There must be a mandate in Welsh Hockey that dictates we give teams a 2-0 lead at half time and then we start playing hockey!

India like their men’s team are technically extremely skillful. Their dribbling skills are superb and their wristy hitting of the ball the envy of most teams.   However this did not scare a fired up Welsh team who took it to them in the 2nd half.   UWIC goalkeeper Sarah Fellows played outstanding and made many heroic saves.   But really it was Swansea sweeper Amanda Roberts who tackled and distributed like a well-oiled machine.

Playing youngsters Kelly Martin and Natalie Hardwicke, both who have hardly played, caused all sorts of problems for the Indian defence.  It was a spectators dream.   End to end hockey with the only difference being India punished any defensive errors and scored some wonderful goals.

The Welsh will have to rely on real spirit and a bit of luck for if India beat Canada today, which should happen - but never rely on other teams doing your dirty work, they will be playing off for 9th – 12^th position which will be a fantastic achievement for a small hockey nation.

A second half hat trick from Sarah Thomas completed an absolute contrast in halves when the Welsh U-21 team beat Canada in Argentina.

Wales were in all sorts of trouble in the first half with Canada taking a 2 - 0 lead early in the match.   Even stand in goalkeeper Margaret Rees hardly had time to find her feet with Canada constantly applying pressure.   Centre back Lindsay Cole and left defender Pippa Jones tried their best but Canada were in complete control.   Wales had the chance to equalise early but despite a desperate dive from Caroline Marsden and the ball trickling over the line the umpire called no goal.

The second half epitomised the game of two halves analogy.   Wales asserted complete dominance with Swansea sweeper Amanda Roberts playing like a demon and confronting the Canadians aggressively whenever they received the ball.  Her interceptions sparked numerous right side attacks and right striker Sarah Thomas and captain Sian Nutting cut the Canadian defence to shreds with incisive runs.   The Welsh game plan in the second half was to put players forward and ensure the Welsh midfield had more room.  Strike forwards Nia Fowler, Carys Hopkins, Caroline Marsden and Sarah Thomas took advantage off the attacking space and forced several penalty corners.   A left lay off to Sarah Thomas sparked the first goal and the Canadian heads sunk.   Further devastating runs from promoted midfielder Abigail Welsford and a quick switch of the ball form Delyth Sharples once again put Sian Nutting in space.   Once in the circle she drew a player and slipped it to Sarah Thomas who, at the time was appealing for a penalty corner, found the ball on the end of her stick.   Making the most of the situation Sarah Thomas faked a shot at goal, dribbled the ball around the goalkeeper and calmly slotted the ball in the goal.

Wales were on a roll and the Canadians were constantly defending.   All the pressure meant another penalty corner and the ball was switched right and lifted brutally into a Canadian.   The umpire gave another corner and Sarah Thomas completed her routing of the distraught Canadians. With 6 minutes to go, Wales retained their composure and kept the ball on their right hand side until the final whistle went.

Although starting tentatively the Wales U-21 team gained composure and held possession well in the first 6 minutes against a very physical South African team.   Against the run of play South Africa scored after a goalmouth melee.

South Africa built on this and scored again in the 16 minute.   For the rest of the 1st half South Africa dominated and only some grand defensive work from Mags Reece in goal kept the score to 2-0 at half time.

In the second half Wales changed tactics and played a tighter match trying to play down the flanks.    This paid off for South Africa could not attack through the midfield as they had done in the first half.   Wales defenders Fran Williams (centre back) and Amanda Roberts (sweeper) asserted more dominance and restricted shots on the Welsh goal.