UPS & DOWNS OF EUROPE x CHILD

ORANJE ZWART v HGC x HOOFDKLASSE PLAYOFFS x VIDEO

Hi All,

I’m over here in Holland playing with Oranje Zwart, a great team with a lot of pride from the south east of the Netherlands. We started our play-offs over the weekend with two matches against HGC, of Den Haag.

The Play-offs here are a “best of 3″ series, and we won the first at home 4-3 on Saturday but lost the return match on Sunday 1-3. This means we go to the third game on Wednesday, with the winner earning a spot in the Final against either Laren or Bloemandaal who are also playing their third match in the tied series on Wednesday.

The Gryphon boys of OZ, 6 in total, were in the mix of it all, so good to see them stand up and I reckon that there will be more to write about these guys come Thursday after the 3rd game. The atmosphere at these matches is heavy, with large numbers of supporters from each team crowding the sidelines and stands. Our first home game had  a 2500 – 3000 strong crowd, so its great to see the game is alive and well.

So the game highlights are below, although only a very, very short package which is a shame as both matches played were action packed. In the 2nd game, 2 Yellow cards to my team meant we played 20 minutes with only 10 men, a tough ask in modern hockey.

I’ll check back soon after the Wednesday match to let you know how its going. Hopefully the Oz machine can find that little bit extra for Wednesday, its all or nothing – Cheers, Rob

Game 1.

Game 2.

I’M STILL ALIVE x THOMA BRIELS

Hi all!

The last time I wrote for gryphon life was when I was in Argentina playing the world cup qualifier with Belgium. The tournament ended very disappointing for me and that’s also the reason I wasn’t in the mood to write! ;0) But here at gryphon we can write whenever we feel like it!

The last training before the final in Argentina against Argentina I broke a bone in my foot. So I missed the final and I had to watch my team trying to get a world cup ticket, from the stands. Unfortunately we lost 4-3 against Argentina while being 3-1 up with 17 minutes left on the clock!! For me, being in the stands watching my team and friends work there asses off for the victory and watching them lose at the last seconds was very hard. But that’s the beauty of team sport, you win together and lose together. After the game everyone was very disappointed but we played very good hockey and we know there is a good future ahead for this very young team if we keep working like this. (I think the average age at the tournament was 23) The beers taste better after a victory but we still enjoyed a couple with the whole team the last night in Argentina!

So after the tournament I had to walk for 2 months on crutches and after that I couldn’t run for another month! So I couldn’t run or play sports for 3 months!! All because I broke a little bone in my foot, incredible!  But in the end I didn’t miss much of hockey with my club Oranje-Zwart because the competition in Holland stopped for 5 months due to the Champions Trophy and the World Cup.

We had a difficult first part of the season with Oranje-Zwart, ending 7th after 13 matches! But 4 weeks ago we started the second part of the competition, with Rob Hammond back in the team and you can say we are on fire! The second part of the season was the money time, we had to win all our upcoming matches to still have a chance to get in to the play offs! We won 6 matches and drew 1. Earning 19 points in 7 games and scoring 29 goals! We are playing exciting hockey and I love it!

Currently we are ranked 3rd and we still have to play 2 matches. 1 more point and we are sure of play-offs. Playing the play offs in the Hoofdklasse is incredible so that’s where we want to be!  Tomorrow we play HGC, ranked first, so wish us luck!!

Besides hockey I still have a great time in Eindhoven, kicking Sander Baart and Marc Salles asses at FIFA (I hope they don’t read this!) at our home, the “Pius Mansion”, and having a great time with my girlfriend Jolien who lives 5 minutes from the Pius Mansion and OZ.

In one month I have my final exams so if we become champion and I pass my exams I will be a happy man!

I will try to keep you posted about the competition and the play offs!!

Regards, Thomas

GRYPHON REPRESENTS x ORANJE ZWART v LAREN x EXTENDED VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

It was super Sunday in Laren, The Netherlands, today with #3 Laren taking on #4 Oranje Zwart in the Hoofdklasse. This is the third last match of the season and promised to be a special game with both Laren and Oranje Zwart undeafeated since the winter break.

Gryphon players in action and to watch out for are Thijs Maartens, Sander Baart, Lucas Judge (1st goal scorer) Thomas Briels (2nd goal scorer), Rob Hammond and Thijs Bams, all outstanding in this fierce encounter. All playing for the Orange shirts of Oranje Zwart, these guys are the cream of the Gryphon crew in Holland. There are now only two rounds left in the Hoofdklasse which are played this Thursday and Sunday. The race for the final four sports is the most exciting ever. Enjoy the extended highlights.

GRYPHON BOYS TEAR IT UP x ORANJE ZWART v AMSTERDAM x VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

The Hoofdklasse is heating up with the final four position in hot contention. Here we look at OZ who took on Amsterdam in Eindhoven on Sunday. It was a clash of the titans with both teams fighting for a top four finish. Only three rounds remain before the play-offs, so these points are key.

Gryphon’s Lucas Judge, Thomas Briels, Sander Baart, Thijs Maartens, Thijs Bams and Rob Hammond all starred in a tough, grinding encounter. Judge and Hammond were amoungst the goals scorers, while Briels and Bams were dangerous and tireless up front. Maartens and Baart had a huge impact in defence and make up one of the most fearsome units in the league.

CHILD DOMINANT IN ROTTERDAM v LAREN x VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

This weeks highlights are of Rotterdam against Laren. Both teams are fighting for a place in the top four of the league.

Gryphon’s Simon Child was a stand out in his teams drawn tie with Laren in the Rabo Hoofdklasse. The New Zealand Olympian was the main focal point up front for the team in green.

Enjoy the highlights courtesy of NOS

3D GOAL x VIDEO x ORANJE ZWART YOUTH

Hi All,

Its been a little while since I last checked in here. Well, its old news now but I have a Wold Cup to add to my Olympic Gold so I’m flying high at the moment. The WC in India was an amazing experience and one that means a lot to myself, especially having been a part of the Kookaburras team of 2006 that lost the epic final to Germany after being 2 goals ahead.

So I’ll speak more of the World Cup in my next post, but the reason for dropping by today is that I want to share something with you. I’ve just touched down in The Netherlands to reunite with my club, Oranje Zwart, for the remainder of the season. OZ has an amazing developement program and everyday that I am at the club it amazes me just how frothing and keen the kids in their youth program are. They practice super hard but all have the biggest smiles on their faces as they run around the fields and clubhouse. One of the youth teams recently played and a young kid scored the most amazing goal. This kid, Lennart Smits, is like 12 or 13 years old, and what he did I would challenge most seniors to do! Watch this clip and decide for yourself!

Till next time crew,

Cheers, Rob

PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTES x HOOFDKLASSE x HAMMOND

The Rabo Hoofdklasse is back underway with the completion of Round 14 last weekend. The resumption of competition welcomes the return of the Worlds elite to The Netherlands following a long lay period due to the 2010 Mens World Cup.

Gryphon’s own Rob Hammond has hit the ground running receiving maximum votes in hockey.nl’s annual Speler van het Jaar awards(Player of the Year Awards) for round 14. His team, Oranje Zwart of Eindhoven, demolished SCHC 6-1 on Sunday. SCHC has only amassed 7 draws and no victories thus far in the competition and are fighting relegation. Here is the excerpt from their site:

Speler van het Jaar:

Rob Hammond heerste en verdeelde bij Oranje Zwart. De kersverse wereldkampioen speelde een hoofdrol in de 6-1 zege van de Brabanders op SCHC en is daardoor speler van de week.

Speler van de week:
10- Rob Hammond- Oranje Zwart
Het Australische blok graniet maakt van OZ een kanshebber op de play-offs.

7- Jaap Stockmann- Bloemendaal
Was de enige die echt scherp was bij Bloemendaal.

5- Jong-Ho Seo- Laren
Ook buiten de cirkel was de Larense wonderkoreaan een plaag voor de Amsterdamse defensie.

4- Timme Hoyng- Pinoké
Was weer helemaal heel en scoorde twee keer. En dat overkomt de ex-international maar zelden.

3- Jamie Dwyer- Bloemendaal
Zijn steekpass die de derde treffer inleidde, was er een voor fijnproevers.

Talent van de week:
Derk van Essen- Hurley
Rots in de branding bij de promovendus. Was zelfs ‘fantastisch’ volgens ploeggenoot Steven Ebbers.

Coach van de week:
Roelant Oltmans- Laren
Eindelijk is Laren waar het al tijden wil zijn. Op de vierde plaats.

“Player of the Year”

Australian granite block returns, Rob Hammond ruled and divided by Oranje Zwart. The fresh world cup champion played a leading role in the 6-1 victory of the Brabant at SCHC and therefore player of the week.

Player of the Week: Votes: 10 – Rob Hammond – Orange Black. The Australian block of granite makes OZ a likely candidate to play offs. 7 – Jaap Stockmann – Bloemendaal Was the only one who was really fierce in Bloemendaal. 5 – Young-Ho Seo – Laren. Outside the circle was Laren wonder and Korean a nightmare for the Amsterdam defense. 4 – Timme Hoyng – Pinoke. Was again a complete performance throughout and scored twice. And that happens rarely for the former international. 3 – Jamie Dwyer – Bloemendaal. His cross pass that initiated the third goal, that was a delight. Talent of the week: Derk van Essen-Hurley Stood out. Was also fantastic, teammate Steven Ebbers. Coach of the Week: Roelant Oltmans-Laren, Laren is finally where it wants to be. In fourth place.

Keep an eye out here for more shout outs to Gryphon’s top players in Holland as the season continues, the players keep doing what they do best and voting heats up.

RABO HOOFDKLASSE x B’DAAL v KAMPONG x VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

It has been a 5 month lay-off in the Rabo Hoofdklasse of 2009/10. With the long break due to the World Cup and the return of top internationalists from all over the world bolstering the local sides, we will see in the next 5 weeks 9 games in this compressed format.

Highlights of round 14 of the Hoofdklasse are of Kampong home to Bloemendaal, with Gryphon’s own Wouter Jolie and Thomas Boerma in action.

1/2010 x IN THE FREEZER

Hey all…firstly a big welcome to 2010! The beginning of a new DECADE! Doesn’t feel like 10 years since the Y2K alarm bells were going off  to me, but i guess time flying isn’t new to any of us. In any case hope you were all able to bring in the new year with style! I spent the whole month of december back home in Australia and have to say it was great to be back. Returning home from overseas after an extended period of time gives you a great opportunity to really enjoy the small things that are often taken for granted. Just after christmas i returned to the deep freeze that is europe at the moment and if it wasn’t for a little thing called university, I’d probably try my best to organise another trip to a warmer part of the world. The good thing about this year though is that there is a bit of a reward for it being so cold……snow! Normally it just gets cold, grey and depressing but for someone who hasn’t experienced it all too often, this much snow is still a bit of a novelty. With more cold weather predicted there is even talk here in holland of the famous skating race, the ‘elfstedentocht’ or ‘the eleven cities tour’ being held. This one-day skating marathon is held in the northern province of Friesland but can only be held in the years when the ice freezes to a depth of 15cm over the entire 200km track of lakes and canals that make up the route. As you may have guessed this doesn’t happen too often with the last race taking place in 1997.

For me personally there isn’t too much happening on the hockey front at the moment. I unfortunately missed selection in the Dutch squad for WK10 which was a pretty big blow. My form over the first half of the dutch season wasn’t where i would have liked it to have been but to miss out was still a bitter pill to swallow. So, with the team having started its preparation for India I now have 2 months off before I start back at training with OZ ahead of the second half of the hoofdklasse season. 2 months is a fair bit i guess but i am definitely planning on using the time well after playing for almost 18 months without a real break. But like any hockey player knows, after 2 weeks you feel the itch to grab your stick again so i know that come february i’ll be busting to get back out onto the field. Now although I won’t be playing any part I am eagerly awaiting WK10 and the results it will bring. The results of CT09 point to a tournament in which anything could happen and i for one expect a few surprises.

Speaking of CT09, one thing that i wanted to mention was the failings of the video referee from a spectators point of view. I managed to catch most of the CT09 games on tele and watched a days action live in melbourne and just thought it could have all been done a bit better. I know that it was the first time that it has been used in an international tournament and some hiccups should be expected but I was disappointed. In contrast to the EHL, where players have to be very specific about what they want to appeal against, it seemed as though at CT09 teams could appeal and then leave it up to the umpire to see if a foul had been committed. This left the unenviable situation where teams would appeal not knowing what they were appealing against. The high speed and tempo of hockey is an attribute that should be protected and whereas the self-pass rule seems to promote this, the video ref as seen at CT09 takes the tempo out of the game. Every appeal sees the game come to a stand still for up to a minute and the sight of players standing around waiting for a decision does not make hockey more attractive. As a player I dispute decisions made by the umpire all the time but it is this human element that I don’t think we can do without, even at the international level.

Lucas.

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