Introduction

Lisa's Blog continues... Following the success of Lisa's previous blogs, she has agreed to carry on blogging. You can access all of the previous blog entries through the archive on the right, these cover the 2006 Commonwealth Games, World Cup Qualifying Tournament and the World Cup itself.

Sunday, April 30, 2006

We're going to the World Cup!

Chloe on the attack against ScotlandSo England 4 Scotland 1 and Japan 3 China 0 yipeeeeeeeee results mean we are playing for 1-4 and we have qualified for the World Cup - what a feeling. Now we go for Gold! We are all really excited, elated and relieved we have already qualified for the World Cup now we just have to relax, and enjoy playing hockey to see if we can finish as high up as possible in the rankings. It looks like USA and Korea will be the other straight qualifiers from the other pool but it is much closer and who knows.

Goal celebration - Chloe and LisaOur win today meant that Scotland are now playing for the 9-12 positions as France will finish above them.

The game started fast and we had a few very good chances but unfortunately didn't take them, we gradually started to turn the screw and we knew it would have to pay off eventually. We did make some silly errors throughout the game and overall it wasn't a great performance by us but that makes it sweeter in some ways as we still won playing badly!

Team Photo after Scotland winWell book your flights to Spain - Madrid I think in September!!!

Take care all. x

Friday, April 28, 2006

England 10 v France 0

As you can see from the score our mindset was spot on! I won't be able to describe all the goals as there are too many to remember the ins and outs. We started well, played well throughout and finished well! I put my penalty stroke demons to bed and scored the seventh goal. I don't think the French actually got in our 'D' so they didn't really come out to play. They sat deep most of the game and just couldn't penetrate through our press. Occasionally the ball would be whacked through to nobody and Beth (GK) managed to keep a few in play (the only touches she had of the game!) so in all a great performance and one that we had planned.

vs FranceTomorrow we have a rest day again and once again its about getting our bodies and our mindset right to play Scotland. They will be playing Braveheart and will come out fighting so it will important to get ourselves in the right frame of mind again. It isn't job done yet.

If any of you are interested you can watch live written commentary on the web at http://www.fihockey.org and follow the link to the Samsung World Cup Qualifier and then the link to live commentary when we are playing.

For the girls of the first eleven - I heard you all had a good training session on Wednesday for those that turned up, you worked very hard I understand and Bolly is still top of the fitness - is that right? Well done Bolly! Take care all.

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

England 2 v China 1

What a game! If you ever wanted to watch a good game of hockey that was it. Very exciting end to end consistently over the whole match. Our line up started with Carolyn Reid in goal, then from left to the right at the back - Jennie Bimson, Mel Clewlow, Crista Cullen, Me, then Hels Richardson in at Centre half, Rachel Walker inside left forward and Lucilla Wright Inside right forward, Cath Gilliat Smith left forward, Helen Grant centre forward and Becky Herbert right forward.

The game started at a ferocious pace and we were on our back foot for the first ten minutes, they scored from a free hit taken outside the 'D' and deflected it into the goal on the back post, but we grinded away and gradually got back into the game and dominated for long periods, they hit us on a few counter attacks. We scored from a penalty corner that we'd been working on in training leading up to this tournament which was a good feeling for coach and players alike.

Danny's, Karen and Mag's tactics were spot on and we applied some great pressure. They hated it, what a good feeling. So we went into the break at 1-1. A few slight adjustments and it was more of the same in the second half. We knew they would come out again at terrific pace after a good telling off at half time from their coach so we had to match and better their pace, passion and velocity. We did. They played a very expansive game leaving numbers up in attack making our risk management and organisation at the back crucial. We dealt with a number of their attacks as they dealt with ours. Reidy made a fine save at a penalty corner and they made a couple of saves off the line albeit with their arm - penalty ref!!!!! they gave a silly penalty corner away with a minute or so left on the clock which we Hels Richardson scored from. Fantastic! Twelve seconds on the clock we knew we just had to win the ball back, we did and with four seconds to go we belted the ball off to see the time quickly sink and the hooter sound. What a good feeling.

Whilst it was an exuberant feeling we have the rest of the games to go and we have to approach these with the correct mental attitude, it is vitally important we do a professional job from now on it including rest days.

Must dash got to get changed and ready to go out to dinner.
Bye

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

England 3 v Ukraine 0

A three nil win a good start but a very dull game. Still job done. Ukraine didn't come out to play, they defended with 11 behind the ball the majority of the game with an occasional counter attack if made a mistake. We had to try and maintain some sort of pace to the game which isn't always the easiest thing when you get more and more frustrated with not getting any outcomes for the pressure.

Jo Ellis scored the first goal with a cute touch around the GK. Mel struck the second with a well executed corner and Sally Walton the third from an awesome tip-in off a free hit outside the 'D' taken by Hels Richardson. The goals were quite equally spaced apart in the game.

Overall it was little lackadaisical performance by us but as we say job done, and on with the next. Tomorrow should be a very different story against China. They are ranked 4th in the world at mo and number one at this tournament so will be a fantastic opportunity for us.

A quick update on Kate - she is still in hospital and comes out on Thursday, they are monitoring the swelling in her throat but she should be fine and we look forward to seeing her back with us. She was sending positive vibes the whole match.

I'll be back tom with a round up on the China match.
Till then Chow. x

Sunday, April 23, 2006

The Roman Sights

Sightseeing in RomeLast night we drew two two with NZ in the warm-up match, it was a tough well fought battle that got us up to speed but unfortunately Kate (captain) Walsh got a ball in throat from a deflection at a Penalty Corner defence. It hit her with some pace so we were obviously very concerned from the outset. She didn't obviously continue but was well enough to walk off the pitch. Half way through the last section of the match we won a penalty corner attack and the ref was on the phone (we all complained to start with!) until he told us he was phoning for an ambulance. So Kate was whisked off to hospital more precautionary then anything. She is still there now and we are waiting on the verdict, she is in good spirits though and thinking positively.

Sightseeing in RomeToday has been fairly active we have had a gym session this morning, team meet after lunch and this arvo we have had off to be able to get into Rome. I have a funny bus tour story to tell but too long winded for here. We managed to get a guided tour of the Colosseum which was extremely fascinating and well worth a visit to Rome just to see that - for anyone thinking of hopping on a plane! We followed the guided tour with a meal out for the nine off us that came into town, which was very pleasant.

Tomorrow we're back to the pitch for a session and then preparing for the Ukraine match.

Probably won't be back until after the first match now, so until then

CHOW!!!

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Hello from Rome

Yes the world of technology does expand into 5 star hotels in Rome! Although I'm not sure really we can classify this hotel as 5* in my book, I'm sure I've stayed in better 3*'s!!

Sightseeing in RomeWe have now been here for 4 days, and so far trained each day. Training has been fun and quite hard work, we need a little sweat to feel like we are preparing for the most important tournament to date. The mood in the camp is excited whilst a little nervous but confident that we can put some performances together.

Sightseeing in RomeThe Leicester girls only returned from the European Cup (where they won bronze - well done girlies) on Tuesday to then drive down to Bisham for the night to get up very early on Wednesday morning to make the flight so they have been far from their normal selves for the first few days of the camp, but they are just coming back to norm in time. They have been given a little time off you'll be thankful to hear before they had to step back on the pitch again and they will be raring to again come Tuesday and our first game against Ukraine.

Just so you are all aware we are one hour ahead of you here, and our games are as follows (Rome time!):
Tues 25th Ukraine - 11.15am
Wed 26th China - 3.30pm
REST DAY
Fri 28th France - 6pm
REST DAY
Sunday 30th Scotland - 6.30pm
REST DAY
Tuesday 2nd May Japan - 9am


Then depending how we get on will depend where we play the cross over games. It's a gruelling schedule 7 games in 11 days.

We play New Zealand tonight at 9pm in a warm up match, yes, NZ again! but it's good to play them as they are tough opposition.

Hope everyone is well back home and the first eleven are training hard!
Take care. x

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Here goes again - Prepare for Rome!

We fly to Rome the 19th (Wednesday) very early in the morning in preparation for the World Cup Qualifiers. I am hoping to be able to have access to the Internet during our three weeks out there so I can once again update this blog for you all to be able to keep up-to-date in real time! Unfortunately I can't imagine it being on TV not even SKY, although this time they wouldn't have been at such ridiculous times of night!

The world cup qualifier (WCQ) is our most important tournament to date under Danny we have to be in the top 5 out of 12 to qualify for the world cup in Spain in September. Our group includes Scotland, France, Ukraine, China and Japan. China and Japan are both ranked above us in the world and overall in the tournament we are ranked 5th with New Zealand, and Korea also ranked above us from the other pool. It is a gruelling seven games in 11 days - at least we shouldn't have the heat to contend with like Australia!

I hope you all continue to keep reading - as they say - watch this space!