EUROHOCKEY NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP II - WOMEN
Poznan (POL), 8th-14th August 2011
Pool A
Russia
Ukraine
France
Switzerland
Pool B
Scotland
Belarus
Wales
Poland
DAY 1: Monday 8 August 2011
In a closely fought match Wales went down by a single goal in their opening encounter.
The opening ceremony saw the celebration of 50 caps for Tina Evans, Elen Mumford, Margaret Rees and Dawn Mitchell.
The game started with the Welsh girls attacking energetically. The opening minute set the challenge to Scotland who had recently defeated Wales in Largs in the Celtic Cup.
Wales won their first PC in the 2' and despite a fine shot, they were denied. Wales continued the pressure in the next five minutes but Scotland won the next PC after 8' and they too wasted the opportunity. Wales stuck to their game plan and maintained their focus, performed with confidence and soaked up quite a lot of pressure in the last minutes of the first half - saving yet another PC in the 30'.
In the opening minute of the second half, Mumford intercepted the ball deep in the Welsh half on the right, passing to Robinson in a wide right channel who in turn put a great through to Fisher in the left hand channel. Fisher entered in the circle but failed to connect with the ball for the shot. An excellent start to the half. Scotland were quick to react and pulled off two PCs in the first 7' and whilst neither shots resulted in a goal, Scotland applied more sustained pressure. A Scottish turn over just over of the 23m line gave them an opportunity to counter attack and Wales left McLelland free on the right post from which they scored. It was pleasing to note that the Welsh girls did not allow this goal to affect their performance. They maintained their composure, winning a PC within three minutes but could not capitalise. The team continued to work really hard, keeping the ball in Scottish half for the next 10 minutes. A near perfect moment came again 12' from time with a pass from Batten to Fisher and again with no reward. In the following moments both Wales and Scotland were reduced to 10 players on green cards. Again both Scotland and Wales won PCs with little time on the clock - neither side converting.
Tucker and French, two new athletes at this level, both showed increasing confidence and justified their selection. Wilkinson, a very experienced athlete played a containing game against Scotland’s Bartlett, who is training with the GB squad and denied her the influence she might otherwise have had. A great job done! Hopkins and Batten also posed threats in the opposition circle and we hope they will now convert in the next games. Outstanding performances from Griffiths and Mumford at the back.
Overall, a first rate start to the tournament for Wales, who have their next game on Wednesday against Poland, the home team.
| 12:00 | A | Russia | 1 | France | 1 |
| 14:15 | A | Ukraine | 10 | Switzerland | 2 |
| 16:30 | B | Scotland | 1 | Wales | 0 |
| 18:45 | B | Belarus | 6 | Poland | 3 |
DAY 2: Tuesday 9 August 2011
| 14:15 | A | France | 5 | Switzerland | 2 |
| 16:30 | A | Ukraine | 3 | Russia | 4 |
DAY 3: Wednesday 10 August 2011
Today's game saw the return to the playing group of Wales' captain, Claire Lowry, who has been recovering from an injury.
It was another confident start. Wales kept the ball in the attacking half for most of the opening 15'. Two good chances in the 9' and 11' were created but no reward came Wales' way. Despite a refreshing composure in performance, there followed a few minutes that lacked discipline resulting in Rees in goal having to make a fine save just in front of goal.
Wales' defenders worked hard as a unit, reading the game well and making a number of key interceptions - Evans leading the way by example in the 21'. Finally the deadlock was broken, when following some excellent down the right, Mumford gave the assist for Hopkins to deflect into goal in the 29'. This was also during a period when Poland were down to 10 players.
The second half started and Wales once again set about their task with focus and in a business like manner. An unforced error the in 38' led to Poland winning their first PC and it proved to be a costly error because Poland scored bringing the score level again.
There followed a long period during which Wales failed to pass effectively and deliver it in the right places. Two more PCs for Poland in the 50' and 63' were awarded and Wales felt the pressure but they defended well to finish the game at 1-1.
Overall a performance that was good in parts with strong performances from Mumford, Evans, Griffiths and Mitchell and some great leads from Wales' seasoned forward, Hopkins. Today's results leave Belarus on 6 points, Scotland 3, Wales and Poland on 1 so everything is still to play for in the final pool matches on Thursday.
| 14:15 | B | Belarus | 2 | Scotland | 1 |
| 16:30 | B | Wales | 1 | Poland | 1 |
DAY 4: Thursday 11 August 2011
Taking the field for the third time in Poland, yet again at 16.30, Wales faced Belarus in a game that needed three points if Wales had any hope of challenging for the semi-final positions. Careful preparation alerted the team to Belarus' speed and skill. From the off Wales took the game to their opponents winning a penalty corner in the 2', sadly it was blocked, so no score. Wales kept on the pressure re-entering the circle a further three times in these crucial opening moments.
From a 16m hit Belarus attacked the length of the pitch starting with one of their infamous aerials. The ever-dangerous Shyntar powerfully put away the ball for the first goal in the 7'. For the next 15' Wales found themselves under great pressure, conceding a further 3 PC's. Despite saving twice in the 21', Kurhanskaya scored to increase the oppostion lead. Hopkins nearly scored some 3' later after some great work from Robinson with the GK beaten. Again in 26' Wales had a good opportunity to score and yet again it was not to be. So halftime came with Wales 0-2 down.
So with 35 minutes left, Wales finally began to link together some passes, scoring in the 45' from a complicated PC with Hopkins finding the net. Some 5' later and great decision making in the circle saw Wilkinson scoring from open play after receiving a great pass from Hopkins, who had drawn the keeper. 2-2 and the game really came to life! Belarus quickly replied from a panalty corner some 2' later, but Wales continued to attack. They performed really well in the next spell creating more goal scoring opportunities through Welsford and Robinson. Hopes were raised with the a penalty corner awarded in the 68' from which the ball struck the underside of the bar - the Welsh bench celebrated but no goal was awarded and play carried on.
So with the score line 3-2 Belarus Wales walked from the game with no points. The remaining result between Scotland and Poland means Wales finish 3rd, carrying 1 point into the 'C' pool.
| 12:00 | A | Russia | 3 | Switzerland | 1 |
| 14:15 | A | France | 2 | Ukraine | 2 |
| 16:30 | B | Belarus | 3 | Wales | 2 |
| 18:45 | B | Scotland | 2 | Poland | 1 |
DAY 5: Friday 12 August 2011
Rest Day
DAY 6: Saturday 13 August 2011
Now taking part in Pool C, the next two games for Wales become more crucial if they are to remain in this division in 2013.
The day was again overcast but warm and still. A very heavy thunder storm spilled rain during the first half and this, accompanying Ukraine's opening onslaught, increased Wales' misery.
Wales were 2-0 down within 5' from both open play and a penalty corner - the Ukraine team showing tremendous skill on the ball and readily capitalising on errors from Wales.
Evans struck a brilliant short corner strike in the 6' and a glimmer of hope returned. However this was short lived as Ukraine scored twice in the next period of play. With 18' gone Wales were now 1-4 down and despite a number of their own penalty corners Wales was unable to penetrate the Ukraine defence whilst they on the other hand managed to bag yet another two before half time.
Wales continued to battle in the second half. A penalty corner after 42' was saved and a great move from a corner involving Wilkinson, Hopkins and Mitchell was so nearly scored. Wilkinson however stepped up to take the stroke awarded for an offence against Robinson in front of an open goal, some 2' later bringing the score to 6=2. Wales were awarded two more penalty corners but converted neither but Robinson enjoyed some revenge by converting in open play with 4' to go and the Ukraine replied by adding one more to their total to leave them running out 7-3 winners.
Wales recognised the high number of turn-overs which in the end proved to be their undoing. They can however also reflect on some periods of great passing which need to be more often in the next game v Switzerland on Sunday at 10am.
| 10:00 | C | 4A Switzerland | 1 | 4B Poland | 4 |
| 12:15 | C | 3A Ukraine | 7 | 3B Wales | 3 |
| 14:30 | SF1 | 2A France | 0 | 1B Belarus | 5 |
| 17:00 | SF2 | 1A Russia | 1 | 2B Scotland | 2 |
DAY 7: Sunday 14 August 2011
Our last chance to secure our position in the Championship II Division in Europe - so all to play for!
The game was one of almost! Some effective running and linked attacks led to the missed opportunity. Wales earned a penalty corner after 3' - a great start, but it was cleared all too efficiently. Wilkinson worked well with Robinson a few minutes later, but the shot was wide.
Switzerland had few attacks but managed to score in the 10' from open play and suddenly the game took on a different dimension. Wales created many scoring opportunities from open play and were awarded 6 penalty corners and still failed to convert.
Under pressure the basics seemed to evaporate thus offering the ascendancy to the Swiss. However a great corner taken by Mitchell to Robinson, who promises for the future, struck home for Wales and at last it looked like the game was turning at 1-1.
Just a little later the Swiss attacked again. There followed a dispute when Wales believed the ball was not touched in the circle but a goal was awarded. So luck against us Wales were facing a 2-1 defeat to a side that had otherwise not won a game.
During this hectic period Wales were at one point reduced to 9 players with Thomas E and Robinson both on yellow card suspensions.
This game did not reflect Wales potential nor their overall performance throughout the tournament but focus for the future must be on core skills under pressure and delivering the set pieces. It was a disappointing finish and sees Wales relegated to Championship III, along with Switzerland.
| 10:00 | C | 4A Switzerland | 2 | 3B Wales | 1 |
| 12:15 | C | 3A Ukraine | 2 | 4B Poland | 2 |
| 14:30 | 3/4 | France | 2 | Russia | 3 |
| 17:00 | Final | Belarus | 0 | Scotland | 2 |
Final positions
1st: Scotland (Promoted to Championship 2013
2nd: Belarus
3rd: Russia
4th: France
5th: Ukraine
6th: Poland
7th: Switzerland (Relegated to Championships III 2013)
8th: Wales (Relegated to Championships III 2013)
