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INTERNATIONAL TEAMS -
Junior Academy
under 16 Boys, Easter Tour
- Belgium & France, April 2006
Following the decision to reinstate the Junior Academy into European
competitions, the annual Junior Academy Easter tour took on a slightly
different emphasis with further development of technical and tactical
skills being a priority.Both the boys and girls took a very young
and inexperienced squad for the nine day trip with only six out of
thirty-two athletes having played international hockey before. The
management was also learning to work together with the boys having a new
Head Coach, Andy Mitchell and a new manager, Richard Colchester. The
girls also had a new Head Coach, Andy Ible while Llian Trew continued
her role as manager.
Overall the tour was very successful with both management and players
getting a good understanding of the requirements of international hockey
while highlighting areas of strength and weakness within their squads.
With the priority being the Europeans in July the tour was process
driven with an improvement in performance every time the squad took to
the field.
The athletes and management were a credit to their country performing
both on and off the pitch and highlighting the development that is being
done at the junior end of Welsh Hockey. Both squads are heading to the
Europeans with high hopes of performing on an international stage.
Match Reports
12th April 2006
Wales Junior Academy v Parc Hockey Club, Brussels
This was the first time the Welsh Squad had played together and all
players were given an opportunity to perform. The Belgian players were a
mixture of ages under 18 and included some internationals. Their skill
particularly first touch proved too good for the first tour match. The
final score 5-1 with Mike Pennington getting the solitary welsh goal.
13th April 2006
Wales Junior Academy v Royal Antwerp Hockey Club
The second game showed the team had learnt and listened following
game one. Better team communication, passing and movement. Again all
players had pitch time. Although the score again was 5-1 with Josh
Williams scoring the overall performance was much improved. The
opposition had a mixture of ages up to 18 but overall were technically
less impressive than Match 1.
14th April
Wales Junior Academy v Royal Antwerp Hockey Club
The third game again saw all players used. The quality of control,
passing and movement continued to improve. Linked to these improvements
was a beginning to match the more physical aspects of the continental
game. By half time the Welsh team were 2-0 ahead. The score progresses
to 3-1, 4-1, 4-2, 4-3 and 4-4 as the physical strength of the opposition
older bigger players played a bigger and bigger part in the game. The
end of the match closed with Wales failing to convert a penalty stroke.
The Welsh scorers were Jack Dennis, William Bond, Josh Williams and
Gareth Hughes.
15th April 2006
Wales Junior Academy v France
The first international versus France saw a continued improvement in
play. The team managed to match the French in the first 30 minutes
before conceding before half time.
In the second half the team continued to play well before conceding a
second goal. However, the team’s effort, aggression and improved skills
resulted in a goal. In an attempt to get a result out of the game the
tactics were all out attack. Unfortunately the tactics resulted in
breakaway goals with the final score 4-1. The scorer was Ben Carless who
was also captain.
16th April 2006
Wales Junior Academy v France
This saw a new tactic with a half court press which all players had
understood despite never having played the system before. The French
scored first but Jack Dennis equalized. However, the French ran out 2-1
winners. Again all players were on the pitch at some time and for a
reasonable time span. There was great support during the game due to
parents. Captain David Bond.
18th April 2006
Wales Junior Academy v France
The final game showed both the team improvements and areas where
players can improve. After a very even first half with the highlight
being a man to man marking involving Owain Dolan-Grey. In the second
half the team came under intense pressure and failed to take advantages
of breakaways. The inevitable was as the Welsh team tired the French
team ran out 5-0 winners. Captain Josh Williams.
The score deserved to be much closer but all players were involved. All
the games helped both the management and players to progress to the
championship late in the year. There is still much that the team can be
taught but performances against France were highly encouraging.
Summary
Overall the trip was a great success with all athletes well aware of
the demands of international hockey and the steps that they need to take
in order to be successful at the Europeans in July. Many thanks must go
to all the management team who all gave up their time to develop these
athletes and without whom hockey within Wales would cease to exist. Both
squads now look forward to preparing for the focus of the year in July.
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