EUROHOCKEY YOUTH NATIONS TROPHY - U18 BOYS
Vienna (AUT), 6 - 11 July 2009
Pool A
France
Wales
Italy
Croatia
Pool B
Ireland
Switzerland
Austria
Ukraine
DAY 1: Monday 6 July 2009
Wales U18 Boys make 'lightning' start in Vienna!
Wales 5 (4), Italy 2 (1)
Wales started sharply and put the Italians under sustained pressure from the outset. Hasan Ali scored after 9' from a deflection after a quick free hit taken by Rob Trem. Within three minutes, Rhys Gowman made a great individual run and crossed into the D for Ben Davies to deflect the ball past the keeper.
The game was then end to end with defender Mike Shaw diving to clear a shot on route for goal. An aerial ball to the other end saw Ben Davies control the ball pass quickly to Freddie Campbell who scored. A period of pressure from the Italians led to them converting a penalty corner in the 21st minute but 5' later Max Stern added to the Welsh total with a great strike from the edge of the D.
Italy came out strongly after the break and scored within 5'. The game was then halted for 90 minutes by an electrical storm and flooded pitch. The break seemed to disrupt Wales' rhythm but Oliver Harvey scored a 5th goal 5 minutes from time.
This was a great start for Wales and hopes are high for the second match v Croatia.
| 11.00 | A | France | 14 | Croatia | 1 |
| 13.00 | A | Wales | 5 | Italy | 2 |
| 15.00 | B | Ireland | P | Ukraine | P |
| 17.00 | B | Switzerland | P | Austria | P |
DAY 2: Tuesday 7 July 2009
Wales U18 Boys secure another comprehensive victory!
Wales 10 (5), Croatia 0 (0)
Wales cruised to victory over a weak Croatian side and managed to maintain a consistently strong performance throughout the game. The Croatian defence kept the score at 0-0 for 15 minutes but then crumbled and conceded 5 goals in each half.
Notable Welsh performances came from Dafydd Bury with a hat trick and Si Hodgkinson who scored two goals playing out of his usual defensive position. Other goal scorers were Mike Shaw, Freddie Campbell, Hasan Ali, Ben Davies & Rhys Gowman. A comprehensive win for Wales who face a much harder challenge against a strong French side who have also won their first two games of the competition.
| 8:30 | B | Ireland | 5 | Ukraine | 1 |
| 10:30 | B | Switzerland | 0 | Austria | 4 |
| 13:00 | A | France | 6 | Italy | 1 |
| 15:00 | A | Wales | 10 | Croatia | 0 |
| 17:00 | B | Switzerland | 3 | Ukraine | 2 |
| 19:00 | B | Ireland | 2 | Austria | 4 |
DAY 3: Wednesday 8 July 2009
U18 Boys top group with a fantastic win over France
Wales 3 (2), France 1 (1)
Wales played France in a game to decide the winner of Pool A, with both teams having won their previous two matches. These teams had met only two weeks previously in Paris where the scores were level so it was always likely to be a tough game.
The sides were deadlocked for the first 20' but Wales were very strong in defence and broke down the French attack without allowing them scoring chances and built counter attacks patiently from the back which frustrated the French into making mistakes.
After 23' Oli Harvey scored for Wales after a complex penalty corner routine was executed perfectly. France came back strongly and Andy Hughes pulled off the first of a string of excellent saves however the equaliser came in the 27' from a penalty corner.
Wales continued to create scoring chances and took the lead again just before half time through a penalty corner routine converted by Hasan Ali.
The tempo continued in the second half with both sides having scoring opportunities but Wales gradually wore down the French defence and were unlucky not to take the lead when Mikey Shaw's drag hit the cross bar with 4 minutes to go. The pressure was kept up and eventually James Kyriakides scored Wales 3rd goal with two minutes to go. Wales deservedly top Pool A and play Ireland in the cross over on Friday 10th July at 1730.
| 11.00 | A | Italy | 4 | Croatia | 3 |
| 13.00 | A | France | 1 | Wales | 3 |
| 15.00 | B | Ireland | 2 | Switzerland | 2 |
| 17.00 | B | Austria | 5 | Ukraine | 1 |
DAY 4: Thursday 9 July 2009
Rest Day
DAY 5: Friday 10th July 2009
Wales 0, Ireland 1
This was an extremely tightly fought physical game with 70 minutes of backwards/ forwards play. Wales came close to scoring on several occasions but it was not to be. Ireland scored a scrappy goal from a deflection with 5 minutes of time remaining and Wales were unable to react in the few minutes left particularly as there were two players suspended from play for yellow card offences. The team now play hosts Austria for 3rd/4th place which will be another hard game. The Austrian supporters create a great atmosphere with cow bells, hooters and drums!
| 11.00 | 4A v 3B | Croatia | 3 | Switzerland | 7 |
| 13.00 | 3A v 4B | Italy | 5 | Ukraine | 2 |
| 15.00 | 2A v 1B | France (4-3 aet) | 3 | Austria | 3 |
| 17.30 | 1A v 2B | Wales | 0 | Ireland | 1 |
DAY 6: Saturday 11 July 2009
Wales 4 (3), Austria 1 (0)
U18 Boys beat Austria to take 3rd place
Wales bounced back from their disappointing result against Ireland to comprehensively beat Austria in front of their home crowd. The cagey, physical play from the day before was replaced by the normal confident attacking play characteristic of this Welsh side who got their opening goal after just two minutes when Hasan Ali put in a hard cross which was deflected into the goal by Dafydd Bury.
Wales continued to pour pressure on the Austrian defence and Dafydd Bury scored a second goal after 16 minutes after some good work by Alex Humphries who went on to get Wales' third goal with a reverse flick shot past the Austrian keeper.
Wales went into half time well in control of the game but the Austrian team started the second half much stronger and were able to get a goal back and put together several penetrating attacks. The Welsh side did not crumble though and withstood the pressure without conceding any thing further. With 7 minutes to go Freddie Campbell broke through the Austrian defence and crossed to James Kyriakedes who scored a magnificent goal into the roof of the net.
The result meant Wales finished in bronze medal position behind Ireland and France. Well done! The team hope for a different medal when they compete in the UK School Games in Cardiff at the beginning of September.
| 10.00 | 4a v 4B | Croatia | 2 | Ukraine | 12 |
| 12.00 | 3A v 3B | Italy | 3 | Switzerland | 2 |
| 14.30 | 3rd/4th | Wales | 4 | Austria | 0 |
| 17.00 | Final | France | 3 | Ireland | 5 |
Final Positions
1st Ireland (promoted)
2nd France (promoted)
3rd Wales
4th Austria
5th Italy
6th Switzerland
7th Ukraine (relegated)
8th Croatia (relegated)
