Welsh Hockey Union/Undeb Hoci Cymru

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 2006/7

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 2005/6

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Competitions
Celtic Cup (Men & Women)

21st July 2007
European Hockey Federation: Celtic Cup (Men & Women)
Wrexham, Wales, 21-23 July 2007

TEAMS

MATCH SCHEDULE

Saturday 21 July 2007

Women - Scotland 4 Ireland 1
A pc through Nikki Kidd after only 2' saw Scotland open the scoring. Scotland continued to press without further success until 36' when a scrambled goal from Holly Cram doubled their advantage. Cram scored their third in 46' following a quick attack from their own defence. Ireland started to take the game to the Scots and won a penalty stroke in 67' following a stick tackle which was duly converted by Nicky Symmons. In the following minute some quick passing enabled Nikki Kidd to score her 2nd and Scotland's 4th to run out winners 4-1.

Men - Scotland 1 Ireland 3
A fairly even first period in which each team probed for weaknesses in the opposition before Ireland broke the deadlock in 26' when Eugene Magee slipped home Ireland's first goal. Down to 10 men following a yellow card for deliberate break down of play awarded to Scotland's Stephen Dick enabled Ireland to increase their lead through a Mark Irwin flick over the advancing goalkeeper just before the break. Early in the second half Scotland's Niall Scott was awarded both green and yellow cards within a 2' minute period which seemed to spur his team on with David Mitchell pulling a goal back to reduce the advantage. However the Irish were not to be stopped and a drag flicked penalty corner by Stephen Butler with 8' left sealed the win.

Women - Wales 4 France 0
Wales opened their Celtic Cup with a convincing 4-0 win over France, the team that had beaten them by the same scoreline only 3 weeks ago. Pippa Jones opened the home teams account after 17' following up a rebound off the goalkeeper. After 31' Carys Hopkins capitalised on a defensive error on the French half way line, carried the ball to the backline and slipped the ball to Kayleigh Humphries who pushed home to double the lead. France earned a penalty corner just before the break but despite striking the ball home it was disallowed for being too high. Carys Hopkins scored the third herself with a fine reverse shot beating the goalkeeper on the far post after 46'. A penalty stroke awarded after 61' for a deliberate foul gave Dawn Mitchell the chance to wrap up a 4-0 victory for the hosts.

Men - Wales 1 France 3
In the days final match it was to be France that opened the scoring, against the run of play, when their Captain, Frederic Soyez scored an excellent individual goal in rounding the defence before slotting the ball home after 10'. Wales tried to force the equaliser but a penalty corner to France (28') enabled Soyez to double their advantage. With no further goals in the half Wales took just three minutes to open their account after the restart when Ollie Cooper drag flicked a penalty corner low into the corner of the goal. Despite their best efforts to draw level it was not to be with France scoring the final goal when Martin Genestet scored following a slick passing move.

Sunday 22 July 2007

Women - Ireland 1 France 0
In somewhat of a dour encounter, neither team seemed capable of breaking down their opponents inside the 23 metre line. Ireland came closest to breaking the deadlock with two penalty corners on the stroke of half time but to no avail. A yellow card reduced the French to 10 players during the latter part of the game and it was only a deliberate stick tackle on a Irish stick that enabled Nikki Symmons to convert the resultant penalty stroke and score the games only goal.

Men - Ireland 1 France 1
In a fast and furious match, littered with green and yellow cards, both sides came close to opening their account with both goalkeepers being tested. Ireland struck the post after 24' but it was France who took the lead (32') when Arnaud Becuwe followed up a free hit just outside the circle which rebounded off the goalkeeper. In an end to end second half the match became even more tense and it was the Irish who drew level through a well worked short corner from Eugene Magee with two minutes of the match left.

Women - Wales 1 Scotland 7
In a huge reversal of fortunes from the previous day, Wales came up against an extremely determined Scotland who allowed the hosts no quarter. In torrential rain, with a penalty corner and two field goals being conceded in only 11 minutes through Holly Cram and two from Sam Judge (who had only been on the pitch a matter of seconds before scoring) it was always going to be an uphill struggle. A 4th Scottish goal after 28' through a penalty corner from Catriona Forrest only went to consolidate their lead although Sarah Thomas managed to pull one back through another penalty corner after 35'. Try as they might, Wales could not make any further inroads with the Scots going on to score three more goals through Louise Carroll, Sam Judge (her third) and Cheryl Valentine.
 

Men - Wales 1 Scotland 0
Determined to make up for yesterdays defeat, Wales were put on the backfoot by an attacking minded Scotland who squandered a number of chances. George Harris, the Welsh goalkeeper made a number of outstanding saves to keep the opposition at bay with the first half ending level. Scotland continued to apply the pressure but Harris was not to be beaten. With 6' minutes remaining, Andrew Seimann beat a number of players before slipping the ball to the left channel and from the resultant cross a rebound off the goalkeeper was met by a crisp shot into the roof of the net by Ollie Cooper. This led to a tense final 5 minutes with both sides reduced to 10 men through yellow cards during which period Harris was again called upon to thwart the opposition to leave Wales victors at 1-0
 

Monday 23 July 2007

Women - France 0 Scotland 6
In a convincing display Scotland earned maximum points from their final match to win the Women's Celtic Cup with three straight victories. Although it took them until the 26' to open their account through a penalty corner from Linda Clement, Scotland's intentions were clear that they intended to maximise the opportunity to inflict a big defeat on their French opponents. Within three minutes Sam Judge had converted another penalty corner to double their advantage. A French foot on the line enabled Emma Rochlin to score from the resultant penalty stroke followed by another penalty corner through Clement after 58'. The French cause was not helped by a number of yellow cards being received reducing them to 9 players on two occasions and with Scotland's penalty corner routine working well, Nikki Kidd scored their 5th with the scoring being completed by Cheryl Valentine in the final minute.
 

Men - France 0 Scotland 1
Scotland recorded their first points of the tournament in defeating their French opponents. France were denied an early lead with an excellent goal line clearance. Scotland responded when earning their own penalty corner and although not converted it was the beginning of a period of pressure which included three yellow cards being awarded against the French reducing them to 9 players at times. Despite the numerical advantage Scotland were unable to open their account. A deliberate offence in the circle enabled Mark Ralph to convert the resultant penalty stroke after 46'. This seemed to spur France on but despite having 5 penalty corners they were unable to force the equaliser leaving the tournament open to either Ireland or Wales to overtake them for the title.
 

Women - Wales 0 Ireland 3
In a match that would decide 2nd and 3rd position, Ireland struck an early blow when converting a penalty corner through Nikki Symmons after only 5'. Wales could not stage an immediate reply and went further behind through another corner from Symmons, her 4th goal of the tournament. With no further goals before the break the pressure was on Wales to take the game to Ireland but unfortunately it was the Irish who went further ahead following a full length dive from Cathy McKean to slip home a left wing cross. Try as they might Wales could not open their account leaving Ireland to take 2nd place.
 

Men - Wales 1 Ireland 0
In a winner take all match, George Harris gave another masterclass in the art of goalkeeping. A fairly even first half in which few chances were created left both sides looking for the one goal needed. Ireland pressed throughout the second half but Harris was determined that he would not be beaten. A penalty corner proved to be the decisive moment when after 54' a Oliver Cooper low drag flick into the corner gave Wales the lead that they were not to lose. Despite being the lowest ranked team in the Celtic Cup, in winning the tournament Wales have done their confidence no harm in their quest to gain top division hockey in the forthcoming EuroHockey Nations tournament.

Final Positions - Women

1st        Scotland (9 pts)
2nd       Ireland     (6 pts)
3rd        Wales      (3 pts)
4th        France     (0 pts)

Final Positions - Men

1st        Wales    (6 pts)
2nd=     Ireland   (4 pts)
2nd=     France    (4 pts)
4th        Scotland (3 pts)
 

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