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WHU News Room >
11 September 2005 (PR19/05)
WALES OPEN WITH A WIN OVER
RUSSIA
The opening game in the European Trophy in Rome saw Wales take
maximum points. From the off Wales pushed the Russians back but
could not connect to their forwards. However after 16 minutes
Ollie Cooper got on the end of a high ball from Simon Organ that
the Russians failed to pick up. After beating two defenders he
committed the keeper then rounded him and finishing the ball
onto the backboard for his first goal of the day. However a
defensive error gave the Russians a short corner, on which they
capitalised. After two saves by George Harris everyone was
mesmerised as a looping ball that looked to be going wide, edged
into the top left corner from a wide angle. With the first half
coming to a close Wales got their third short corner of the day
but the resultant Simon Organ strike was well defended but in
the melee that followed Wales were somewhat aggrieved by the
umpires decision to play on. This was further compounded by the
success of the Russian counter attack and in the following
discussion over the umpires decision Ollie Cooper was yellow
carded. For the rest of the half it looked as if Russia could
actually succeed and they finished 2 – 1 ahead.
Wales started the second half in aggressive form and put Russia
under sever pressure. Only the odd counter attack saw them stray
across the halfway line. In the 42nd minute Matthew Ruxton found
himself alone in the D and in a position to push the ball past
the Russian keeper to level the game. The next five minutes saw
Russia completely under attack. Wales first short corner of this
period saw an Ollie Cooper flick stopped on the line by the hand
of the postman and they were unhappy not to get a penalty flick.
However the resultant short corner was similarly dispatched and
just a minute later another short corner was converted for Ollie
Cooper to take his second international hat trick this year and
three vital points in this opening game. Tomorrow sees them take
on Ireland. Having twice drawn with them in the Celtic Cup in
successive years it is almost certainly the game of this half on
the draw.
[ends]
Dave Cooper
Wales Seniors Press Officer
07958 958 470
Please note: Information published in news
stories was correct at the time of publication. Information,
circumstances and data may have chance since.
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