Archive: Women’s Hawke’s Bay Cup

Match-1: Indian women falls short, lose 2-1 to China

New Delhi, 11 April 2015: The opening day of the Hawke’s Bay Cup between India and China was an exciting opening game to the tournament. Both the teams in their bid to not allow easy goals to each other ensured that their defence was strong, restricting the forwards to capitalise on the opportunities. With the scorecard yet to be opened real action was witnessed in the third quarter when India finally opened their account but went down losing the match 1-2.

Both the teams started with great speed and attacked trying to create the initial pressure but the defenders proved to be more into business restricting and not allowing the easy goals. This resulted in a dry run in the first two quarters as the first half score stood at 0-0.

Immediately into the second half India finally broke the shackles and scored the first goal of the Hawkes’ Bay Cup as Anuradha Thokochom ensured she slammed the ball past the goalkeeper stunning the opponents. With this goal India took the lead in the game 1-0. The lead was short lived as China bounced back and equalised in the 34thminute when China attacking the D of India earned a penalty corner which was capitalised by Mengyu Wang. India counter attacked immediately looking at the lead again. But China struck again in the 38th minute as Qian Yu scored through a field goal. The rest of the session saw India attacking and trying to look for the equaliser but failed to do so.

India attacked in the last quarter maintaining a good ball possession but was unable to score the equaliser goal resulting in China winning the match by 2-1.

Match-2: Hawke’s Bay: Indian women held Aussies for a draw

Hastings (New Zealand), 14 April 2015: The game between India and Australia was an intense game as both teams tried to score in entire game. But came out clearly was the string defence of both the teams who ensured that the opponents did not get a chance to reach the nets. What came out positively was the defence of the Indians and the Indian goalie who saved on a numerous occasion leaving the Australians frustrated. The match was drawn 0-0 at the end of the exciting clash.

The Indian women team showed good defensive skills in the first quarters they kept the attack of the opponents at bay. Getting a penalty corner, Australia was looking at the initial goal but the alert defence of India cleared the danger. Just two seconds left in the first quarter Australia had another go at the penalty corner but again was saved brilliantly by the Indian goalie and with this the first quarter scores stood at 0-0 with both teams yet to open their account.

The second quarter was again a similar story with India showcasing good defence and thwarting all chances for the opponents to score. Into the second quarter Anuradha Thockchom entered the D of Australia and had a chance to score but was brought down by the defence resulting in a penalty stroke for India. But the goalie for Australia saved and India lost on the opportunity to open the scores. While both the teams continued looking for chances to score but missed capitalising as the defence proved to be stronger. At the end of first half the scores still remained to be opened.

India got their first penalty corner in the third quarter but missed to encash the opportunity. The quarter again resulted in a dry run with both teams still looking at opening their goal score. Immediately into the last quarter Australia attacked and was on the verge of scoring when the Indian goalie saved on the line leaving the opponents stunned. The last session being the deciding, both teams increased their tempo of attack as they looked for the lead and the winning goal. But with goals scored yet again the match was drawn 0-0.

Match-3: Hawke’s Bay Cup: Kiwis thumps India 4-1 in quarter
New Delhi, 16 April 2015: The quarter final match between India and New Zealand was an exciting clash as both teams gave a tough fight as they defended well and even maintained a good attack on each other in the entire game. It was India who drew first blood as they successfully scored a penalty corner but New Zealand struck back with no looking back as they went on to score 4 goals and won the match 4-1.

First quarter and six minutes into the game, India was awarded their first penalty corner and a clever variation by India helped Ritu Rani to put the ball into the nets leaving the host team stunned. New Zealand in their bid to bounce back into the game got their first the very next minute as Petrea Webster successfully slammed the ball for a goal. Post their first goal New Zealand had another chance at penalty corner and an opportunity to take the lead in the game but was defended well by the Indians to avert the danger.

India maintained good attack in the second quarter as they gave a few jittery moments to the opponents but somehow was unable to convert the chances. Two minute into the second quarter the Indian team had a penalty corner in their name but missed. Two minutes left into the quarter, New Zealand managed to break the defence chain of India to put the ball into the nets, going on to take the lead in the game 2-1.

The third quarter was a story of attacks and misses as both teams tried to score. While India was looking at equalizing, New Zealand’s aim was to increase the goal score further. As the quarter drew to an end and seemed that it would end in a dry run, New Zealand scored the third goal in the 29th minute and taking the end of third session score to 3-1. The fourth quarter India maintains their attack but failed to capitalize. In the 55th minute New Zealand added one more to their tally as Ella Gunson scored a field goal and sealed India’s fate in the match.

Match-4: Hawke’s Bay Cup: India goes down against USA

New Delhi, 18 April 2015: The classification match between India and USA witnessed yet another round of an exciting clash as each team looked at creating pressure through their attacks and cashing on the opportunities. It was USA which managed to capitalize and going on to beat India 3-0.

Immediately into the match both teams started with an intention of score the initial goal and taking one up in the match. In the 10th minute USA got a penalty corner in their name which they converted through the stick of Kathleen Sharkey. Not wasting further time they doubled their accounts in the 14th minute Katie O’Donnell scored through a smart field goal. Wit 2-0 on board, USA was leading the first quarter.

The second quarter was a session where both teams increased their tempo of attack and looked at scoring on the chances. India was looking at opening their account and decreasing the goal margin but were unable to open accounts at the end of first half leaving the scores at 2-0 in favour if USA.

The third quarter was almost the same story as the second quarter where both the teams were seen on their business sides of the field. Just two minutes left into the quarter India had a go at the penalty corner. But they missed as the variation did not go in their favour. India continued their attack in the opponents D and just seconds left into the session USA counter attacked and a long pass to Katie O’Donnell resulted in her entering the D, beating one Indian defender and goalies to score the third goal for her team.

Realizing that it being the last session for them to score, India maintained good ball possession and attack on the opponent’s semi-circle. But unable to score, India lost the match 0-3 to USA. Tomorrow India will play for the 7th / 8th position.

Match-5: Hawke’s Bay: India edge past Japan to finish seventh

New Delhi, 19 April 2015: It was a day which will go down in the history of Indian Women hockey as the team went on to beat the higher seeded FIH ranked team Japan in the classification match of the Hawkes’s Bay Cup. By this win India has been successful in consecutively beating them, the last being the 17th Asian Games wherein both the teams met to play for the Bronze medal finish. Today’s clash was for the 7th / 8th position resulted in an exciting clash as both the teams were looking at signing off the tournament on a winning note. While Japan started off strong by a two goal lead vis a vis India’s unopened account, India bounced back into the game and won the match 3-2 leaving the opponents stunned.

Right into the game Japan made their intent clear by making the initial attack. It reaped benefits just four minutes into the game as a field effort by Mie Nakashima who put the ball into the nets leaving India trailing 0-1. India in the remaining session was seen entering the opponents semi-circle and creating opportunities but all efforts turned futile as Japan held them at bay. The end of first quarter’s play ended in favour of Japan at 1-0.

The second quarter got exciting as both the teams successfully scored a goal each. But this did not help India’s efforts as they were still trailing the game 1-2 at the end of first half. The teams in the session continued looking at the opportunities and stamp their dominance on the game. With good ball possession India maintained the pressure on Japan. But India got a double blow as Japan with a penalty corner did no mistake in finding the nets, coming from the stick of Yukari Yamamoto. India right after Japan’s second goal, increased their tempo of attack and in the 28th minute they found success when they broke the shackles of Japan’s defence and Sushila Pukhrambam slammed the ball past the goalie to open the account for India. End of first half Japan was still leading the game 2-1.

India was seen attempting to equalize the game in the third quarter but were unable to capitalize. India on their part even ensured that they did not allow Japan to score further which would mean the game slipping from their hands. The third session proved to be a dry run and the last fifteen minutes being very important for India as they had to ensure that they score and win the match.

The 4th quarter got good news for India as they scored two consecutive goals in a matter of three minutes. Keeping their spirits high the Indian girls started the last quarter with great speed. The intentions were clear, they wanted to win. Just minutes left into the game and Japan were almost sure that they would end the tournament with a win that’s when India struck. 54th minute and Deepika scored though a brilliant field goal and equalizing the game. The goal meant Japan lost the hold in the game and they had to strike back and for India it meant they have a chance to go one-up. 57th minute India scored the winning goal as this time it was Rani who smartly deflected the ball into the nets leaving Japan astounded. This helped India win the match 3-2 and settle for the 7th position in the tournament.