www.welsh-hockey.co.uk

The programme runs for two years with the priority of the first year being continued technical development while during the second half of the first year an element of tactical development will take place. Many of the players involved in this program are also gaining experience in the Senior Squad or the Academy during this first year in the cycle.

The focus of the second year is tactical development and game play. Technical development will be maintained, however, it will occur within a tactical framework. The programme allows more fixtures and ‘A’ division opponents are targeted. During this Competition year, the team will also contest the Junior Celtic Cup against Ireland, Scotland and France. The programme finishes off with the European Tournament normally held in July.

Athletes have access to a variety of support staff including coaches, a manager, physiologist, sport psychologist, physiotherapist and central support by the Welsh Hockey Union Performance Section.

Euro Hockey Junior Nations Championship - U21 Women
Catania (Ita), 23rd-29th July 2006

Day 1 - Sunday 23 July 2006

Scotland (A)	0		Spain (A)	3
England (B)	5		Belarus (B)	5
Germany (B)	7		Wales (B)	0
Netherlands (A)	1		Italy (A)	3

Newly promoted Wales had their first game against an established and well-structured German side, which proved a challenge for the underdogs. Although an aggressive start by the Welsh side to set the tone in which they absorbed continual pressure Germany struck twice in the first half.

After the break a positive Welsh side re-emerged determined to level the scores but were unable to break the German defence. Last years runners up in the Junior World Cup proved their status with a further five goals
in the second half. Two of their goals came within a couple of minutes to undermine the work rate and determination of the tournament debutants.

Despite an outstanding performance by the Welsh keeper who absorbed over 50 shots on goal Wales were unable to overcome the deficit and will enter their next game determined to prove their critics wrong.
 

Day 2 - Sunday 24 July 2006

Germany (B)	6		Belarus (B)	0
England (B)	2		Wales (B)	1

Off the back of a tough game with the Germans England would be the next group match. More than just an 'A' Division game this would be a battle between two old rivals. England going into the game a more relaxed side assuming they wouldn't have a problem in this game were put on the back a number of times throughout the first half and ended up 1-0 down at half time after a well worked penalty corner finished by Leah Wilkinson.

A shell-shocked England came out of the half time break ready to fight back. Wales fought hard and some great tackling in the midfield and defence held the Anglo side off. Two goals eventually came from the England team with the second coming within the last eight minutes. Wales had a penalty corner with a minute and half left to go but a stick save from the England keeper who turned it onto the post denied a well struck shot from Tina Evans. Lady luck favoured the England side in a game that probably deserved to be a draw, but the moral victory for the Welsh team outweighed the result and the work rate put in was extremely high.
 

Day 3 - Tuesday 25 July 2006

Netherlands (A)	1		Spain (A)	2
Scotland (A)	1		Italy (A)	0

Day 4 - Wednesday 26 July 2006

Belarus (B)	3		Wales (B)	1
Germany (B)	6		England (B)	0
Netherlands (A)	5		Scotland (A)	1
Spain (A)	1		Italy (A)	2

Perhaps complacency was the factor in this game. Belarus like Wales had lost both their games but by a significant difference against England. On results this should have been the money in the bank game but sadly the girls didn't deliver in the same way against Germany and more so England. The first Belarussian goal game from the spot after the Belarus forward came through the defence and was unfairly taken down by Gemma Ible. Belarus came out hard and kept hammering the Welsh team in midfield and our defence. Belarus scored a second before Tina Evans scored to bring the deficit to one.

The East European side put a third away to seal Wales fate and their place in the 5th-8th playoff positions, where they well face Scotland and surprisingly the Netherlands.

Final Ranking: Pool A	Final Ranking: Pool B
1. Spain (6pts) 2. Italy (6pts) 3. Netherlands (3pts) 4. Scotland (3pts)	1. Germany (9pts) 2. England (6pts) 3. Belarus (3pts) 4. Wales (0pts)

Day 5 - Thursday 27 July 2006:  REST DAY
 

Day 6 - Friday 28 July 2006

C Scotland (4A)	1		Belarus (3B)	2
C Netherlands (3A)	6		Wales (4B)	3
SF Italy (2A)	0		Germany (1B)	0
SF Spain (1A)	0		England (2B)	0

The first of the two crossover games was with an unexpected Netherlands side that had had a slow start to the tournament and ended up battling for the 4-8th place spots. The Dutch side started well getting an early goal in the fourth minutes. Wales started to play and also attacked the oppositions circle but were denyed by their keeper. Two more goals came in the 26th and the stroke of half time to give a three - nil lead to the Netherlands. Wales defended hard and some more fine saves from Gemma Ible in goal frustrated the Dutch. Though a strong performance by Wales, Holland still scored three more in the second half to give a slightly unflattering 6-0 result. Wales again performed well but just were unable to finish off some great work by the players.

Pool C: 1. Netherlands (6pts), 2. Belarus (6pts), 3. Scotland (0 pts), 4. Wales (0 pts)
 

Day 7 - Saturday 29 July 2006

C Scotland (4A)	0		Wales (4B)	2
C Netherlands (3A)	6		Belarus (3B)	0
3/4 Italy (4-3 aps)	1		Spain	1
F Germany	1		England	0

A re-run from the Celtic Cup the two sides both eager to get a result in this game. Wales wanting to make up for the draw they had with Scotland at the Cup in Cardiff and Scotland wanting to get a result after a tactic they tried in the preliminary matches backfired and then were beaten by the Belarussians.

The Welsh side made a marked improvement from previous games and showed the same grit and determination that they'd shown in the England game. The Scottish team defended a lot in the game and were getting rattled by
the feistiness and passion that the Welsh side were showing. Saves from the Scotland keeper however meant that the score stayed at 0 - 0 at half time.

A Goal from Leah Wilkinson in the 52nd minute broke the deadlock and not to let the crowd go quiet Tina Evans added a second two minutes later to make the crowd go wild in the main stand. Scotland could not produce any kind of answer and the Wales midfield and forwards made heavy work for the Scottish defence. The question that most people couldn't get out of their mind was why the Wales side couldn't keep a level of consistency throughout the tournament. With points finally on the board they finished 7th and what seemed like a small consolation at the final presentations it was announced by Santi Motta that the Team to win the Fair play award was Wales. A well deserved award as their discipline towards opposing teams and the umpiring staff was the best out of the teams.

Final Rankings:

1. Germany - European Champions
2. England
3. Italy
4. Spain
5. Netherlands
6. Belarus
7. Wales
8. Scotland 

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U21 Women’s Management Team

NATIONAL COACH Merijn van Willigen	Email:merijn@btinternet.com
MANAGER Lucy Shephard	Email:lhsheppard@hotmail.com
PHYSIOTHERAPIST Jessica Crowley
ASST. COACH TBC
GK COACH Phil Edwards

U21 Women’s Competition Results 2004 onwards

Date	Competition	Opponent	Result	Venue	Final Position
02/07/04	Celtic Cup	Scotland	1-1	Aberdeen
04/07/04	Celtic Cup	France	0-0	Aberdeen
25/07/04	Euro Nations Cup	Russia	3-1	Swansea	Pool
26/07/04	Euro Nations Cup	Ukraine	4-3	Swansea	Pool
28/07/04	Euro Nations Cup	Poland	3-1	Swansea	Pool
30/07/04	Euro Nations Cup	Lithuania	1-0	Swansea	1-4
31/07/04	Euro Nations Cup	Italy	1-0	Swansea	1
30/06/06	Celtic Cup	France	1-1	Cardiff
01/07/06	Celtic Cup	Scotland	1-1	Cardiff
02/07/06	Celtic Cup	Ireland	0-0	Cardiff	3
23/07/06	Euro Championship	Germany	0-7	Catania	Pool
24/07/06	Euro Championship	England	1-2	Catania	Pool
26/07/06	Euro Championship	Belarus	1-3	Catania	Pool
28/07/06	Euro Championship	Netherlands	0-6	Catania	5-8
29/07/06	Euro Championship	Scotland	2-0	Catania	7

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