So, South Africa goes up against the Duchies (ranked 2nd in europe) tomorrow (thursday) at 8:30 PM, german time. Is anybody following field hockey? The game is being televised in South Africa, so I get to see my big brother on TV:D . This is nice, as I didn’t crack in invite with my parents to go and support him in Germany.
My money was on Netherlands to take the cup, but as they lost to Korea 2-3 today, I’ll stick with Spain.
Match schedules and results (the touirnament started today) are all on the Official website.
Nice one.
I played at school (Paul Roos Gymnasium) and at varsity (Maties) but haven’t really been following the sport after I swopped it for roadrunning.
Are we playing the Aussies at some stage?
Nope - Aussies are in the other pool. SA is in Pool B with:
Germany
Korea
England
India
Netherlands
It is improbable that we will play them in the cross pool challanges. I think that we will come 10th. Maybe 9th. SA is made up of non professional players. Most of the other teams have professional players. It is nice to know that SA is still good enough to compete at this level though.
From what I see, field hockey is not a popular sport in America. Is it fairly popular over your way? We had teams in one of the two high schools I attended but it was one of the female sports. Looks like it could get pretty viscious at times.
The other sport that seems popular across the pond and which I know nothing about is Cricket. I’ve always wondered about how it’s played.
Field hockey is (I think) more popular as a female sport in south africa althought the male version of the game is well established.
Yeah, it can get a bit raucous at times.
I picked up a smashed thumb and a cracked clavicle for my troubles.
And the traditional crinkle-cut shins.
Hockey is losing the “girl sport” stigma, but it is still considered the “easy” option by many school going rugby players. However, they never seem to stop and think what may happen if very hard ball or hard stick collides with face.
Exhibit A: I present you with a collision between face and stick, an intentional action by said stick weilder. Photo taken after being mopped up in hospital…
South Africa went down 0-2 to holland. A respectable score. The dutch dominated the game, but failed to convert there many attacks into points. conversely, South Africa showed some good defense but were untidy in the mid field and made relativly few threatening attacks on the Netherland gaols.
Not a bad start, and I am glad my pessimism proved false.
I’ve never understood why hockey’s never gone the face-guard/helmet route.
It’s not as if they move any more or sweat any less then their ice-bound brethren.
2-0 to Holland?
Not bad at all.
Hope they can spring a couple of suprises and crack the next round.
This is, incidently, the first time I have seen players (other than the goalie) wearing a face mask, but only for penalty corners. they chuck them off as soon as possible after the corner, as their vision is restricted. I’ll try get a photo. In the meantime, picture hannibal Lecter in Silence of the lambs.
Just above the goalkeeper’s head. Not sure how much protection they offer. A goalie I played with took a hard shot directly into his (full face) helmet, which promply cracked ! He got spare helmet and kept playing. Goalies are crazy…
SA has done far better than expected, although not well statistically.
A 1-1 draw to india and a 2-2 draw to (then) pool leaders Korea boosted confidence.The game against the Germans was particularly hard, but SA defence kept the score down to 2-0 until the last 10 minutes. An injured SA defender was removed from the field after intercepting the the ball at 80km/h with his body. The rattled SA team conceived 3 goals in the next 6 minutes, bringing the final score to 5-0.
SA needs to beat England today in order to qualify for the 5-8 position playoff. We don’t know if the injured defender will be fit to play. Bloody Germans (did I say that too loud?)
Lost to Japan 5-2. Then lost to India 1-0, which ranks us as 12th. which makes us last in the tournament. Which sucks:( . Germany (host nation) play Australia (ranked no. 1 in the world) in the finals tonight.
! He got spare helmet and kept playing. Goalies are crazy…