CT10 x PHOTO MONTAGE VIDEO

The Gryphon guns that played during the Champions Trophy in Mönchengladbach this year have been compiled into a short video montage. These are photos taken during the event from angles that you the TV tends not to get of the player, their emotions, actions frozen in time. That mid-air leap to the ball or the strain shown on their face to make the perfect pass.

Enjoy.

Photos: Daniel Carson | www.dcimages.org

CT10 x DAY5 x TINDS VID INTERVIEW

Jame Tindall scored two great goals today…  He’s confident that they will have a chance to play Australia in the Final, he let’s us know if they can beat the Aussies.

CT10 x DAY2 x ENG v SPN

Both team lost yesterday. Both teams scored two goals each. Both teams are missing one or two key players. Besides that, both teams have brought their strongest team.

England tried the Australian full press against Germany and lost out being unable to penetrate into the D with any purpose or control. They looked rushed, rather than their composed self that was at Euro’s last year and at times in the World Cup.

Spain bring some youth, but developed and talented youth to this squad. Not matter how bad things looked yesterday they kept their heads high and played good hockey.

Today both teams need a win. They NEED a win. Such a short event and every loss hurts.

What we got…

Was a Draw.

3 goals a piece.

England scored very quickly at the opening of the game in a flurry catching the Spanish asleep. Sadly the rest of the half was nothing to write about. So I wont.

The second started the same as the first started. Then it got interesting with Spain scoring and then trading scores with England until the 66th minute and Spain equalised. Three goals each…

It was a like a loss for England. To get into the finals from here is a hard ask for sides.

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org

CT10 x WOMEN DAY 5 X MENS 4NATION FINAL

CT10 x REST DAY x MENS 4 NATIONS

Cheers, Smithy

CT10 x REST DAY + MENS FOUR NATIONS

WC10 x DAY9 x ENG v SPN

England, top of the table and undefeated.  Spain was shunted out of reasonable chance for the finals by Australia last round. They are playing for world rankings.

A win or draw for England would lock them in top spot, but a loss would open them up for being chased down by Australia, the only other team in the pool that can make the Semis.

Early on England looked to attack more than once through Gryphon and their most dangerous man, James Tindall. The half moved in waves upon waves of attacking moves from both sides but with each attack the movements were broken down too easily.  It wasn’t pretty hockey.

England looked a little lost on the pitch while Spain were driving hard trying to prove a point, but unable to make headway.  The second half kept on working the same way as the first. As the game wore on fatigue started to set in and a little more space opened up.

It was a run from Eddie Tubau that proved to break the deadlock. He beat the English keeper with a slight step and the goal was walked in.

With that goal, the game got more fiery and the tempo lifted. Along with also jumped the English tempers. Unfortunate nothing eventuated for the English and the Spaniards took the win to hold onto third place in the pool.

Final score England 0 – Spain 1

England would now watch Australia, which with a win, could take top place. England also has taken a hit as it’s their first loss a dip in the form graph.

Photos: Daniel Carson | DCIMAGES.ORG

WC10 x DAY7 x ENG v IND

The “Difference”.  I think that’s what I’ll be calling James Tindall from now on.

He’d scored already 10 goals in the World Cup history with 3 in 2010. And it was Gryphon and England’s striker that opened the scoring in one of the most intense arenas in Hockey History.   In the 16th minute, Tindall broke the pressure that the home Indian team and their massive stadium crowd was placing on the English.   It would be the only score of the half.

I’ve talked about it before and shown some video of the arena that is here in India, but it cannot be taken for granted at any point. Games involving India are just incredible.  The Indian team had a slim chance of making the finals, and England needed this win to book their spot in the Semis for certain.  The local crowd clearly knows how to play their part and looked to have an influence on each team. Every touch by the Indian team was cheered loudly, and anything but the English was eerie quietness. Especially Tindall’s goal. It was like everyone had suddenly gone home.

The English were forced to play a different defensive structure and also due to the same injury to Mantell played for field goals more than corners. It was asking for a more exciting game.  Very early in the second the English scored twice within 5 minutes of each other.  The home crowd was stunned and some already decided to leave.

Indian players knew that they still had some kind of chance to make a game of it and played with full body and stick at all times, which also caused some more knocks to the English tourists.

Lifted by the deafening crowd, the home team rose and started to look dangerous and scored twice with 13 minutes to go.  The game was alive with a 3 – 2 scoreline.  Sadly for them, that would be the final score.

England are totally booked into the Semis now with an unbeaten record with Spain yet to play.

India bail out of the Semis sitting in 4th in the pool with South Africa yet to play.

Photos: Daniel Carson | DCIMAGES.ORG

WC10 x DAY 1 x ENG v AUS

Game two of the opening day pitted the current Euro Champions England against the Champions Trophy winners and tournament favourites, Australia.

The game followed a trend from start to finish. The main aspect being Australia in domination of play and winning a mountain (13) penalty corners, while England only won a total of 2 corners. The difference in this being that the Brits converted 2 of their 3, while Australia only converted 1 although it wasn’t a clean PC variation.

The difference between the two sides was arguably Gryphon and England’s James Tindall. Tinds scored the goal that sent England to a score of 2 goals to 1 going into the halftime break.

Again Tinds was crucial in the third goal by running down the left wing with a brilliant in-board pass to create an easy chance for England to all but ruffle out the Aussies in the 45th minute to take a 3 to 1 lead.

No matter how much intensity nor how far the Aussies were able to push the English back into defence, the game never really looks like turning. England was more puposeful with the ball in attack and gave the Aussies a hard time with frustration being brought out.

In a continuation of the rules introduced late last year, both teams used the referral system to full effect with more than one referral working from each side.

Was it an upset? England have promised to show more form than they took to Melbourne last year and have shown it tonight.

PHOTOS: DANIEL CARSON | DC IMAGES

CTT09 x DAY2 x ENG v SPN

The final game of the week, and going into a rest day here in Melbourne, the last two teams to play were England and Spain.  Both teams lost yesterday and a loss to either would severely  dent any chances for a top two playoff.

Intensity was not lacking. A great feature of these games here in Melbourne. Also not lacking are goals. Game one today netted 8, game two have 9 and tonight saw 6 goals go in.  Something to do with the new rules?  Your call on that one…

Gryphon Gun, James Tindall squarely threw England’s intentions out there in the 2nd minute of the game with Short variation putting Spain on the back foot. The thing is, they didn’t stay there too long and the Spanish jumped forward 6 minutes later and popped in their own PC making it one all at the eight minute mark. Ribas again scored from another Short in the 16th and Spain were looking dangerous.  They attacks were not as frequent but it was evident that the English defence was unable to cope totally and conceding Shorts was all too common.

In a battle of goal scoring Tindall again grabbed himself another glorious goal to tie the game.  England were on the attack and barely 2 minutes later the English captain took his team into the lead for the half time break.

In the second, the game was like a ship rocking in stormy weather with each team turbulent in attack each way. Not to say not much happened as players went flying, umpires were shouted at and in turn players were put on that little chair for all to see off the pitch.

England started to look the more tired of the two and the Spanish attack lead by Eddie Tabau kept their legs to mount breaking attack after attack until the in 66th minute a well executed play with Amat netted Tabau the equaliser goal. The final six minutes saw Spain having more chances but unable to secure the win leaving them in a draw.

Gryphon Gun James Tindall ended up with two vital goals for England taking him to equal top goal scorer of the tournament with 3.

The final placings after the today look like this.

AUS (6pts – 11f, 2a) | GER (3pts – 6f, 7a) | KOR (3pts – 5f, 7a) | HOL (3pts – 5f, 9a) | SPN (1pt – 5f, 6a) | ENG (1pt – 5f, 6a)

Tomorrow is a rest day for the teams, but don’t be surprised if you see more from me.

DC to the bar!

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org

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