WOMEN'S EUROHOCKEY INDOOR CLUB CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE
Lousada (POR), 20-22 February 2009
Single Pool
Slagelse (DEN)
HK Bask (SRB)
Cankaya Bld SC (TUR)
Howardian LHC (WAL)
Galway HC (IRL)
AD Lousada (POR)
DAY 1: Friday 20 February 2009
Howardians start with a win and a draw
Howardian Ladies started their Euro Indoor tournament in a positive manner with a 3-3 draw against Cankaya Bld SC (TUR) and a 6-4 victory over HK Bask (SRB).
Following the late withdrawal of the pre tournament favourites from Croatia and the refusal of Visas to the Georgian representatives, the Challenge became a single pool 6 team round robin event, with Howardians seeded 4th.
As the EHF had made some programme changes to accommodate the host team, day 1 saw Howards with a tough schedule, facing both the number 2 and 3 seeds. In last years event, they had fallen 4-3 to both HK Bask from Serbia and their opening opponents, Cankaya Belediyesi from Turkey, so Howards entered the day knowing that 2 good performances could see positive results.
In the first game against Cankaya, Howards scored after only 20 seconds, Maree Thomas driving into the circle to force a low shot past the Turkish keeper. Unfortunately, they were unable to build on this start, with the Turks equalising from their first penalty corner, harshly awarded against Thomas. This set the pattern for the game, as Howards twice more took the lead, only for the Turks to draw level from penalty corners, although each of the last two were highly controversial, the first given after Emma Olivari saved a shot taken whilst advantage was being played only to see the penalty corner then given, the final Cankaya goal coming from a penalty corner given for a save from Olivari exiting the court over the side boards, when the appropriate decision was a free hit outside the circle! However, a 3-3 draw was still a promising start to the tournament, especially as Howards never trailed their opponents and finished the game the stronger side, unable to convert a couple of clear chances that came their way in the final minutes. The performance gave considerable hope for a successful weekend, if the chances created could be converted into goals.
In the second game of the day, Howards faced last years Bronze medallists HK Bask from Belgrade. After an even opening 5 minutes, a well worked penalty corner saw Emma Keen give the Cerise and Blacks the lead, one which they would never relinquish. Further goals from Michelle Daltrey and Maree Thomas saw a 3-0 lead built, only for the Serbs to pull one back just before half time. A second Serb goal just after half time brought an instant response from Howardians, who scored 3 goals in 3 minutes, 2 from Charlie Robbins and 1 by Annie Petherick, to build a seemingly unassailable 6-2 lead. Late pressure from HK Bask did see them reduce the arrears, but the Welsh side held on for a more comfortable victory than the 6-4 scoreline suggests.
These results leave Howardians second at the end of Day 1, behind a strong Danish side who look set to secure a rapid return to the Trophy from which they were relegated last season. The surprise result of the day was the 5-3 victory of the hosts AD Lousada over Cankaya, which will clearly give themconfidence for the days ahead.
| 12.00 | HK Bask | 2 | Galway HC | 1 |
| 13.00 | Slagelse | 7 | AD Lousada | 1 |
| 14.00 | Cankaya Bld SC | 3 | Howardian LHC | 3 |
| 16.00 | Slagelse | 5 | Galway HC | 1 |
| 17.00 | Cankaya Bld SC | 2 | AD Lousada | 5 |
| 18.00 | HK Bask | 4 | Howardian LHC | 6 |
DAY 2: Saturday 21 February 2009
Howardians suffer a disappointing double defeat
After their successful first day Howardian Ladies went down to Galway (IRE) 1-3 and Slagelse (DEN), the tournament leaders, 0-4 on Day 2 in Portugal.
Howardians entered Day 2 of the European Indoor Challenge full of confidence, knowing that a victory over the Irish side Galway in their first game of the day would almost guarantee the Welsh side a medal from this event. Unfortunately, having produced two good displays against strong opposition on day 1, Howards put in a disappointing performance against the newcomers from Galway, who had finished Day 1 bottom of the pool without a point. In spite of creating a number of clear goal scoring opportunities, and with the penalty corner routine misfiring, Howards found themselves 2-0 down at half time as Galway punished Howardian errors and took the few chances that came their way. A strong start to the second half saw 1 goal pulled back, but a mixture of determined defending and poor finishing meant that the equalising goal did not materialise, and the Irish team ensured they took all 3 points with a well taken penalty corner goal midway through the half. Despite late Howards pressure, Galway held on for a deserved 3-1 win.
Game 2 saw Howards looking to bounce back against a Danish side already assured of promotion and only needing a win to take gold at the event. Slagelse had played in the Trophy in 2008, and the experience of playing higher quality opposition has clearly benefited the Danish side, who had easily won each of their first 3 games. A much improved performance saw Howards run Slagelse close for the entire first half, changing ends only 1-0 down, and having created chances to even the score only for the highly talented Danish keeper to keep them at bay. 2 goals in a little over a minute early in the second half saw Slagelse increase their lead, but Howards regained their composure to match the Danes for the remainder of the game, in fact having the better of the last 10 minutes, but still unable to register on the score sheet. A late counter attack saw the Danes score a fourth to run out 4-0 winners and deservedly win the pool.
In spite of these disappointing results, Howards remain in third place at the end of Day 2, and know that a win over hosts Lousada on the final morning should still see them travel home with hard earned bronze medals, which would be an improvement both on last years performance and their tournament ranking.
| 11.00 | Slagelse | 4 | Cankaya Bld SC | 0 |
| 12.00 | HK Bask | 2 | AD Lousada | 7 |
| 13.00 | Howardian LHC | 1 | Galway HC | 3 |
| 15.00 | Cankaya Bld SC | 2 | HK Bask | 1 |
| 16.00 | Galway HC | 1 | AD Lousada | 3 |
| 17.00 | Slagelse | 4 | Howardian LHC | 0 |
DAY 3: Sunday 22 February 2009
Howardians finish 5th in Europe
Howardian Ladies lost their final match to the hosts, AD Lousada (POR), 0-3 to finish the tournament in a disappointing 5th place.
Howardians missed out on the opportunity to bring home bronze medals from the European Indoor Challenge when they lost their final match of the event to the host side AD Lousada 0-3, which, combined with the earlier draw between Cankaya of Turkey and Galway, meant that they ended the weekend in a disappointing 5th place, as the Turks took bronze by a point and the Irish moved ahead on goal difference.
The Portuguese side had wrapped up silver and promotion the previous day, and played in a relaxed and open manner, whilst Howards showed signs of knowing that a result was needed to gain the medal that their first days performance had put within their grasp. Early pressure from the Welsh side was seemingly rewarded when Annie Petherick shot against the post and then put the rebound away, scoring the goal needed to settle the nerves and allow Howards to relax into the game. It was not to be however, as the umpire disallowed the goal, saying the ball had been played in the air. This was almost immediately followed by Lousada taking the lead from their first penalty corner, and the momentum swing saw Lousada double their lead shortly after, again from a corner. Howardians did respond positively, and as against both the Irish and Danish sides the previous day, enjoyed greater possession than their opponents, but were unable to turn pressure into goals, the Portuguese keeper making a series of fine saves from open play and penalty corners alike. The second half saw more of the same, the Portuguese rarely creating scoring opportunities, but punishing a rare defensive error to extend their lead midway through the second half. Despite their best efforts, Howards could not get the goals to get back into the game or onto the medal rostrum, and so ended the weekend in the same fifth place as the year before, despite the excellent start to the tournament on Day 1. However, they travel home in positive mood having not been outplayed in any game for the second year, knowing that the line between success and perceived failure in this event was an extremely fine one given how evenly matched most of the teams were, indeed one extra goal against Cankaya on Day 1 would have secured Bronze, but having learned some harsh lessons for next year. Particularly disappointing is the fact that only 1 goal was scored in the final three games, despite many chances created and corners won.
On the flip side, fewer goals and corners were conceded than last year and Howards were once again praised by the organisers for the way they had maintained a positive attitude throughout the event, and for the style of hockey that they had played. Thankfully however, there was no fair play trophy this year, it seems to be Howardians habit of bringing that one home!
| 11.00 | Cankaya Bld SC | 1 | Galway HC | 1 |
| 12.00 | Slagelse | 6 | HK Bask | 1 |
| 13.00 | Howardian LHC | 0 | AD Lousada | 3 |
Final Placings
1st: Slagelse (Promoted)
2nd: AD Lousada (Promoted)
3rd: Cankaya Bld SC
4th: Galway HC
5th: Howardian LHC
6th: HK Bask
Match Schedule subject to amendment at the discretion of EHF or the Tournament Director.
Back to Competitions 2008/9
