INVESTEC LONDON CUP - DAY 3 - Final showdown beckons

12th July 2014

• Men: South Africa take first win with 3-2 victory over Scotland.
• Men: England keep 100% record and put four past Ireland.
• Women: South Africa inflict 8-2 defeat on Wales to set-up final against England.
• Women: Danson and Watton score to seal 2-1 victory over Scotland.

 

 

Match 1

SOUTH AFRICA	3	2	SCOTLAND
Austin Smith 17 (PC)	(Half-time 2-0)		Dan Coultas 45 (PS)
Wade Paton 19 (FG)			Wei Adams 48 (FG)
Jean-Pierre de Voux 43 (FG)

 

The first game of the day and the final round robin match for these two teams saw both South Africa and Scotland searching for their first win of the tournament. Scotland had the added incentive of a win today giving them a chance of making Sunday's final.

Scotland started the brighter as Nicky Parkes found space to shoot in the sixth minute, his effort striking the post. Scotland continued to have the better attacking possession during the early exchanges, but it was South Africa that broke the deadlock through a fine Austin Smith drag-flick from a penalty corner. They doubled their lead soon after through Wade Paton, and had further chances including Jean-Pierre De Voux hitting the post of Scotland's goal.

De Voux eventually found the back of the net with a simple tap-in in the second half, which seemed to have put the game beyond Scotland, but when Dan Coultas fired home from the penalty spot and three minutes later Wei Adams added to Scotland's tally with a stunning effort, it looked as though Scotland would push on to equalise. However, South Africa, led by Captain Austin Smith in defence, stood strong in the final 20 minutes and held on for the win to take their first three points.

Jean-Pierre de Voux said after the game: “We’re glad to get the win. Winning is something we always look forward to. I think we’ve picked up a few things from playing Scotland. It’s nice to play them before the Commonwealth Games because they’re our opening game, so we can figure each other out a little bit.”

 

Match 2

ENGLAND	4	1	IRELAND
Barry Middleton 11 (FG)	(Half-time 3-0)		Ronan Gormley 42 (FG)
Alastair Brogdon 31 (FG)
Harry Martin 34 (FG)
Henry Weir 46 (FG)

 

Played out in front of a noisy home crowd in the Olympic Park sunshine, England - already assured of a place in Sunday’s final - put in another strong performance to maintain their 100% record at the Investec London Cup.

It took the home side just 11 minutes to make their mark on the game; Barry Middleton getting England on the scoreboard with a clever finish over the Irish keeper. On 31 minutes, Alastair Brogdon gave England a well-deserved 2-0 lead and with just one minute remaining in the first half, Harry Martin, who had a great first half, hit a blistering reverse stick shot into the back of the net, bringing the score to 3-0 at half time.

The second half saw England concede their first goal of the tournament, on 42 minutes, when a powerful Ronan Gormley shot found the back of Pinner’s net. England responded just four minutes later with Henry Weir, scoring his second international goal for England, and securing his side the victory.

Speaking after the game George Pinner said: "I don't think we played as well today as we have in our previous two games, but we've only given away one goal in three games so I can't complain. I think we've been defensively pretty solid for the best part of a year now and after the recent World Cup we've been focusing on goal scoring, so the guys firing them in up front really gives us a boost at the back."

England will meet Ireland in tomorrow’s final at 14.45 at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. Live coverage on Sky Sports 1 from 14:30 and tickets will be available to purchase on the door.

 

Match 3

SOUTH AFRICA	8	2	WALES
Shelley Russell 4 (FG)	(Half-time 4-0)		Emma Batten 45 (PC)
Celia Evans 10 (PC)			Eloise Laity 70 (PC)
Jade Mayne 21 (FG)
Illse Davids 26 (FG)
Tarryn Bright 38, 58 (PC, FG)
Kathleen Taylor 42 (FG)
Dirkie Chamberlain 52 (PC)

 

In the penultimate pool game of the women’s side of the tournament, South Africa took on a Welsh side looking for their first points of the tournament.

Wales started the first half on the front foot creating some chances in the opening few minutes, but South Africa opened the scoring through Shelley Russell who capitalised on a South Africa break. South Africa then doubled their lead within six minutes through Celia Evans from a penalty corner breakdown. Despite several more chances it took just over ten minutes for South Africa to score again, this time through Jade Mayne from a set play. The  Southern Hemisphere side were on the front foot, attacking at every opportunity and testing the Welsh defence frequently. In the 26th minute Illse Davids slotted another strike into the Welsh net to take her side in with four goal advantage at the break.

In the second half, South Africa showed no signs of slowing down, scoring from their first penalty corner of the half through Tarryn Bright and just four minutes later Kathleen Taylor made it 6-0. Despite the score line, Wales continued to hunt for their first goal of the tournament and their persistence paid off in the 45th minute when Emma Batten deflected the ball into the goal from a deserved penalty corner. Wales created more chances, but after some great penalty corner defending were unable to clear and South Africa made it 7-1 through Dirkie Chamberlain. Tarryn Bright then got her second goal of the game to make it 8-1 after some great attacking pressure from South Africa. Goalkeeper Ella Jackson made her first appearance for Wales in the last five minutes of the game, but had little to do as Wales made it 8-2 through Eloise Laity from the last penalty corner of the game.

Dirkie Chamberlain said of the South Africa performance: "We're happy with the win, we said before the game that we wanted to score lots of goals and we worked hard to do that. Tomorrow's final is definitely a big game for us and the it's where we wanted to be - I think there are things we can take out of today's performance and look to improve, hopefully we can do that and have a strong performance in the final."

 

Match 4

ENGLAND	2	1	SCOTLAND
Alex Danson 23 (FG)	(Half-time 1-0)		Nikki Kidd 49 (PC)
Ellie Watton 37 (FG)

 

England kept their 100% record and secured a place in Sunday's final of the Investec London Cup with a narrow 2-1 victory over Scotland. Goals from Alex Danson and Ellie Watton made the difference in a closely-fought encounter.

The opening ten minutes of the game saw England with the best of the possession, but Scotland were effective in disrupting any possession that England had. England pressed on and started to make their mark up front, with Lily Owsley, Sophie Bray and Alex Danson giving the Scotland defence persistent trouble.

This hard work paid off when Bray attacked the baseline and pulled the ball back to Danson, who hammered her shot into the roof of Scotland’s goal to give England a 1-0 half time lead. Danson was also at the heart of the second England goal, this time creating a chance with her pace and timing her pass perfectly to Ellie Watton who was on hand at exactly the right moment to slot the ball home and extend their lead.

England were able to exert persistent pressure during the opening exchanges of the second half, Bray with two half-chances, and Lucy Wood with a shot on goal that was smartly saved by Amy Gibson in the visitor’s goal. Scotland were never out of the game though, and proved that by getting on the scoreboard through Nikki Kidd, making the score 2-1 with 20 minutes left on the clock. They frustrated England and created chances through Kidd, Ailsa Wyllie and Nikki Lloyd, but were unable to find an equaliser.

The nervous crowd were happy to see England maintain their unbeaten run and set up a showdown with South Africa in Sunday's Final, which is live on Sky Sports 1 at 17:15.

Alex Danson spoke after the game: "It's always a close game against Scotland, so it's good to come out on top and we're looking forward to playing them again at the Commonwealth Games."

Captain Kate Richardson-Walsh added: "We dominated possession, and overall we're happy. We're feeling good, we're fit, and there's a buzz and positive energy throughout the squad."

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