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JUNIOR CELTIC CUPS 2006

30th June 2006
DAY 1: Welsh Women draw but Men lose to France
In the first round of matches of the Junior Celtic Cup being held in Cardiff, Wales Women drew their encounter with France 1-1. With the French goal being cancelled out by a Tina Evans penalty corner, Wales unfortunately missed a penalty stroke with two minutes of the match remaining. In the Men’s match two goals before half time left Wales with too much to do and despite pulling a goal back through Gareth Thomas, France scored again to run out winners 3-1. In the other matches Scotland Men beat their Irish counterparts 3-1 with their Women drawing 1-1 against the same opposition.

Junior Women
Wales 1 – France 1

Wales started strongly against France with a dominant attack but failed to convert their early chances. France absorbed the Welsh attack and eventually changed defence to attack and challenged the Welsh defence without success. Chances were created by both sides but neither side could break the deadlock and the teams ended the half without score.

France took the initiative from the restart but the home side rallied hard to give very little opportunity for the French team to score. Eventually France scored from a well executed corner to take the lead to the home supporters disappointment but then were immediately put on the back foot thereafter by Wales.

Soon after Emma Batten won a penalty corner after being brought down by the French goalkeeper through which Tina Evans brought the score level.

With very little time left on the clock both sides wasted chances to take the game. Both teams ended the game with a point and Wales have plenty to take away and work on for tomorrows encounter with Scotland.

Junior Men
Wales 1 – France 3

The game began with France in attacking mode and for the first ten minutes they controlled the game forcing Wales to play in their in their own half. It wasn’t long before France gained a corner but Edward Jones in goal for Wales, made a fine save. For the next ten minutes Wales began to adapt to the pace, but on a quick break France opened the scoring. Five minutes later Wales were slow to react to a similar situation and France went into a 2–0 lead. With two minutes left on the clock before half time, Wales were awarded a penalty stroke and hopes were high that they could recoup lost ground. The French keeper however made a fine save and the score remained 2–0 to France.

Seven minutes into the second half, Brendon Noble showed good skill in breaking down the French defence and Gareth Thomas was able to slot in a goal for Wales Undaunted, France made another quick break and put the ball high into the roof of the net. France ran out as comfortable winners, but it was a game that Wales could have at least drawn, if they had taken their chances and reduced the number of simple errors.

Team: Edward Jones, David Kettle, Edward Phippen, Philip Siddorn, Mark Siddorn, Daniel Berry, Andrew Seimann, Mark Bateman, Steven Kelshaw, Ben Edge Daniel Packwood, Thomas Parry, Gavin Phillips, Brendon Noble, Joel Evans, Gareth Thomas.
 

Friday 30 June 2006

Scotland (Women)	1		Ireland (Women)	1
Scotland (Men)	3		Ireland (Men)	1
Wales (Women)	1		France (Women)	1
Wales (Men)	1		France (Men)	3

Positions
Women: All teams have 1 point
Men: Joint 1st Scotland & France (3pts)

1st July 2006
DAY 2: Wales Women draw and Men lose against Scotland
Despite trailing to a 9th minute goal, Wales U-21 Women did well to gain a point against Scotland with Sophie Robinson scoring a penalty corner equalizer. The Men were not so successful, as despite leading by 3-2 at half time through goals from Kelshaw, Berry and Noble, Scotland fought back with three unanswered goals of their own in the second half to run out winners by 5-3.

Junior women
Wales 1 – Scotland 1

After yesterdays game against France, Wales faced a possible competitor in the EuroHockey Junior Championship, Scotland. This would be the girls’ first taste of Championship division opposition.
Scotland pressured hard from the start but stalwart defending and firm goalkeeping kept the ball out of the goal. Scotland broke through with a penalty corner but the Welsh side didn’t capitulate and got straight back up and kept trying to break through the Scottish side. Wales ended the first half a goal behind but looked like they were starting to get the run of the game.

A more positive second half from the Welsh side meant more attacking of the Scottish circle capitalising with more penalty corners. A penalty corner that got turned in by Sophie Robinson meant they were back on level terms and the whole team’s tails were up.

The ball was moved well around the pitch and Scotland packed their circle to give little opportunity for Wales to attack. Both sides had a number of opportunities again to take the lead but neither managed to find the back of the net for that final goal.

The game gave the home side confidence that they will be able to compete in the Championship Division when they travel out to Sicily later in the month.

Junior Men
Wales 3 – Scotland 5

Wales began this game with much more purpose and within two minutes they were in the lead with a goal from Steven Kelshaw. Scotland were so stunned by this, that they then applied concerted pressure to equalise after four minutes. From this stage, play was end to end with both sides clearly wanting to attack their respective goals. However a breakaway down the right hand side of the pitch put Scotland into the lead. Shortly afterwards Scotland cleared off the line much to the dismay of the Welsh supporters. Undaunted, Wales continued to play well, so much so that they drew level with a goal from Daniel Berry and then went into the lead with Brendon Noble scoring three minutes before half time. At this stage, Wales were playing their best hockey of the Tournament.

Perhaps the crux moment of the game came just after the beginning of the second half, when Scotland set the scene, scoring a quick goal to draw level. Wales never recovered from this and Scotland punished them with two further goals in quick succession. Although Wales continued to play an attacking game trying to redress the balance, all attempts to breach the Scottish defence were thwarted. This game saw Wales putting in a much more positive display, but basic mistakes cost them the game in the end.

Team: Edward Jones, David Kettle, Dominic Graham, Philip Siddorn, Mark Siddorn, Daniel Berry, Andrew Seimann, Mark Bateman, Steven Kelshaw, Ben Edge, Daniel Packwood, Luke Carless, Gavin Phillips, Brendon Noble, Joel Evans, Gareth Thomas.

Saturday 1st July 2006

Ireland (Women)	4		France (Women)	1
Ireland (Men)	3		France (Men)	2
Wales (Women)	1		Scotland (Women)	1
Wales (Men)	3		Scotland (Men)	5

Positions

Women’s Tournament	Mens Tournament
1st Ireland 4 pts (+3) 2nd= Scotland 2 (0) 3rd= Wales 2 (0) 4th France 1 (-3)	1st Scotland 6pts (+4) 2nd France 3 (+1) 3rd Ireland 3 (-1) 4th Wales 0 (-4)

2nd July 2006
DAY 3: Wales women remain unbeaten but Men lose again
In their final matches in the Junior Celtic Cup, Wales Women held the eventual tournament, Ireland, to a 0-0 draw. In the men’s match however, Wales managed to hold out for a 0-0 halftime score but three goals from Ireland against a sole reply from Andrew Seimann left Wales pointless.

Junior women
Wales 0 – Ireland 0

The final Ladies game at the Celtic Cup was the battle between Wales and Ireland. Ireland just needed to draw to take the tournament and Wales needed all three points to take glory on home soil. Defensively Wales stayed tight, with goalkeeper Gemma Ible making some fine saves and the defence clearing up any loose balls when the unit had finally been penetrated. Ireland also swallowed up pressure from the home side by breaking down play and were lucky on a number of occasions not to see more cards from the umpires.

The hot conditions made it difficult for both teams to play in and with Wales and Ireland making regular substitutions they tried to keep a fast tempo going for the whole game.

Neither team took chances and it could be said that Wales were unlucky not to win but at the end of the game 0-0 was the score and while a frustrated Wales came off wondering about what could have been a jubilant Ireland came off with the result they needed to win the tournament.

Junior men
Wales 1 – Ireland 3

With hopes higher as a result of an improved performance against Scotland the previous day, Wales were very much hoping to get a positive result against the Irish. However it was Ireland who piled on the pressure in the opening minutes and had three corners in quick succession. Fortunately for Wales none of these were converted into goals. Eventually Wales began to claw their way back into the match and nearing the end of the first half they were awarded three penalty corners. Like the Irish they too were unable to convert their chances and so it was 0 - 0 at half time The beginning of the second half saw Ireland stun the Welsh team with two quick goals. This particular time in a match certainly seems to be a vulnerable point for Wales.

However they began to show more determination and this was rewarded with a goal from Andrew Seimann. Could Wales make a comeback? They had a few more chances of scoring, but it was the Irish who made the game safe by lashing in a third goal. Wales had a goal disallowed in the closing minutes but Ireland held out to finish as comfortable winners. Wales will now compete in the EuroHockey Junior Nations Cup in Gibraltar in July, where they hope to show improved performances by limiting the numbers of simple mistakes and being aware that absolute control in difficult situations, is essential at international level.

Team: David Kettle, Edward Jones, Dominic Graham, Thomas Parry, Edward Phippen, Daniel Berry, Andrew Seimann, Mark Bateman, Steven Kelshaw, Ben Edge, Daniel Packwood, Luke Carless, Gavin Phillips, Brendon Noble, Joel Evans, Gareth Thomas

Sunday 2nd July 2006

France (Women)	0		Scotland (Women)	1
France (Men)	2		Scotland (Men)	4
Wales (Women)	0		Ireland (Women)	0
Wales (Men)	1		Ireland (Men)	3

Positions

Women’s Tournament	Mens Tournament
1st   Ireland 2nd  Scotland 3rd   Wales 4th   France	1st Scotland 2nd Ireland 3rd  France 4th  Wales