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Competitions
EuroHockey Nations Trophy (Men)

15th Sepetmber 2007
EuroHockey Nations Trophy (Men)
Lisbon (POR) 9-16 September 2007

POOLS

Pool A	Pool B
Poland	Scotland
Italy	Wales
Austria	Switzerland
Portugal	Ukraine

 

MATCH REPORTS

Day 1: Sunday 9 September 2007

11.00	B	Scotland	1	Ukraine	0
13.00	B	Wales	0	Switzerland	2
15.00	A	Poland	8	Portugal	2
17.00	A	Italy	2	Austria	3

Wales 0 Switzerland 2
A very disappointing start to the tournament really against a side that should not really have troubled us if we had played to our potential.
We got off to a fairly comfortable start and got into our stride pretty quickly, setting up camp in the Swiss 25 and winning an early corner which was charged down by the runner that broke early by about 3 yards (a rather recurring theme!). Despite our early dominance, we were not creating the chances that our possession and territorial advantage deserved and slowly the Swiss started to gain a little momentum despite deploying a fairly negative game plan.

All in all it was corners that settled affairs. They won 2 and for once George Harris was not able to shut out, the first deflecting high into the net off the bottom of his stick from a hit for the top, and the second a drag flick that went high between the keeper and post man. Despite winning 6 corners, we were unable to match our usually high strike rate.

What is becoming a far too familiar break in rhythm due to the extended period of time that many teams take to put on protective masks etc. needs to be addressed by the rule makers!
The feeling in the camp is one of annoyance that we just didn’t make it all come together when it mattered.

Day 2: Monday 10 September 2007

15.00	B	Scotland	6	Switzerland	0
17.00	B	Wales	2	Ukraine	2

Wales 2 Ukraine 2
Wales hopes of promotion to the Championship Division is now in the hands of others. Nothing more than a win in the first game on Wednesday v the Auld Enemy will do to keep the dream alive and even then we will be sweating on the right result in the Swiss v Ukraine match that follows.

This far from ideal situation comes about as a result of our inability to convert the corners and field goal opportunities that we are creating. Again having a good start, we fell behind from a deflected free hit and things got worse when a defensive lapse in concentration allowed the Ukrainians to go two up.

A field goal from Ollie Cooper and his second from a penalty corner brought us right back into the game after the break. Huge pressure and a number of corners was not enough to squeeze the win that our performance deserved and we will have to wait for Wednesday to see how things pan out.

The camp is aware of the situation it finds itself in and are aware that we can still finish first or last in this competition and will maintain its professional approach until the very last minute of the very last game in this tournament. Pulling on a red shirt with the feathers on remains a very special opportunity and the players understand the responsibility that comes with that honour. We fully intend to carry out that responsibility.

Day 3: Tuesday 11 September 2007

15.00	A	Poland	1	Austria	2
17.00	A	Italy	3	Portugal	0

 

Day 4: Wednesday 12 September 2007

11.00	B	Scotland	3	Wales	1
13.00	B	Switzerland	2	Ukraine	2
15.00	A	Poland	7	Italy	1
17.00	A	Austria	1	Portugal	1

Wales 1 Scotland 3
This match was perhaps the complete opposite of the recent Celtic Cup encounter between these two teams. This time it was Wales who dominated possession and territory and the Scottish keeper who continually thwarted the Welsh forwards making a number of spectacular saves , one on the half time whistle that looked a goal from the moment it left David Griffiths stick.

As is often the case when a dominant side can’t just make a breakthrough, it was the opponents that went in front five minutes before the break with a fairly soft penalty corner from Niall Stott that crept under George Harris in the Welsh goal.

From then on in, much of the flow of the game was disrupted by the awarding of a number of yellow cards for both teams, some that were clearly so, but other that left some observers a little baffled. The Scots were three goals to the good within five minutes of the restart (both from Mark Ralph corners) and the Welsh had to wait until 68 minutes to score what turned out to be a consolation goal from an Ollie Cooper corner.

This result could have been so different, but as it stands, instead of the hoped for semi final berth, Wales will have to start to regain some of the quality that they showed in matches leading up to this tournament if they are to avoid a hugely embarrassing slide into the bottom tier of European hockey nations. Whatever the outcome of the final two matches, bearing in mind the full preparation programme that has been undertaken, the results have been undoubtedly disappointing.

Day 5: Thursday 13 September 2007
Rest Day

Day 6: Friday 14 September 2007

11.00	C	Portugal	3	Ukraine	2
13.00	C	Italy	2	Wales	3
15.00	SF	Poland	3	Scotland	1
17.30	SF	Austria	2	Switzerland	2
		2-2 aet. Austria win 6-5 aps.

Wales 3 Italy 2
Wales finally registered a win despite not playing at their best. An early Huw Jones field goal went some way to settle the nerves allowing Wales to start to exert some authority on the Italians.
Turning round 1-0 up, in the heat of the day, the game was starting to even up in terms of possession and territory. This time though, the defence held strong and Wales went further ahead through an Ollie Cooper penalty corner.

Italy came back to 1-2 through a penalty stroke given for a very rash tackle in the circle by Pete Swainson, but Wales regained a two goal advantage with a Ben Rogers goal following a flowing move down their right flank. Italy again responded in coming back to 2-3 with a couple of minutes to go which were made even more nervy following a yellow card to Zak Jones that will count him out of their last match against Portugal tomorrow.

Wales held out and go in to the last day top of Pool C, needing at least a draw to remain in the Trophy division.

Day 7: Saturday 15 September 2007

15.00	C	Portugal	0	Wales	5
17.00	C	Italy	2	Ukraine	1

Wales 5 Portugal 0
Wales finished off their campaign and sealed a 5th place finish with a fairly comprehensive 5 goal win over the hosts which condemned them to the Challenge division for 2009.
Wales dominated early on, limiting the Portuguese to counter attacks that the defence managed very capably. Despite this, Wales were only one goal to the good at half-time; a goal from David Griffiths assisted by Huw Jones who rounded the keeper before unselfishly passing to Griffiths to tap in from a yard.
Although the Welsh were clearly in charge, their cause was improved shortly after the break when a Portuguese player made a second overly physical challenge and collected a red card dismissal.
The Welsh made the short-handed hosts work very hard knowing that opportunities would start to come their way as indeed they did. As the game wore on, space started to open up and the Welsh scored four further unanswered goals. Despite a second win in two days and a comfortable 5th place finish, the general feeling was fairly subdued as the whole Welsh set up was acutely aware that they realistically had the potential to be playing in the 1st to 4th place play offs.

Day 8: Sunday 16 September 2007

12.00	3/4	Scotland	3	Switzerland	3
		Scotland win 4-3 aet Golden Goal
14.30	Final	Poland	4	Austria	3

 

FINAL POSITIONS

1st   Poland (Promoted)
2nd  Austria (Promoted)
3rd   Scotland
4th   Switzerland
5th   Wales
6th   Italy
7th   Portugal
8th   Ukraine

 

 

Match Schedule subject to amendment at the discretion of EHF or the Tournament Director.

 

 

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