st Aug 2008

Day 1: Tues 29th July

12:00	Scotland	1	Ireland	2
16:00	England	1	Wales	0

This was a big game for the Wales boys some of whom had no international experience and others who had returned from the U21 European tournament in Italy only 2 days before. There was no denying the extra tension as the teams took to the field. Wales boys looked very focused and made a solid start, determined to take the game to England. Mugridge and Bond in midfield challenged and harried continually to disrupt the English attack.

England scored half way through the first half after a well worked short corner movement, a strong drag flick being deflected past the Welsh keeper Adam Williams. Wales remained upbeat however and continued to pressurise the England defence with some excellent forward play. Matt Gray had a forceful run and gained a short corner through his tenacity.

The second half was fiercely contested for first 15minutes with tireless work from the very consistent Owain Dolan-Gray. Mike Shaw continued to be a powerhouse in defence and came out of tackle after tackle with the ball. Ten minutes from time a penetrating run by Dafydd Bury led to a penalty corner but despite their best efforts Wales were again not able to convert it. In the dying minutes of the game England had a player yellow carded and the Welsh team put their defence under intense pressure until the final whistle.

A gutsy performance for Wales only marred by an off pitch incident which disrupted the teams concentration. The team go forward to tomorrow's game against Scotland in good heart having given 100% effort today for their country.

Day 2: Wed 30th July

12:00	Ireland	2	England	2
16:00	Scotland	1	Wales	2

Wales took on Scotland in a vital match in their Home Nations campaign. After the bitter disappointment of a close loss to England the day before, the whole Welsh squad knew what had to be done, and in order to have another shot at a possible final with England, this game was a must win.

Wales started very brightly, and after 5 minutes, Rhys Gowman majestically weaved through the Scottish defence and unleashed an unstoppable reverse stick shot that flew in to the top right corner past the despairing Scottish keeper. With Wales now having opened their goal scoring account in this year's tournament, the whole squad received a much needed boost. After a good spell of pressure by the Welsh, it was now the turn of their opposition to enjoy a period of sustained dominance. Having conceded a short corner, Welsh keeper Adam Williams was called upon in to make a smart save down to his right, to keep the lead intact. However, the Welsh resistance did not last for long, and the Scottish pressure finally told when they were rewarded with a well worked goal, after good passing around the "D", and a fine finish by the Scottish forward.

Wales emerged from the half time break with a fresh approach, and with the same dogged determination that had been shown the day before against England. Following another period of supremacy by the Welsh straight after the whistle, chances came freely from short corners and open play. After breaking down play outside their own circle the Scottish handed a free hit to the Welsh in a dangerous position. Following a low hard slap in to the circle, Dafydd Bury met the ball, and with a quite exquisite deflection, he found the top corner of the Scottish goal, and Wales' lead was restored. However the hosts did not stop there and could have scored from another succession of short corners, which saw the Scottish keeper called into action several times most notably when he saved a ferocious shot from Alex Humphreys.

Wales showed terrific ball retentions skills for the final period of the match, and denied the Scottish the possession required to have any chance of getting back on level terms. In the end, Wales ran out worthy 2-1 winners, and go in to tomorrows match against Ireland with the incentive of a final against England spurring them on.

Day 3: Thur 31st July

12:00	Scotland	2	England	5
16:00	Ireland	3	Wales	1

After beating Scotland yesterday, Wales were now in with a real chance of making it to the final against England, and another game against the English was high on the squad's agenda. Wales started extremely brightly and Owain Dolan-Gray proved to be a nuisance to the Irish defence from the very outset, making a series of penetrating runs into the opposition "D", and was unlucky that his crosses were not converted by the Welsh forwards.

The Irish were a very strong side and the match was end to end with both teams having penalty corners and chances to score. The deadlock was finally broken by the visitors, after a short corner, which initially produced a good save from Welsh keeper Adam Williams, only for him to see the ball fall back to the Irish injector, who extravagantly put the ball in to the roof of the net with a clinical reverse stick strike. After the break skilful Irish work up front led to another short corner, which was drag flicked low into the goal, leaving all defenders stranded, and Ireland 2-0 up. As the away side asserted their dominance on the match, the Welsh defence had to survive waves of Irish attacks, with keeper Andy Hughes and captain David Bond both making notable saves. With just over 10 minutes to go and following a scramble at the top of the Welsh "D", the ball fell once again to an Irish attacker who further increased the lead, with a well executed finish.

The Welsh continued to show spirit and determination and in the last 2 minutes got a consolation goal after a superb individual run by Dolan-Gray led to him scoring an outstanding reverse stick goal. The Irish ran out worthy 3-1 winners, and Wales hopes of a final against England were dashed. Attention now turns to tomorrows game against Scotland, and the possibility of a third place finish.

Day 4: Fri 1st Aug

11:00	3rd Wales	2	4th Scotland	1
15:00	1st England	1	2nd Ireland	2

Following the disappointment of the day before Wales had to pick themselves up and focus on achieving a third place finish. An early penalty corner conceded by the Welsh saw the first shot of the game, and a good block by keeper Andy Hughes kept the teams at 0-0. The Scottish pressure continued however, and Hughes was again called on to make an athletic save, with David Bond also keeping the scores level, with a good pick up off of the line.

It was now the turn of the Welsh to attack, and when Rob Mugridge was fouled in the "D", Rob Trem executed a well struck drag flick past the Scottish keeper, and registered Wales' first goal from a short corner in this tournament. Following another period of Welsh pressure Owain Dolan Gray fed the ball to Dafydd Bury, who rounded the Scottish keeper, and managed to squeeze the ball home at the second attempt, to double the Welsh lead, and put them firmly in control of the match. After the interval however the Scots came back very strongly and were rewarded with a goal after 9 minutes - Welsh keeper Adam Williams was drawn out of the goal, enabling the Scots forward to flick the ball into the empty net, putting Scotland back in to the match. For much of the second half the Welsh were under pressure, as the away side looked to claw back to level terms, but the defence held firm and Wales were 2-1 winners at the final whistle finishing 3rd overall in the competition.

Final Positions

1st: Ireland
2nd: England
3rd: Wales
4th: Scotland