Wales U21 Men in Italy - EuroNations Trophy 20th -26th July
The Wales U21 Men's squad are shortly off to Bra, 70km south-east of Turin in Italy to compete in the EuroHockey Junior Nations Trophy where they hope to secure promotion for the first time in over a decade.
Preparations have gone well and Coaches Brian Hibbert and Matt Ruxton are satisfied that the areas that were in need of attention after a frustrating Celtic Cup tournament in Edinburgh in June have now been addressed.
The squad have a gruelling playing schedule ahead of them. After the cancellation of the Challenge division tournament earlier this month, further teams have been added to the Trophy division which has necessitated an extra pool game before the cross-over matches and finals can be played. They will be facing the hosts Italy, Belarus, Czech Republic and Azerbaijan, before their two final games will be played. Six matches in seven days in a Mediterranean summer climate will certainly test the physical condition and resolve of the squad. However, the group are positive about the challenges that lie ahead, secure in the knowledge that their fitness levels are high and that centre back James Hughes will now be fit to play after suffering a nasty facial injury when away on duty with the seniors in Cork.
Team physio, Zoe Grant, has emphasised the importance of managing their bodies properly to aid recovery and minimise the risks of unnecessary injuries. Rehydration, sound nutrition and meticulous warm-downs will be central to a successful campaign if performance levels are to remain high in the latter stages of the tournament. Although the team have targeted their first game as their most important in order to build confidence and momentum, they understand that the tournament is likely to be won by a team which has depth in its squad which adapts best to the demands of the competition.
With this in mind much of the final preparations were geared around tightening the defensive units and practising penalty corners which are often the difference between victory and defeat. Captain Nick Rees said, "We feel that we are now better prepared to weather phases of the game where we are under pressure. The Celtic Cup tournament in Edinburgh taught us some harsh lessons. Our penalty corners were not executed well under pressure, but we now feel that we are likely to score from our good spells of play."
Manager Ian Sands believes that to retain control in games his side will need show patience and take greater care over retaining possession of the ball if they are to make their mark. "Recognising the right times to attack and when it is the time to consolidate will be key to the group's success. We have begun to show improvements in this area and the spine of the team is more resilient than before." The addition of the influential Joe Naughalty to the squad has helped and his link up with Nick Rees and Dan Berry should help to increase the goal threat from the side. "I am looking forward to the challenge of the Europeans with this side. They are a good bunch of lads who are prepared to work hard. We will do our best to go for the Cup in Bra."
Squad: Edward Jones, David Kettle, Ben Carless, Joe Naughalty, James Hughes, Robert Trem, Nils Lloyd-Penny, Robert Mugridge, Lewis Prosser, Luke Carless, Ben Edge, Mark Siddorn, Owain Dolan-Grey, Louis Jones, James Astley, Dan Berry, Nick Rees, Huw Stevens.
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