1st June 2009
EUROHOCKEY CLUB CHAMPIONS TROPHY - Women
Wettingen (SUI) 29 May - 1 June 2009
Pool A
Siauliai Gintra Universitetas (LTU)
HC Mori Villafranca (ITA)
SK Slavia Praha (CZE)
Swansea LHC (WAL)
Pool B
Hermes HC (IRL)
Glasgow Western (SCO)
HC Ritm Grodno (BLR)
HC Rotweiss Wettingen (SUI)
DAY 1: Friday 29 May 2009
Swansea Ladies lost the opening game of this year's European campaign in the Trophy Division by five goals to one against Siauliai Gintra Universitetas of Lithuania. Swansea exerted all the early pressure in the game, dominating both possession and territory, and went very close to scoring the first goal of the game on 11 minutes when Cat Budd drove into the D and found Bridgette Radice free on the left only for Bridgette to fire the ball just wide of the right post. The Lithuanians were very quick on the break and when the ball was turned over by the Swansea defence on 18 minutes a snap shot nearly found the target. On 20 minutes Robyn Wilford intercepted a stray pass and worked the ball up the left winning a free hit. Natalie Blyth drove the ball goalwards and Robyn almost got on the end of it. Soon after, Sian Fowler was impeded as she drove into the circle to win Swansea's first penalty corner. Natalie struck the ball hard and the keeper went down well to her left to edge the ball passed the left post. Then, after being really cautious in the first 25 minutes as a result of Swansea's pressure, the Lithuanians broke down the middle and Fran Williams did really well to track back and tackle the player free on goal. They maintained the pressure and as their dangerous striker, Dovile Jakaite, went down in the D as a result of a tackle the umpire awarded a penalty stroke. Jakaite picked herself up to convert and give the Lithuanians a surprise lead on 27 minutes. With Swansea still unsettled by the turn of events, the Lithuanians gained possession and, through quick transfer of the ball, freed up Jakaite who struck the ball high into the roof of the net on 28 minutes. With confidence soaring, Siauliai heaped the pressure on Swansea and on 32 minutes a quick break down the left and some very sharp interpassing to eliminate the Swansea defenders enabled Jurate Juodyte to push the ball into the goal on the near post to make the score 3-0. At half time the Swansea players were still upset by the award of the flick and the score in no way reflected the general flow of the game.
The second half saw the introduction of young goalkeeper Laura Davies who was into action in the first minute making an excellent save in a one on one situation allowing Jaynaya Boyles to clear the ball from the goal-line. The Lithuanians, now finding each other very well with their passing, forced Swansea very much onto the back foot and Angharad Griffiths and Danielle Jackson saw a lot of action along with Natalie and Fran at the heart of the defence. However, the pressure eventually told and, when a ball went loose to Jakaite she swung round and sent the ball flying past Laura on 48 minutes. Within two minutes, Swansea's attempt to retain possession deep in their half went awry as a pass was intercepted. The player drew Laura out of position and presented the ball for Ina Paulaviciute to push it home on 50 minutes. Gradually Swansea found their early rhythm and Danielle initiated an attack down the right. Jennie Ellis fired the ball in hard across the goal for Bridgette to crash it into the net on 63 minutes. In the closing minutes Rebecca Treharne almost worked herself free in front of goal but Siauliai broke quickly from defence, forced a PC and the well executed drag flick was expertly tipped over the bar by Laura. Finally, in the last minute, a stinging shot on the near post drew another fine save from the young Swansea keeper.
Despite the outcome, Swansea did match their opponents for much of the first half and, on the credit side, the younger players gained valuable experience of the intensity of European competition.
| 10.00 | A | Siauliai Gintra Uni. | 5 | Swansea LHC | 1 |
| 12.00 | A | HC Mori Villafranca | 1 | SK Slavia Praha | 1 |
| 14.00 | B | Hermes HC | 3 | Glasgow Western | 3 |
| 16.00 | B | HC Ritm Grodno | 6 | HC Rotweiss Wettingen | 2 |
DAY 2: Saturday 30 May 2009
Swansea started this game brightly against their Italian opponents and seemed determined to put the previous day's defeat behind them. For the first five minutes they were camped in the Villafranca half but then they failed to spot the dangerous Yuiliya Laptsevich lurking deep in the top corner. She collected a long ball hit from the Italian half, went in on goal and found Elena Apelganets free to push the ball in on the near post after 6 minutes. This goal encouraged Villafranca to push forward and Swansea had to concede a penalty corner. They defended the corner well but did not clear the ball fully and this allowed Villafranca to bring the ball back into the circle. Apelganets went left and, with impressive skill, crashed the ball high into the Swansea goal on her reverse on 12 minutes. Villafranca now started to dominate possession and kept coming forward in waves, forcing Abbey Bintcliffe to dive to her right to prevent another goal. In a rare push forward Jaynaya Boyles won a free hit at the side of the circle. From the hit, the ball went right across the Italian goal but nobody could connect with it. Sian Fowler and Kat Budd were linking well on the right and managed to put Rebecca Treharne in on goal but she was well tackled. Swansea were finding it difficult to string more than a few passes together resulting in Villafranca having far too much of the ball and putting the Swansea defence under considerable pressure. Eventually this pressure told when the ball came back to Paola Lombardi standing at the top of the D and, under no pressure, she calmly slotted the ball home just inside the right post on 34 minutes. Swansea went into the half time break 3-0 down but had no reason to be as disappointed as they had been the day before.
Unfortunately, Swansea continued to concede possession for the first ten minutes of the second half but then managed to pull themselves together. Fran Williams and Jaynaya worked the ball down the left channel and won a short corner. From the strike, Angharad Griffiths picked up the ball as it went loose and struck a cracking shot which went up off the keeper's pads for another corner. This time Natalie Blyth connected really well and the ball was deflected past the keeper off an opponent's stick on 53 minutes. The goal re-energised the Swansea players and, with Sarah Lowman tackling and pressing well, the momentum for a second goal began to build. Then came a critical moment in the match when Sian Fowler was put in one on one with the keeper and, as she pushed the ball on at an empty goal, she was taken out by the keeper. The umpire ignored the Swansea appeals for a penalty stroke leaving Sian distraught. As often happens, from a potential 3-2 position the ball went up to the Swansea half. Laptsevich attacked around the right of the circle, put the ball across the goal and Silvia Debortoli scrambled the ball over line on 64 minutes to make it 4-1 to the Italians. This was the point for the floodgates to open. The ball was lost by the Swansea defence giving the Italians a 2 on 1 against keeper Laura Davies. As she committed herself the ball was transferred to the spare player who pushed the ball at the goal but it hit Angharad's foot and the umpire awarded a penalty stroke. The stroke was duly converted by Anna Tagliasacchi on 67 minutes and Villafranca were now irresistible. They swarmed forward creating an overload in the circle and the ball was worked around the keeper for Tagliasacchi to push it home on 69 minutes. In the very last minute a long through ball split the defence and allowed Tagliasacchi to complete a three minute hat-trick.
This was a game which went right away from Swansea after they looked capable of rescuing it. But, this can happen so easily in European hockey.
| 10.00 | A | Siauliai Gintra Uni. | 2 | SK Slavia Praha | 0 |
| 12.00 | A | HC Mori Villafranca | 7 | Swansea LHC | 1 |
| 14.00 | B | HC Ritm Grodno | 2 | Glasgow Western | 2 |
| 16.00 | B | Hermes HC | 9 | HC Rotweiss Wettingen | 0 |
DAY 3: Sunday 31 May 2009
Swansea entered this game with a real focus on the job to be done – win and secure third place to enable them to be matched up against the Swiss, by far the weakest team in Pool B, for the all important cross over game. The girls started really well, they kept possession and very confidently took the game to the Czechs. Swansea, however, had a warning when they gained a penalty corner on 12 minutes. This was well defended by Kat Budd who was off the line to snuff out the shot. A move down the left channel continued right into the Swansea circle and Abbey Bintcliffe made two fine saves on the near post on 15 minutes. Robyn Wilford then took the ball up the middle and passed to Kat who drove into the D. The keeper couldn't control the ball and Jaynaya Boyles almost scrambled the ball over the line. From this point on it was all Swansea. They had the Czechs reeling as they came forward with good passing movements and from a free hit on the right taken by Natalie Blyth, Bridgette almost got the ball into the goal. Then Sian Fowler was obstructed badly outside the circle to win a penalty corner which couldn't be converted. Then some lovely inter passing between firstly Angharad Griffiths and Kat split the defence open only for the ball to run away off the line and then Sian and Jaynaya combined well for Sian to force a penalty corner. This time the ball was switched to Cat who fired in the shot and Sian's deflection went just wide of the post. In one of the few Czech breaks Natalie was on hand to make a strong, clean tackle. They came again at the Swansea defence and on 24 minutes Abbey made a big save again on the near post. Generally, however, the defence was playing really well with good communication and timely interceptions when required. The Swansea midfield was also functioning really well with Robyn making good progress up the middle and Sian, Sarah Lowman and Kat working well off one another to create opportunities for Bridgette, Becky Treharne and Jaynaya. Just before half time, with Swansea pushing forward, their move broke down and the Czech strikers raced forward to create a 3 on 1 with Abbey in goal but Abbey made a good save. Angharad then took the ball the length of the pitch with her great 3 D skills, won a free hit but the hooter sounded. Well led by captain Fran Williams, this was a massively improved performance on the previous two games.
Swansea came out for the second half in very determined mood and sought to maintain their control. The Czechs, however, had other ideas and Swansea now had to defend seriously but, from Danielle through to Fran, the defence was strong and firm. Some excellent one touch passing saw the Czechs actually get the ball into the Swansea goal on 55 minutes but it was disallowed for the use of a foot. After calmly absorbing much of the pressure Swansea had their own moments as first Sian made a number of runs down the right and then Sarah drove forward down the left. From one of Sian's crosses Robyn got in a shot on goal which was well saved by the keeper. As the clock ticked on to 67 minutes Natalie sent in a hard free hit from the right, Bridgette collected well and directed the ball into the Czech goal on her reverse to add to the goal which should have been credited to her in the previous game. The Czechs came back hard as they saw their own opportunity for survival disappearing. On 69 minutes they were awarded a PC which Abbey saved well and then with just 20 seconds left in the game the umpire awarded another PC for what she interpreted as an offence way outside the D. The Czechs quickly took the corner and struck the ball into the Swansea goal as the hooter sounded. This was a cruel ending to a game in which Swansea were by far the better team on the day but failed to keep control of the final crucial minutes in their own hands and paid the penalty.
| 10.00 | A | SK Slavia Praha | 1 | Swansea LHC | 1 |
| 12.00 | A | Siauliai Gintra Uni. | 4 | HC Mori Villafranca | 1 |
| 14.00 | B | Glasgow Western | 6 | HC Rotweiss Wettingen | 1 |
| 16.00 | B | HC Ritm Grodno | 1 | Hermes HC | 1 |
Day 4: Monday 1 June 2009
Swansea found themselves in the final cross-over game facing a team which had gained the same number of points in Pool B as the Scots and the Irish, the two teams involved in the promotion cross-overs. Ritm Grodno were in the relegation cross-over game due only to a slightly inferior goal difference. Nevertheless, Swansea, buoyed by the excellent performance on the previous day, set about their opponents confidently. In the third minute Robyn Wilford got in a good shot which struck a foot in the circle and Swansea had the first PC of the game. The Belarussians confidently cleared the corner but the ball came to Kat Budd who set off on one of her trademark runs and won a free hit near the circle. The ball was blasted in hard, wasn’t controlled and Swansea got another penalty corner. The straight strike hit the keeper’s pads and the ball was cleared but the Swansea girls were matching their opponents’ physicality, with Natalie Blyth to the fore. Then, after not seeing much of the ball, the Belarussians made a quick break, got the ball to their stand out player and captain, Hanna Dakutovich, and she drove the ball into the corner of the goal on six minutes. Soon after, they won another PC but Kat was out well to nullify the first strike. The Belarussians’ fondness for the aerial ball as an attacking option nearly exposed the Swansea defence on 10 minutes and the ball was only just scrambled away. Swansea forced their way back into the game and on 16 minutes Sian Fowler split the field with a long through ball up to Bridgette Radice who went forward into the D and was unlucky to be baulked as she shot. However, a penalty corner was awarded and Swansea’s stock routine was just cleared away by the keeper. Swansea were getting amongst their opponents effectively during this phase of the game. Sian got back well to win the ball as the Belarussians attacked, distributed to Robyn who then set up Jaynaya Boyles nicely on goal. Angharad Griffiths delivered a great ball up to Bridgette and soon after executed a searing cross field pass to set Sian free. This was real Swansea pressure and at this stage the Belarussians, tired from two draining drawn games, were rattled and flagging. Always dangerous, however, they broke quickly again and Sarah Lowman did fantastically well to get back to challenge and for Fran Williams to finish the job with a strong tackle. Swansea, however, couldn’t keep up the momentum and conceded two soft goals as half time neared. Firstly, a fluffed shot from Dakutovich deflected into the goal off Angharad’s stick on 28 minutes and then some careless passing out of defence presented Nataly Varabiova with a simple push into the goal on 34 minutes. 3-0 down at half time was certainly not a true reflection of the play.
Swansea made a good start to the second half. Danielle Jackson, Sian and Robyn worked well together to get the ball into the circle but the defence prevented it from reaching Bridgette. The ball went back down to the Swansea circle for Dakutovich to work her skills to win a short corner and for Alesia Vasilvova then to step up and crack the ball against the backboard with a straight strike on 44 minutes. As the tempo got a bit frenzied and physical, Fran, Angry and Robyn were laid low but Sian, Dan, Kat and Sarah were all getting stuck in and halting the Belarussians as they tried to open up the game with some flowing hockey. Swansea now gave their younger players some European game time and they acquitted themselves well. The senior players kept working hard but in the end the pressure told and, as the ball went loose in the circle on 67 minutes it was lifted into the goal by Nataly Stsiafutkina. Finally, in the last minute Ritm Grodno converted another short corner to make the score 6-0 and end Swansea’s time in the European B Division. However, that was probably decided in the closing 20 seconds of the game against the Czechs.
| 08.30 | 4th Pool A Swansea LHC | 0 | 3rd Pool B HC Ritm Grodno | 6 | |
| 10.45 | 3rd Pool A SK Slavia Praha | 2 | 4th Pool B HC Rotweiss Wettingen | 2 (2-4 aps) | |
| 13.00 | 2nd Pool A Mori Villafranca | 2 | 1st Pool B Hermes HC | 0 | |
| 15.15 | 1st Pool A Siauliai Gintra Uni. | 2 (6-5 aps) | 2nd Pool B Glasgow Western | 2 | |
= 1st Siauliai Gintra Universitetas
= 1st Mori Villafranca
= 3rd Hermes HC
= 3rd Glasgow Western
= 5th HC Ritm Grodno
= 5th HC Rotweiss Wettingen
= 7th SK Slavia Praha
= 7th Swansea LHC
Match Schedule subject to amendment at the discretion of EHF or the Tournament Director.
