WCQ TWO x NEW ZEALAND VICTORIOUS

THE FINALS – DAY SIX

It’s Finals Day and that means the 2nd last spot in the WC 2010 will be decided. First up in todays matches: Austria took on Wales in a game that had five 2nd half goals.

In a less than predicted match up on Day Six China faced  Scotland in a game where Scotland would consider themselves a chance. China entered this match coming off two straight defeats at the hands of New Zealand and Malaysia.

In the Final of this Tournament, New Zealand and Malaysia played for the 11th place at the Hero Honda FIH World Cup in New Delhi, February 2010. A lot at stake, one match, one last chance…Enough said, here’s the breakdown…

Austria v Wales 3:2 (0:0)
WAL 39mn Benjamin CROXALL (FG) 0:1
WAL 41mn Matthew RUXTON (FG) 0:2
AUT 42mn Georg JELINEK (FG) 1:2
AUT 54mn Georg JELINEK (FG) 2:2
AUT 61mn Michael KORPER (FG) 3:2

China v Scotland 2:2 (3-5 aps) (1:2)
SCO 18mn Stephen DICK (FG) 0:1
CHN 20mn Yixian LIU (PC) 1:1
SCO 24mn Kenneth BAIN (FG) 1:2
CHN 38mn Fenghui LU (PC) 2:2

New Zealand v Malaysia 2:1 (0:1)
MAS 18mn Muhammad RAHIM (PC) 0:1
NZL 57mn Andy HAYWARD (PC) 1:1
NZL 60mn Andy HAYWARD (PC) 2:1

So it’s confirmed. New Zealand now join the other ten teams that have already qualified for the 2010 World Cup. The last spot will be filled by one of the teams competing in the WCQ 3 that is currently underway in Quilmes, Argentina, where Belgium and the hosts are the arguable favourites.

WC 2010 – Those that have qualified to date:

India (Host)

Canada (Champion of the 3rd Men’s Pan American Cup)

Korea (Champion of the 8th Men’s Asia Cup)

South Africa (Champion of the Africa Cup of Nations, 2009)

Australia (Champion of the 6th Men’s Oceania Cup)

England (Champion of the 12th Men’s EuroHockey Nations Championship)

Germany (Silver medalist of the 12th Men’s EuroHockey Nations Championship)

Netherlands (Bronze medalist of the 12th Men’s EuroHockey Nations Championship)

Spain (Fourth ranked team of the 12th Men’s EuroHockey Nations Championship)

Pakistan (Winner of the Men’s World Cup Qualification Tournament – No. 1)

New Zealand (Winner of the Men’s World Cup Qualification Tournament – No. 2)

1 vacancy left:

Winner of the Men’s World Cup Qualification Tournament – No. 3 – Currently underway in Quilmes, Argentina

WCQ TWO – INVERCARGILL – DAY 5

DAY FIVE

The first up in match on Day 5 was the UK derby between Scotland and Wales where no team would hold back. Wales searching for their first win of the Tournament. New Zealand was expected to beat Austria but would always be up for a tough game, in which Gryphon’s Simon Child scored a double to take his overall tally to 6 for the tournament and equal top goal scorer. In the final game of the day, doubled as an unofficial semi-final for China and Malaysia to determine who would face New Zealand in the final tomorrow.

Results Day 5: Saturday 14 November 2009

Scotland v Wales 2:1 (0:0)
SCO 37mn Stephen DICK (FG) 1:0
SCO 51mn Mark RALPH (PC) 2:0
WAL 56mn Rufus MCNAUGHT-BARRINGTON (PC) 2:1

New Zealand v Austria 4:0 (3:0)
NZL 8mn Phil BURROWS (FG) 1:0
NZL 24mn Simon CHILD (FG) 2:0
NZL 29mn Priyesh BHANA (FG) 3:0
NZL 67mn Simon CHILD (FG) 4:0

China v Malaysia 0:3 (0:0)
MAS 37mn Kevinder SINGH (FG) 0:1
MAS 38mn Tengku JALIL (FG) 0:2
MAS 51mn Nabil NOR (FG) 0:3

With the Round Robin phase now complete, we now sit back and await Day Six action. The ever-improving Austrians up against Wales who will want to finish on a high after their first win. In an unlikely match up, China will take on Scotland for 3rd place.

The Final of the BDO World Cup Qualifier in Invercargill will be played between hosts, New Zealand and Malaysia. It promises to be a tight and physical battle as we will find the eleventh nation to qualify for the Hero Honda World Cup in Delhi 2010.

Standings DAY 5: NZ 15pts, MAS 10pts, CHN 9pts, SCO 6pts, AUT 4pts, WAL 0pts

WCQ TWO – INVERCARGILL – DAY FOUR WRAP

DAY FOUR

Less than favourable conditions welcomed the teams on Day Four of the BDO World Cup Qualifier in Invercargill. Crucial matches were played today which could determine the final placing in the Round Robin; first up Malaysia and Scotland battled it out in a tight tussle. Austria came up against Wales in a game where the Welsh would want to get off the bottom on the table; and finally, Gryphon’s Simon Child was on fire for the Black Sticks in their clash against China to potentially determine the top placing in the Round Robin phase of the tournament.

Malaysia v Scotland 3:2 (3:0)
MAS 7mn Faizal SAARI (FG) 1:0
MAS 27mn Faizal SAARI (FG) 2:0
MAS 35mn Mohammad RAHIM (PS) 3:0
SCO 37mn Kenneth BAIN (FG) 3:1
SCO 49mn Stephen DICK (FG) 3:2

Austria v Wales 2:0 (1:0)
AUT 18mn Michael KORPER (PC) 1:0
AUT 50mn Benjamin STANZL (FG) 2:0

China v New Zealand 1:6 (0:3)
NZL 9mn Andy HAYWARD (PC) 0:1
NZL 14mn Andy HAYWARD (PC) 0:2
NZL 29mn Phil BURROWS (FG) 0:3
NZL 46mn Simon CHILD (FG) 0:4
NZL 52mn Simon CHILD (FG) 0:5
NZL 56mn Hayden SHAW (PC) 0:6
CHN 69mn Yang DONG (PC) 1:6

Standings DAY 4: NZ 12pts, CHN 9pts, MAS 7pts, AUT 4pts, SCO 3pts, WAL 0pts

WCQ TWO – INVERCARGILL – DAY 3 WRAP

DAY THREE

Day Three was by far the closest day result-wise in this Tournament. We saw two close games between Austria and Scotland; and likewise China and Wales, in a game which saw Wales leading from the 44th minute. In by far the match of the Tournament so far, New Zealand held off the challenge from Malaysia. So it looks like NZ  and China are the big threats for the winner-take-all final on Sunday, but can Malaysia make ground with two round matches remaining…

Austria v Scotland 2:3 (1:0)
AUT 27mn Peter PROKSCH (PC) 1:0
SCO 37mn Ross STOTT (FG) 1:1
AUT 59mn Michael KORPER (PC) 2:1
SCO 61mn Kenneth BAIN (FG) 2:2
SCO 66mn Mark RALPH (PC) 2:3

Wales v China 1:2 (0:0)
WAL 44mn Andrew CORNICK (FG) 1:0
CHN 47mn Yixian LIU (PC) 1:1
CHN 57mn Yubo NA (FG) 1:2

New Zealand v Malaysia 4:2 (2:1)
NZL 6mn Ryan ARCHIBALD (PC) 1:0
NZL 10mn Phil BURROWS (FG) 2:0
MAS 30mn Azlan MISRON (PC) 2:1
MAS 44mn Faisal SAARI (PC) 2:2
NZL 52mn Hayden SHAW (PC) 3:2
NZL 62mn Simon CHILD (FG) 4:2

Standings DAY 3: NZ 9pts, CHN 9pts, MAL 4pts, SCO 3pts, AUT 3\1pts, WAL 1pts

WCQ TWO – INVERCARGILL – DAY 1 x 2 WRAP

DAY ONE

The BDO World Cup Qualifier Two  got under way and much was expected from hosts, New Zealand, while didn’t disappoint, were made to fight hard against Wales. But that wasn’t before China was given a big scare from lower ranked Scotland in the opening game of the Tournament. Finally, a setback for Malaysia to close out the day’s play who struggled against Austria finishing in a riveting 2-2 draw!

China v Scotland: 2-1 (0:1)

SCO  4mn Stephen DICK (FG) 0:1

CHN 45mn Yixian LIU (PC) 1:1

CHN 60mn Yubo NA (FG) 2:1

New Zealand v Wales: 6-2 (3:0)

NZL 17mn Nick WILSON (FG) 1:0

NZL 30mn Andy HAYWARD (PC) 2:0

NZL 34mn Andy HAYWARD (PC) 3:0

WAL 37mn Richard GAY (PC) 3:1

WAL 49mn Richard GAY (PC) 3:2

NZL 60mn Nick WILSON (FG) 4:2

NZL 63mn Phil BURROWS (FG) 5:2

NZL 65mn Andy HAYWARD (PC) 6:2

Malaysia v Austria: 2-2 (2:0)

MAS 6mn Amin RAHIM (PC) 1:0

MAS 8mn Azlan MISRON (FG) 2:0

AUT 54mn Manual GRANDITS (FG) 2:1

DAY TWO

Day Two started with great anticipation – concluding with two tight games (Wales v Malaysia; Austria v China), either team could have taken the three competition points. However first up New Zealand had a dominant performance against Scotland, to continue to push for that top placing for the Final.

Scotland v New Zealand: 0-8 (0:3)

NZL 16mn Hugo INGLIS (FG) 0:1

NZL  26mn Simon CHILD (FG) 0:2

NZL  34mn Phil BURROWS (FG) 0:3

NZL  46mn Phil Burrows (FG) 0:4

NZL 48mn Nick WILSON (FG) 0:5

NZL  50mn Nick WILSON (PC) 0:6

NZL  58 Nick WILSON (FG) 0:7

NZL  60 Nick WILSON (FG) 0:8

Wales v Malaysia: 1-2 (0:2)

MAS 4mn Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin TENGKU ABDUL JALIL (FG) 0:1

MAS 32mn Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin TENGKU ABDUL JALIL (FG) 0:2

WAL 51mn Richard GAY (PC) 1:2

Austria v China: 1-2 (0:1)

CHN 35mn Yixian LIU (PC) 0:1

CHN 61mn Long SUN (FG) 0:2

AUT 64mn Goerge JELINEK (FG) 1:2

Standings DAY 2: NZ 6pts, CHN 6pts, MAL 4pts, AUT 1pts, SCO 0pt

Kookaburra’s Malaysian Tour 2009

Hi All

I thought this an opportune time to open “my blog account” with Gryphon Life and throw together a quick “wrap up” of the Kookaburra’s recent tour to Malaysia. A quick tour summary – 10 days, 7 training sessions, 5 test matches (which included a 6 hour return bus ride for the 3rd match) and a lot of meetings, pretty much summed up our tour!

Despite the relatively full schedule, I can’t for a second say we did it tough. If you have a spare second, Google – “The Palace of the Golden Horses”, that is the hotel where we stayed!!! Buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner… it was so tough ;o) The cheap shopping and abundance of sun was not lost on us either! Most of the boys took advantage and stock up on items for birthdays, Christmas and other special occasion. And the ladies think we don’t plan anything ;o)

All the fun and games aside though, it was a tour full of special milestones for a couple of Gryphon guys! Gryphon boy Jonathon Charlesworth registered his first cap for Australia, Fergus Kavanagh notched up his first cap as Captain of the Kookaburras and Brent Dancer managed to put the ball in the back of the net for the first time in international hockey! A big “tip of the hat” for the boys!

For all those that may actually be interested in the results of the hockey games, (I better put in a shameless plug for Hockey Australia) check out their website. Otherwise, know that we won the series 3-0!

That about sums it all up! If you want to know anymore about our tour/s, or what’s on the horizon for the Kookaburra’s, stay tuned to Gryphon-Life!!

It’s been fun, til next time – Keep it real!

Kiel Brown

Game 5 & 6, 3-Nations Canberra

Kookaburras 8 Australia A 2 (2-0 half time) Goals Kookaburras – Abbott 7m FG/ 57m FG, Dwyer 30m FG, Schubert 37m FG, Paterson 40m FG/ 59m FG, Orchard 49m FG, Hammond 63m FG Australia A – Doerner 55m PC, Turner 61m FG

The Kookaburras have piled on six second half goals to record a convincing 8-2 victory over Australia A in Canberra today.

In a match up that would have pleased Kookaburras coach Ric Charlesworth, with Australia’s best hockey players on display, Des Abbott showed why he is such a highly regarded player, scoring two impressive goals.

His first goal came at the seven minute mark against the run of play, controlling an overhead pass and then volleying the ball over the goalkeeper to the amazement of the Canberra crowd.

Two time world player of the year Jamie Dwyer produced his own magic moment at the 30 minute mark, scoring the Kookaburras’ second goal after he deflected the ball through his own feet.

Despite the Australia A side holding their own against the more experienced Kookaburras, the execution of the Kookaburras in front of goal was the difference in the second half.

Veteran striker Grant Schubert started the second half in fine form, scoring only two minutes after half time.

Mark Paterson and Simon Orchard scored two more goals to set up a commanding lead for the Kookaburras before Luke Doerner converted Australia A’s first goal of the match from a penalty corner at the 55 minute mark.

A second goal only minutes later to Mark Paterson put an end to any momentum for  Australia A, with goals to Glenn Turner and Rob Hammond for Australia A and the Kookaburras respectively finishing off the match.

The Kookaburras will now play Malaysia tomorrow in the final of the 3 Nation/ 4 Team series in Canberra while Australia A will play Canada.

In today’s other match, Malaysia defeated Canada 3-2. Details of the match can be found below.

Malaysia 3 Canada 2 (1-2 half time)

Goals
Malaysia – Saari 10m PC/ 68m PC, Grimes 38m PC,
Canada – Fernandes 20m PC, Tupper 27m PC

3-Nations Game 2, Australia v Malaysia

Kookaburras 11 Malaysia 3 (9-1 half time) Goals Australia – Abbott 1m FG, Ciriello 5m PC, Dwyer 6m FG/ 34m FG, Knowles 17m PC, Ford 22m FG/ 33m FG, Orchard 24m/ FG 66m FG, Hammond 30m FG, Schubert 59m PS, Malaysia – Saari 15m FG, Mohamad Nor 52m FG, Hanafi 68m PC

The Kookaburras have made amends for their recent 1-0 shock loss to Malaysia, defeating them 11-3 tonight in Canberra.

The best possible start was made by the Kookaburras, with prolific striker Des Abbott opening the goal scoring account only 30 seconds into the match.

This was an ominous sign for Malaysia, with the Kookaburras showing no mercy and upcoming star Chris Ciriello extending the Kookaburras lead from a penalty corner only minutes later.

When two time world player of the year Jamie Dwyer scored immediately after, the game appeared almost over with over 70 minutes of play still remaining, the Kookaburras simply outclassing the visitors.

This was reinforced throughout the first half, with Mark Knowles, Simon Orchard and Rob Hammond scoring goals while Dwyer added his second just prior to half time, with Russell Ford also scoring two first half goals to set up a 9-1 half time lead.

In complete contrast to the fast paced first half, the goal-fest didn’t quite continue after half time, with the first goal not coming until the 52 minute mark, going to Malaysia.

Despite having the game already won the Kookaburras continued to work hard, with striker Grant Schubert scoring at the 59 minute mark while Orchard scored his second goal at the 66 minute mark.

Despite conceding a late goal with only two minutes remaining, nothing could dampen the performance of the Kookaburras as they prepare for their next game against Canada tomorrow evening in Canberra.

Review – Australia v Malaysia Game 2

In what was a complete turn-around in result, Malaysia defeated Australia 1-0 at the Pines Stadium in Adelaide on Sunday evening, following their 1-8 loss the night before.

The stats tell a different story to the score, with Australia again dominating play and generating 19 Goal Shots and several PC’s, however converted none. Malaysia on the other hand earned 4 PC’s and generated only 2 Goal Shots, but converted one PC which was defelected off the Australian runner and had the Keeper going in the wrong direction.

Australia constantly pressured the Malaysian defence and a bulk of their counter opportunities came from this. In the final 15 minutes, they had numerous chances in front of net but the elusive goal did not drop, and resulted in the elated Malaysian men satisfied with their 1st victory over Australia since 1994. That’s 15yrs long years.

Both Teams are now in Canberra, ACT, to contest the 3-Nations Tournament, along with Canada and Australia-A, although victories and losses against Australia-A do not count to the tournament, as Aus-A cannot contest the final.

Review – Australia v Malaysia

Australia hosted Malaysia in a two-test series over the Weekend in Adelaide, Australia. These matches served as the lead up to the coming 3-Nations Tournament in Canberra comencing on Wednesday.

The two games saw very surprising results, the 1st match finishing 8-1 in favour of the Aussies, after some very clinical lead up play and finishing from the men down under. Malaysia were stunned from the first minute of the game and failed to match the intensity and speed of their more fancied opponents. Creating 20 goals shots, and converting 8 of these resulted in an impressive 40% return in front of net, which was a tribute to the overall dominant performance from the Australians. Malaysia were slow with their ball movement and lacked defensive pressure, which allowed the opposition to tear apart their midfield traps and attack their deep defence at will. In their limited attacking opportunities, Malaysia generated only 2 goal scoring opportunities for the entire match. They did however convert one of these for a 50% return in front of net. All in all, it looked like a training run for the Australians and the score line reflected such.

Game 2 was a turn around in form for the Malaysians. They came to play, and matched the Australians in intensity and creativity. Improved outletting and decision making in the attacking third saw a great return on possession as Malaysia had several PC’s and GSO’ throughout the match. Australia on the other hand looked wasteful in possesion at times, failing to string together penetrative passing efforts. Surprisingly they did generate 19 goal shots, one less than the night before, but failed to convert one of these, so with a 0% return in front of net it summed up the night for them as near enough, but not good enough.

Both teams are travelling today, will train tomorrow in preparation for the next leg, the 3-Nations in Canberra. Stay tuned for more posts from both G-Life and our G-Team boys.