U-16 BOYS v SCOTLAND DEVELOPMENT SQUAD
Largs (SCO), 23rd – 25th April 2011
Day 1: Saturday 23nd April 2011
After Fridays 11 hour journey and 2 good training sessions Wales started well, dominating early possession and forcing Scotland to turnover the ball. After 8' a slick penalty corner routine saw Ben Francis strike the opening goal for Wales. Despite a number of chances Wales didn't add to the score and when a rare Scotland attack won a penalty corner Jamie Rawlings made a vital goal line save from the drag flick. Half time 0-1 to Wales with all 16 outfield players having been on the pitch within the first 20'.
Wales scored a second goal on 53' with another Ben Francis shot from a penalty corner. Scotland threatened in the last 15 minutes and scored on 58' from a penalty corner, Hamish Addey having made a good save from the drag flick but the rebound fell kindly for Scotland. They pressed hard and Wales were under pressure in defence but they held out to win 2-1. Wales progress in learning their patterns of play had been excellent and a team including 9 debut internationals had made a very encouraging start to the 3 test series.
| 17:00 | Wales U16 Boys | 2 | Scotland U16 Development | 1 |
Day 2: Sunday 24rd April 2011
Wales built on yesterdays good start and opened the game very powerfully. The defensive press was aggressive and Wales moved the ball forward swiftly to force 2 penalty corners in the first 6'. Morgan Harries opened the scoring from the second corner with a well judged deflection. On 14' an excellent strike from Jack MacLean into the top right corner increased the lead. A further goal followed in the 27' when an excellent team move featuring Rikki McGlynn and Aaron Rogers was smartly finished by Jack Rhys-Jones. Then just before half time a right wing cross from the same player was deflected past the Scottish keeper by Danny Rawlings. Half-time Scotland 0 - Wales 4.
Morgan Harries scored Wales 5th goal when he received the ball 30 metres from goal, drove into the circle and fired into goal. A penalty corner drag flick completed the scoring and gave Morgan Harries a hat-trick. Goalkeeper Arthur Jones ensured a clean sheet for Wales with an excellent low stick save for his only touch of the game. It was a very strong performance from the whole 18 man squad, the only negative point was a nasty injury to Harpal Panasar but after a medical check he is fine and is back with the squad.
| 15:00 | Wales U16 Boys | 6 | Scotland U16 Development | 0 |
Day 3: Monday 24th April 2011
Wales started the final game of the series brightly with Harpal Panasar straight back into the action winning an early penalty corner. After 9' Wales took the lead when Morgan Harries collected the ball on the 23m line and cut across the top of the circle to fire into goal. However, after this goal and for the next half hour Scotland played their best hockey of the weekend while Wales struggled to find the patterns of the previous day. With the half-time score at 0-1 to Wales coaches Chris Roberts and Danny Newcombe helped the team re-focus.
Just after half-time Scotland equalised with a drag flick at a penalty corner. The pleasing aspect for Wales was that after a long weekend with some tired hockey players Wales worked through the bad patch, they stopped carrying the ball into tackles and passed the ball to the spaces. After 47, Morgan Harries drove into the circle forcing a rash Scottish tackle and a penalty stroke. Rhodri Furlong confidently put the stroke away. The Welsh defensive unit had grown in understanding and confidence over the weekend with full backs Jamie Rawlings and Ben Wigmore organising the defence and half backs Lewis Hearne, Alex Bourne, Rikki McGlynn and Bryn Jones pushing forward at every opportunity.
In the last quarter of the game Wales took full control with Kim Pullinger and Andrew Pye attacking gaps in the tired Scottish defence. The Scottish GK made a great save to keep out Harpal Panesar's powerful reverse stick hit. Then Andrew Pye's pace got around the back of the Scottish defence to set up two goals for Ben Francis and then Rhodri Furlong to take the score to 1-4. In the last 5' Aaron Rogers took his chances very well to score twice, Jack MacLean's skill presented the first chance and Rhodri Furlong's cross the second. Final score Scotland 1 - Wales 6. As these were their first competitive matches of the season the team were pleased with their progress over the weekend and very grateful to the support from their families and the U-16 Girls team.
| 10:30 | Wales U16 Boys | 6 | Scotland U16 Development | 1 |
