WCQ - Invercargill 09 Entry 4

Hello everyone,

Well since the last time we posted a blog we lost to Malaysia 3-2, which was disappointing as we were 3-0 down at half time but managed to get it back to 3-2 but couldn't get that next goal which was annoying! So today's game against Wales was a must win game for ourselves if we wanted to have a chance of getting into the bronze medal match.

We went in at half time 0-0 but should have had one or two goals by this point but didn't turn our possession into chances! The second half started well and by the middle of the half we were two up but we started to get a bit nervous towards the end and conceded a corner. With the score at 2-1 we were looking to hold on and get the points but with 40 seconds to go we conceded a short corner. Luckily for us we managed to keep the ball out of the net and claimed our place in the bronze medal match! Woop woop!

We then went for a recovery session in the pool, which was god fun as we ended up just throwing a ball around and relaxing the the spa bath!

Big game tomorrow as we will be looking to beat China and claim the bronze medal, which would be a great achievement and a great finish to the tournament for this team!

Will hopefully post one more blog but no promises. Hitting Invercargill hard tomorrow night! (If any of the two pubs are open)

Bye

Chris and Ralphy

WCQ - Invercargill 09 Entry 3

Hi all,

The last post I did was just after the New Zealand game when we got a bit of a pasting! I am sure by now you will know that we have managed to win our first game of the tournament, beating Austria 3-2! Thanks to goals from Kelburne's Ross, Kenny and Ralphy. It was a tough game with us falling behind twice but we managed to dig in and get the two late goals required. Everyone is in good spirits.

We had a rest day today, which consisted of a short pitch session, then some aqua jogging in the local pool. We all got a shot on the flume afterwards because we were all such good boys!

Big game tomorrow for us, Malaysia. We are looking for a win to help secure our place in the bronze medal match, which is our aim.

The pro Ev tournament isn't going too well for myself as I haven't managed to register a win in about 10 games but I am always optimistic and know that if I put the hours in like the rest of the losers in this team, then I might win at some point!

Will try and write the blog on our next rest day and hopefully by that time we will have secured our place in the bronze medal match. Catch ya later!

Chris 

WCQ - Invercargill 09 - Entry 2

Good evening all,

Well we have now played the first two games of the tournament. The first game was against China and I am sure you will know by now we lost 2-1 but we played really well and deserved at least a draw out of the game, if not a win. The difference between them and us was that they took there chances and we missed far too many really good chances but we were all pretty pleased with the performance.

Although the weather here is very cold and extremely windy alot of the boys are getting burnt. Even Mr perma-tan Willie Marshall has managed to burn his face as can be seen in this picture.

We have also been doing alot of cooking for each other and last night myself and Kenny had a fajita night for Ross and Wei (former Kelburne indoor player of the year). It was a roaring success. Lets just hope when we go round to their crib we get the same standard of food!

Our game today was against New Zealand and we got an absolute hiding! It finished 8-0. We weren't really anywhere near at the standard we needed to be to get anything out of this and they punished us with some good team goals. The team are pretty disappointed as 8-0 is a hammering!

We have a rest day tomorrow, so hopefully we will be able to do something other than hockey!

I will get back to you over the next few days if anything interesting happens. Bye!

Chris and Ralphy

WCQ - Invercargill 09 - Entry 1

Hello all!

We have arrived and been in sunny Invercargill for a few days now. The journey was very very very long! We all new it would take just under two days but it felt like much longer. In total we had five flights and one night in Dubai. The night in Dubai wasn't as glamorous as it sounds. We arrived there at after midnight, then had a flight the next morning at 9 am so no time for a bit of sight seeing. We left on Saturday and arrived here on Monday.

We are staying in a pretty nice motel. Every two people have a small house to themselves with kitchen and hot tub (it's really a spa bubble bath thingy).

Invercargill is like a place that has stayed the same since the 1950's. Lots of small shops, with not very many pubs or clubs, which I am sure is a good thing for some of our team!

The pitch is a two minute walk away, so no probs getting to training or matches. Just played New Zealand today and lost 2-0. Wasn't too bad as it was just really to get used to the pitch and get some of the jet lag out the legs. One more day then we play our first game on Saturday against the Chinese. We are all looking forward to it and the squad is in good spirits.

We have all been playing a bit of a Pro Ev tournament on the PS2's and Xbox's and also some cricket in the car park. So it's all good!

Hopefully write the next blog after our first game and let you know how we get on. Hopefully do the club proud!

Chris, Iain and baldy Ralphy

The Final result from Melbourne

Hello Hockey Players (and others)

 

I know I said I'd finished, but I thought you'd like to know that the team we drew with (and lost on rule 29b, subsection 3) - Queensland - won the final 2-0.  I think that means we were the second best team in the tournament, doesn't it?

 

bye

Alan Bryce

Semi-Final against Queensland Friday 9th

Game 8 and looking forward to a tough assignment against the top team
of the Carnival, Queensland. I'm playing full back or sweeper,
depending on whether you speak Aussie or not.

We haven't lost any of the last five games and we're moderately
confident. Both sides had chances in each half and both sides could
feel that they should have scored.

The game became a story of superb, 'robust' defending and fleeting
opportunities in front of goal. At this point, it should be pointed
that the rules of the tournament meant that Queensland only needed a
draw to progress to the Final. Guess what?

The final result of 0-0 showed that our game had improved greatly
since the first match.

And that's it - tournament over and much to be proud of. A final
'by-the-way' - the colours of our team, Western Australia Country, are
black and gold (handy,eh?) and avid Clydesdale member, Alan Auld, has
had to wear the kit every day!!

We're back in Scotland by the 20th. Over and out.

AB

EHL Barca Day 1 - Thur 8th Oct

Was an early start for the Kelburne boys with a 5.15am meet at the airport. Almost got off to a bad start with H Coles queueing to check into the wrong flight! As usual we had to keep him right.

Two flights and a few games of card later (John C found Scabby Queen a challenge, not as bad as Gordo thou) we arrived in Barca. Sunny 24'C great weather for a few games of hockey!

After a bit lunch and a lie down we took our first trip the Polo Club for training. As expected the facilities where pretty good. Having to walk past the polo pitch, two hockey pitchs and 20 tennis courts to get to where we were training. A bit different from a Thursday night at Bella...

We finished the night with dinner, where Nelly, Iain H and Johnny went for the lobster, which definitly wasn't lobster.

Game 7 v Victoria City

Hi again

The final pool match. The game before us went to plan with New South
Wales winning easily, so that was one part of the jigsaw in place. The
game after ours would be the best team (Queensland) against our main
rivals for 4th spot ACT (Australia Capital Territory).

I played left half (the Aussie version of wing back) for most of the
match, with occasional spells at sweeper. It was quite a disjointed
game, probably because it meant so much.

We scored a field goal after some neat interpassing - not something
we've been famed for. Then as we have done in three previous games, we
stuck on this 1-0 scoreline until halftime. We then avoided our
customary slump after the break in the best possible way. We scored 2
(two) more goals, one short corner and one field. Ken Walter, our
pseudo Scot who invited me over, scored two of the goals - "at last"
as he said.

Result -3-0 and just what we needed. The game after us also went our
way with Queensland winning easily in the end.

So unbelievably we are in 'The Finals' as the Aussies have called the
final two matches. The first is on Friday at 1000 hours.

By the way, it's the first time West Australia Country have achieved
4th place in more than 10 years and I think we're the only WAC age
group to do it, so we'll have lots of support!

Who knows what will happen next? After all, it's Cup games from now on.

Alan Bryce

Game 6 v South Australia

Hi again

Both teams were competing for a final top-four spot. Basically, to be
sure of this, we had to win, while a draw would be pretty useless.
And I thought I was pretty tired.

I played sweeper, an innovation for Western Australia Country. We
dominated the game and were slaughtering them (1-0) with one minute to
go, when they were awarded a freak penalty flick. And of course they
scored!

To be honest, our inability to score goals, despite many chances from
open play (32) and penalty corners (7), was our downfall (well OK a
draw).

We still have a chance to qualify on Wednesday, but it depends on the
other teams' results.

The man of the match award went to - ME! There's no I in team but
there's a me. Of course these Aussies were just being nice but it
gives you an idea of how well the Scots have been integrated into the
squad.

Sent from my iPod
Alan

Match 5 against ACT (Sydney and the rest)

G'day mates

Played against ACT who are third in the tournament so far. We were
much more 'together' as a team. I played left half again (3rd time in
a row) and was on for the full 70 minutes.

We had many chances, only one of which was converted. Would we regret
this later on in the two-o'clock heat? Players were tiring and their
keeper made two wonder saves to keep them in it. Our keeper then stood
on the ball during an organised clearing-up of their rare forays into
the D. In the confusion, the ball ended up in the net.

Result 1-1 which is better for them than us. We now play the two
weakest teams while the top ones play each other. We're still in with
a chance of reaching the semis!

Did you know? When New South Wales held their start of season
over-60s tournament, 80 (yes, EIGHTY) teams took part. That's more
Teams than the Scottish Vets have Members.

Alan

Game 6 v South Australia

Hi again

Both teams were competing for a final top-four spot. Basically, to be
sure of this, we had to win, while a draw would be pretty useless.
And I thought I was pretty tired.

I played sweeper, an innovation for Western Australia Country. We
dominated the game and were slaughtering them (1-0) with one minute to
go, when they were awarded a freak penalty flick. And of course they
scored!

To be honest, our inability to score goals, despite many chances from
open play (32) and penalty corners (7), was our downfall (well OK a
draw).

We still have a chance to qualify on Wednesday, but it depends on the
other teams' results.

The man of the match award went to - ME! There's no I in team but
there's a me. Of course these Aussies were just being nice but it
gives you an idea of how well the Scots have been integrated into the
squad.

Sent from my iPod
Alan

Game 4 against Western Australia Metro

Hi again

Our match started at 1830 hours on Friday 2nd October. This was a very
intense local derby match, much like Kelburne/Western.

The debrief was taken up with detailed info about the opposition and
very little about us. I played the whole match and we won 2-1. Their
attack was very skilled, very mobile and constantly interchanging.

There was avery refreshing edge to the game and, as their captain and
coach said at the after-match presentation, we stuck to our tasks and
played as a team - and that if we'd played like that in our other
games, we would have nothing to worry about.

As it is, the order of teams is in the melting pot. Onwards and
upwards!

Alan

Catching up in Australia

Hi everyone

Problems with WiFi and Blackberry. Now standing in Federation Square
in Melbourne in a wireless zone.

Tuesday. Game v Queensland who are seeded 2nd best of the eight
States. After 25 minutes, we are winning 2-1 with two Scots scoring
our goals. Halfway through the second half the team hits a poor patch
of concentration and we lose 3 goals in quick succession. This
coincided with some interesting subs and ended up with a 5-2 defeat.

Disappointing but nevertheless an improvement in the team-play of this
'cobbled together' side. Tomorrow Thursday 1st October we play the 3rd
rated side, Victoria. Can we win a game in this Carnival of Sport?

Thursday. The answer to the above question is 'no' but at least we
have fought out a draw - 1-1. Onwards and upwards I hope!

Alan B

Meet and Greet my new team

Gday Kelburne

Today (Sunday 27th) is the first training session with my new team, Western Australia Country (WAC).  Trying to find strengths and weaknesses in the team - and taking some time to practice defending and attacking corners. 

The top States are reputedly New South Wales and Victoria; WAC is supposedly in the bottom four (of eight States).  Weather is windy and cool (8-13 degrees today), so it's actually warmer in Paisley!  My new uniform (kit) has also been handed over - not a fashion triumph, I'm afraid. 

Our first match is tomorrow morning.  More later.

Alan Bryce

Heading for the Oz State Champs

We are setting off for Melbourne and making the most of our free upgrade to Business Class. Good start, eh? At the last World Cup in Hong Kong (see previous blogs on Kelburne site) I was invited to play for Western Country State in the annual State Championships; at over 60 of course. These Champs are huge for Aussies and very competitive. It's all a bit nerveracking with the added challenge of new systems of play making the nagging of the 2 Stevies seem like childsplay. The Tournament starts on Monday 28th.

Strewth!

Alan B

Azerbaijan 3-1 Scotland

Bad news.

Scotland failed to secure their A division spot for 2011.

A very disappointing end to the tournament. The whole squad have trained very hard over a long period to get to this tournament and to come away with nothing is not only disappointing, but very hard to believe.

As a squad we'd like to thank the support of parents, friends and family not only during the tournament, but the long build up too. It is much appreciated.

Until the next time...

Russia 1-1 Scotland

In the first of their relegation pool games against Russia, Scotland started again brightly and opened the scoring in the first 10 minutes from a short corner. Beautifully finished by captain Linda Clement.

Scotland remained in control of the game for the rest of the half but yet again failed to convert their chances from both short corners and open play.

Into the second half Scotland continued to pressurise the Russian side and won more short corners, but still failed to convert. Russia eventually broke down the pitch to win a short corner from which they scored the equaliser.

As the game went on Scotland pressed the Russian defence creating more chances and winning yet more short corners - some of which went flying past the post.

With 5 minutes left on the clock Cat Forrest received a yellow card for a dubious tackle as the Russians advanced down the pitch.

So yet again Scotland are playing for survival, this time in the A division elite of Europe. A win against Azerbaijan on Saturday will secure Scotland's place in 2 years time.

Watch this space....!

Germany 4-0 Scotland

Scotland put in their best perfomance so far against the current European Champions this afternoon. We started the game well, but unfortunately succumbed to the German pressure early on and conceded a short corner which they executed well to go 1-0 ahead. It was still 1-0 at half time which we were pretty happy with.

We again started the second half well with energy, but again the German pressure brought about another short corner which drag flick specialist, and captain, Fanny Rinne slotted in the bottom corner.

Scotland had their share of pressure in the second half and failed to convert their only short corner of the match.

As time went on the Germans kept pressing and eventually scored another 2 in the last 10 minutes.

A good performance by Scotland against a very well organised German side who are ranked 3 in the world.

Scotland now go into the relegation pool along with Ireland from the same group and Russia and Azerbaijan from the other group. We now play Russia on Thursday - a game we are confident of getting a result from.

Ireland 0-0 Scotland

Scotland started the game brilliantly- a much improved start from the day before against Spain winning a short corner within the first 5 minutes. Unable to convert.

Throughout the first half Scotland dominated and won several short corners but were unable to convert each time.

In the second half we again started well, but didn't manage to create as many chances as in the first half. It was a frustrating display as we were unable to capitalise on any pressure.

A game which perhaps should've been won in the first half.

The other game in our group ended Germany 2-1 Spain.

We now play Germany on Tuesday 1530 hours - Eurosport 2 at 1430 hours (GMT)

JB

Spain 3-1 Scotland

Spain 3-1 Scotland (Holly Cram)

Scotland were down 2-0 at half time after a shakey start to the EuroHockey Nations in Amsterdam. Nerves were evident as Scotland struggled to string passes together. The 2nd half was a much improved performance with a goal in the first few minutes of the half. Unfortunately we were unable to capitalise on the pressure we created and Spain then scored another goal from a short corner.

We are very disappointed to lose our opening game, but we're focusing on our next game against Ireland (Sunday 0930 hrs) which is now even more important - a must win!!

The other game in our group ended Germany 7-0 Ireland.

JB

EuroHockey Nations, Amsterdam 2009

Goede Dag Iedereen!

We have arrived in Amsterdam for the EuroHockey Nations 2009.

Laura, Emily and myself arrived on Tuesday with half of the squad and the rest arrived Wednesday. We have had a couple of training sessions and a game last night in Den Haag against a club side (KZ which Cat Forrest played for last season).

We can't wait to get started now - first game tomorrow (Saturday) against the Spanish at 0930 hours. Ouch!

I've heard a rumour we might be on Eurosport 2, but not too sure...

Will be back with our score tomorrow avo.

JB

My coach Bart wanted the team back training as a team on the 20th January and the only people not to be in holland this early after Christmas were 2 of my Australian teammates who are Kiel Brown and Grant Schubert who at this point are both involved in  games against Holland and Belgium in Australia. So as i was over so early in january i thought it would be fun to play some indoor for them and see how it compared to the competition in Scotland. Indoor over here is very much one v one freestyle in attack thus making the defenders having to be very good and hard to beat.

Before Christmas Bart had spoken to us as a team and told us that we would be going to Rome for a week before the 2nd half of the season. At first it was meant to be Santiago in Chile and the club would be paying for us!!! Although at this team we only had 2 points in the league so the committee told us no. They said if we wanted to go anywhere then because if the credit crisis we would have to fund it ourselves. So we ended up in Rome. As players we had to pay 400 euros per person to cover the costs. To cover these costs after we came home we ran coaching clinics and had an auction in the club which we managed to raise 8500 euros. 

After Rome we had a few weeks for fine tuning before the season starts with us playing Amsterdam at home live on tv followed by a mid week game against Rotterdam at home which was re arranged due to bad weather in december. So there was still work to be done!!! Especially as Kiel brown had picked up an injury in Australia and would not be coming over until after easter and due to the credit crunch the club had said that we could not afford Grant Schubert so some people in the club got together and were able to make the deal happen and he came over 2 days before the 1st game which we lost 4-3 to Amsterdam. We played very well and felt hard done by to loose in the last 20 seconds of the game!!! Now for Rotterdam which we were able to record our first victory in the league this season with a 4-3 win!!! This meant that we were now joint bottom with Pinoke and we had a tough game against Kampong which we aimed to win on sunday. We started this game well and went 2 nil up before half time only to sit back in the 2nd half and let them back into the game and finish with the game tied at 2 each which now moved us off the bottom as Pinoke lost!!! 

We play Pinoke next friday night in a re arranged game which is a huge game that we must win!!! Before that we must travel to Tilburg on sunday and try and get some point from a team who are hard to beat and have a very good forwards.

I will keep you up to date with how thing unfold!!! 

Ralphy

P.S.  Good luck to all the teams in the league and cup competitions!!!! Come on the 'burne'