ROAD SO FAR WC10 x FORGESSON

With 3 games done and dusted in our pool, the World Cup campaign is well underway.  We haven’t had the ideal start with losing to Germany 2-0, Netherland 7-3 and then having a draw against Japan 2-2.  Apart from obviously not winning; the game against Germany felt reasonable good.  We were dangerous with the ball and created plenty of circle penetrations which we felt we lacked building up to the tournament.  At the other end of the pitch, our defensive penalty corners were solid.  Unfortunately, not enough shots were at the goal and at the end of the day, the Germans were far more clinical where it mattered and made the most of their chances in the end.

The game against the Dutch was full of mixed emotions as it was my 100^th cap but also not at all the result we were after.  We started well and I managed to score in the first few minutes which surprised me as much as the Dutch.  This turned into a bit of a nightmare with them getting 2 goals back immediately and then continuing to run us Kiwis rampant.  We had long patches during the game where we constantly turned over ball and defensively our lines were way out of whack which they punished us for.  The first 5 minutes of the second half resulted in the Dutch scoring 3 goals and against one of the top teams in the world a comeback after that was realistically out of reach.  The team continued to work hard and fight and as a result we saw 2 more goals go our way to make the score line look slightly nicer!

On a brighter note, the most recent game we have played was against Japan and as mentioned we finished with a draw.  This game felt much improved on the first two, defensively tighter as a unit and in attack we managed to use our speed to our advantage and punished them down the right hand side when we did target them down there.  Like the previous two games we didn’t make the most of our chances and it wasn’t until late in the game when we were down 2 nil that we finally managed to get the ball in the back of the net.  One point out of the game which is better than none and tonight we play the Aussies which we all know will be another tough battle as it always is.  By the sound of all the banter going on in the crowds it could also be quite feisty between the two side’s supporters who are both managing to put in huge efforts each game.  The NZ crew continue to remind us how draining and exhausting it is which is hilarious but completely understandable coping with the wind and rain, chants and beers that they ‘need’ to get through….

I have been lucky enough to have friends and family here watching and yesterday with an improved change in the weather I got the opportunity to spend some time with them.  I saw parts of the river, the memorial and some markets which was beautiful in the sun.  The locals are really friendly and with basically no knowledge of Spanish they continue to be patient with my attempt at stringing sentences together which is a sigh of relief at times.  With the restrictions in language it’s incredible to see the amount of interest and support that people still show.  We are often stopped in the street for photos etc and at the turf, get swamped for any gear including clothing and hockey gear.  It’s pretty amazing and probably the only time we would get treated like some sort of star so it’s been quite weird but also refreshing to see how much people appreciate the hockey.

Hope everyone watching is continuing to enjoy everything going on in Rosario.  The atmosphere and history that is being created is insane, such an amazing place to experience this World Cup and I have never been surrounded by anything like it before.

Krys

WWC10 x DAY6 x NZ v JPN

Hockey is now an extreme sport. It was zero degrees at the start of Japan v New Zealand and with that wind ripping though could have been lower.

All the action took place in the second half after a scoreless first half. Japan came out quickly and scored from well worked passing not once but twice to place New Zealand on the back foot.

The girls in Black altered their game plan after missing numerous penalty corners in a row. It was now use the blistering pace of Anita Punt to break the lines holding the ball. It worked as the Japanese couldn’t get close to Punty and she created space in the deep wings. First Krystal Forgesson was rewarded for her great shots on goal and scored the first, and then Punty crossed perfectly for the second.

Two all was the final score in extreme conditions, with the draw locking both teams out of a finals chance.

WWC10 x DAY4 x NZ v HOL

Luckily the weather for the New Zealand v Holland game got better. Marginally.

It’s still a penguin’s paradise out here.  Maybe it was better suited to the girls in Black as New Zealand opened the game with a incredibly quick goal that left everyone reeling but hope that this event is wide open. New Zealand looks very very impressive against Germany and carried it here early.

Early it was. That was about the only time New Zealand saw their attacking half for the first half of the game but were incredibly impressive in holding the potent Dutch side who broke through for a couple of  goals in the half as well keeping the upper hand.

The rain kept dropping, as the temperature. And with that the Dutch Orange machine went to work. And work they did. A spell that saw three goals in three minutes from the Dutch play took the game away into their control. Even a rugby style hip and shoulder charge by Katie Glynn couldn’t slow down the girls in Orange.

Control was what it was all about. Holland kept the ball. Kept possession. Kept control. Kept scoring. Before you could blink this outfit piled on seven goals and look like the incredible team that many are expecting to see here.

New Zealand star Krystal Forgesson was a focal point up front and never stopped her work and when the chips were down and most would give up she stepped it up and netted two late goals for her black fitted team.

The final scored was Holland 7 and New Zealand 3. The Dutch look the form team at the moment even out-classing the host nation Argentina in all aspects of the game.

In the late game, Japan came out blazing and took and early lead in the match against Germany. It was up to the Germans to come from behind and that they did. Eventual winners 2 goals to 1, but Japan are showing that they are not to be taken lightly at all.

WWC10 x DAY2 x NZ v GER

New Zealand are a team on the up. Actually a country on the up in Hockey as a whole. They’ve shown in the Mens and Womens competitions to be moving forward with some great performances.

Their first game in the World Cup is against powerhouse Germany, who look very composed. Talking to NZ coach Mark Hager before the match he was confident with his team but admitted that Germany’s experience in the opening of games is their strong point.

He wasn’t wrong with Germany scoring two very early goals.  What could only be described as German efficiency they took their limited chances and scored. Why was it efficient?

New Zealand was holding the ball well, and not only that but running forward with pace and purpose. They looked very very dangerous with many shots on goal. The three big threats up front included Krystal Forgesson, Anita Punt and Junior World Cup 2009 star Katie Glynn.

No matter how much control and how much fitter the New Zealand team looked and played, they couldn’t get past the German keeper.

The final score was 2 goals to Germany and 0 to NZ, but New Zealand can take a lot away from this game as they looked fitter and more likely to score. They also put on the most entertaining game in this World Cup to watch.

In the early game, Holland were shocked early by being level with India goal a piece from most of the first half but then the Dutch put the hammer down winning 7 goals to 1.

Photos: Daniel Carson | www.dcimages.org

WELCOME x KRYSTAL FORGESSON

Hi Everyone

My name is Krystal Forgesson and I am a member of the Blacksticks Women’s team.  Since I am introducing myself I will give you a bit of info on what I have been up to and then fill you in on what the NZ girls are up to. Enjoy

Home for me is in Auckland, NZ but for the last two seasons I have played the majority of my hockey for HGC which is based in Den Haag, Netherlands.  I love playing hockey in Holland because of the high speed, intensity and skill level that you experience every week.  The club is so welcoming and my teammates are all great fun to hang out with.  The hockey is really social which makes it that much more enjoyable; whether it is eating meals together after training, meeting early before games for tea/coffee or jetting off to Barcelona for a team trip, it’s just nice to be able to really get to know your teammates and make some lifelong friends along the way.  I feel very privileged to have experienced playing overseas and meeting so many amazing people – I can’t wait for the next season which kicks off early October. Enough on me for now…..

As a team, we are currently in preparation for the World Cup in Rosario and with a little over a week before we leave NZ, it’s not long at all before the reality of being at the World Cup sets in.  The NZ team missed out on qualifying for the last WC so we are determined to make up for missing that and have a lot to prove this time around.  Since arriving home from Champions Trophy a few weeks ago, training has increased and we have focused on three main areas of our game.  CT was a good judgement of where we are compared to the top teams in the world and in that respect I think it was an extremely important tournament for us.  The team is reasonably young but I think that makes it so exciting.  Some of the younger girls are extremely talented and at times I still find it hard to believe how they manage to pull off such crazy things!  We head straight into Rosario rather than opting to train for a bit elsewhere first.  I have never been to Argentina but I have heard enough on how fanatical it can be and can’t wait to experience that side of it.

Be in touch from Rosario!

Krys

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org

CT10 x DAY6 x ALL FINALS x VIDEO REPLAYS x THANKS

And so it is. The Champion has been crowned for another year, legends made and destroyed, stars born and others have faded.

The CT10 has been one of the highest scoring tournaments in the history of the game. Hockey has never looked so good, been so fast and exciting as what we just witnessed over the past 9 days. Gryphon was there every day to photograph this monumental tournament to bring you closer than ever before to one of the great major events in World Hockey. We reported on the story behind the game, the characters that give identity to the sport we love and those that represent our great brand with passion and pride.

We need to send a massive shout out to photog Daniel ‘DC’ Carson whom spent countless hours behind the lens to capture some truly great moments in time. He has befriended many of the teams and gets access to area’s that others dream to walk. Also to the crew at the Gryphon Store that were there all week welcoming the fans and showing off the best that we have to offer. They explain the product and R&D behind our weapons like no one else so hopefully the faithful, fanatical and punters alike got to experience the vibe of our brand and the movement of our company.

In the end we think this tournament has been a great success on many level’s and that Hockey has never looked so good. A final shout out needs to go to the G-Team, the Gryphon players that were out there all tournament representing themselves, their team, country and the Gryphon name. You guys are the reason the fans come and the reason they’ll return. Awesome stuff.

Finally, if you missed any of the action, you can watch the full match of your choice on demand for free courtesy of FIH and LOLA1.tv and be sure to watch out for the Gryphon crew representing and tearing it up .Click on the game of interest below, sit back, relax and enjoy!

FINAL AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND

3rd/4th NETHERLANDS v GERMANY

5th/6th SPAIN v NEW ZEALAND

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org

CT10 x DAY5 x ALL GAMES x MATCH REPLAYS ONLINE x FREE

Day 5 of the CT10 was a day where 4 teams could stand up and qualify for the final against Australia should they win. Everyone of the three matches played were effectively a semi final, pending other results and the scores of those games.

Watch the full match of your choice on demand for free courtesy of FIH and LAOLA1.tv and keep an eye out for the Gryphon crew representing and  tearing it up on Day 5 of this goal scoring festival that is the  CT10. Click on the game of interest below, sit back, relax and enjoy!

AUSTRALIA v SPAIN

NETHERLANDS v GERMANY

ENGLAND v NEW ZEALAND

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org

CT10 x FINALS x NZ v SPN

If you thought that the game for 5th and 6th was a non-event, you’d be wrong. Both New Zealand and Spain yesterday were fighting for a place in the Final but as this is an exceptionally tight tournament they fight for relegation avoidance.

Fiery. Intense. Fast. Vocal. All these words can be used to describe this game. New Zealand broke early and looked likely the run the Spanish off their feet, creating a heap of field goal and corner chances. Against play the Spanish tied the game and the large crowd was left none the wiser at half time.

Relegation is a powerful motivator in its ability for a deterrent. Spain took control of the game and scored with efficiency. All this did was spark more NZ attack, but what looked like a growing confidence in this event was stifled over and over with great Spanish defense until Simon Child once again broke through scoring to make more tension around this game.

Spain saw the rise of tempo from New Zealand and countered with everything they could to stop them, using the video referral system time and time again with success.  In the end time slipped away from a very frustrated New Zealand but very happy Spain, who with another young team, could have easily gone further in this tournament. Spain survive, only just, for next years Champions Trophy but New Zealand will be relegated once more to the Champions Challenge.

New Zealand 2 (6th), Spain 3 (5th)

Want to hear Bosco’s take on the game and tournament? Watch on..

Photos: Daniel Carson | www.dcimages.org

CT10 x DAY5 x NZ v ENG

It’s on. Today’s the last day of the round matches. Every team still has a chance to make the final game. A unique situation. If Germany lose to Holland in the second match then it’s all in the open. Each team’s future is in their own hands.

New Zealand and England are both on 4 points. A LOT to play for, not forgetting the relegation battle is also as equal as a the final chance.

England/Gryphon’s James Tindall opened the game within a minute of the start with a streaking goal to put the pressure into the already fraught game. It was quick and evident that players on both sides that they were going to get desperate. Careful to avoid cards, but wanting to physically stamp authority on the game the two teams went hard at this game.

New Zealand played the short corner tactic while England full of run. The New Zealanders scored through their worked penalty corners but James Tindall again scored to keep England alive.

The men in black (from NZ) kept the verbal/physical and more short corner pressure on throughout the game and took themselves into a strong position. It was emotional stuff as each goal was celebrated with vigor. It was barely minutes before the end that England scored to take the final winning lead.

The win for England puts them second on the table on 7 points (one above Germany). Providing both Germany and Spain lose they will progress to play Australia. New Zealand look destined to now play for 5th – 6th in a relegation playoff.

England 4, New Zealand 3.

Photos: Daniel Carson | www.dcimages.org

CT10 x DAY4 x ALL GAMES x MATCH REPLAYS ONLINE x FREE

Day 4 of the CT10 had the World #1 Australia play the World #2 Germany. Last time these two teams meet on this field was the classic match of the WC06 final where Germany came from 1-3 behind to win 4-3 is what has been dubbed as one of the best finals in world hockey…Ever.

Netherlands played England and Spain took on New Zealand…Upsets in the making? This CT10 has so far averaged 7.5 goals per game, so we’d say you better watch on as the goals scoring trend continues!

Watch the full match of your choice on demand for free courtesy of FIH and LOLA1.tv and keep an eye out for the Gryphon crew tearing it up on Day 4 of the incredible CT10. Click on the game of interest below, sit back, relax and enjoy!

GERMANY v AUSTRALIA

NETHERLANDS v ENGLAND

SPAIN v NEW ZEALAND

Cheers, The G-Team

Photos: Daniel Carson | dcimages.org

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