Published on Thursday, October 15, 2009 by Gally

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The fourth day of the BDO Women’s Champions Challenge 1 hockey tournament at Hartleyvale saw all three matches ending in draws.  While South Africa and New Zealand are favourites to reach the final on Sunday, both will need to draw their final matches on Saturday against Spain and Japan respectively in order to ensure this.  The non-medal pool for the minor placings is also delicately poised.  A howling north-westerly wind gave way to heavy rain at the end of the day which saw the final match being interrupted.

SOUTH AFRICA vs NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand came back from the dead to snatch a draw against South Africa.  Victory for either side would have assured a place in Sunday’s final, but the draw left both teams needing to defend their unbeaten records in the final pool matches on Saturday.

South Africa blew hot from the start.  Another well thought out penalty corner variation saw Jennifer Wilson deflect the ball home for the first goal in just the second minute.  The hosts kept up the pressure, but New Zealand were not going to lie down, and Kalya Sharland put them on level terms at the first quarter mark.  Shelley Russell was causing havoc in the defence with her incisive running, and she set up the second goal two minutes later, winning the ball after a defensive error in the circle for Farah Fredericks to push it in.

The home team was not finished yet as captain Masha Marescia deflected in from a penalty corner in the last minute of the second half.

As was the case against Azerbaijan, South Africa took the foot off the gas in the second period.  Tall defenders Kate Mahon and Clarissa Eshuis were solid as the game seemed to be drifting SA’s way.  With eleven minutes to play, the score was still 3-1.

The Black Sticks then earned a penalty corner but were denied by a brilliant stick save from Mariette Rix.  They continued to apply pressure and a minute later punished a defensive error as Sharland found herself unmarked in the circle and fired in a quick reverse stick shot.  Seconds later Rix was again called on to make a save as the Kiwis forced another penalty corner.

Wilson was proving to be a tower in the defence, but relentless pressure from New Zealand as they strove for an equalizer saw them earn another penalty corner and this time Eshuis’s drag flick found the mark.  SA protested that there had been a New Zealand foot in the process but Australian umpire Julie Ashton-Lucy awarded the goal after consultation with her Irish colleague Carol Metchette.

With the momentum now fully with New Zealand, they attacked again and forced another penalty corner with just two minutes remaining.  The pressure had borne fruit with the normally cool-as-a-cucumber Lenise Marais passing to an opponent.  Eshuis’s flick was charged down by first wave runner Vidette Ryan.  The ball hit her shin, and Rix made another fine save from the resulting penalty corner.

Although SA did have another foray or two, they were much more the relieved team as the seconds ran out. 

South Africa  (3) 3 vs   New Zealand  (1) 3

Goalscorers:
South Africa:    Jennifer Wilson (2^nd), Farah Fredericks (19^th), Marsha Marescia (34^th)
New Zealand:   Kayla Sharland (17^th, 60^th), Clarissa Eshuis (66^th)

 

CHILE vs ITALY

An otherwise unremarkable match caught fire in the closing minutes as Chile fought their way back for a well-deserved draw.  Italy took the lead seconds before the half-time whistle thanks to a field goal from captain Francesca Faustini.  With five minutes to go Chile were awarded a penalty corner following a breakdown tackle made inside the 25 yard area.  This led to a period of sustained pressure.  The equalizer came when goalkeeper Ronerta Lilliu lifted the ball in saving a shot from Carlina Garcia.  Daniela Caram was on hand to bunt the ball home.

Chile  (0) 1 vs Italy  (1) 1

Goalscorers:
Chile:                Daniela Caram (68^th)
Italy:                 Francesca Faustini (35th)

SPAIN vs JAPAN

With both teams needing a win to have a realistic chance of reaching the final, neither side was prepared to take too many risks.  Japan had some good chances, one at a penalty corner being thwarted as postman Silvia Munoz deflecting the ball to safety.  A movement which was typical of the failure of both teams to utilize possession came soon afterwards.  Mie Nakashima broke down the left wing, ran to the baseline and passed the ball back to Kana Nagayama in an excellent position, but the latter player missed the ball.  Nakashima had a chance of her own soon afterwards, but her point blank flick was well saved by Maria Lopez de Eguilaz.

A heavy rain shower during the half-time break slowed things down further and neither side was able to break the deadlock.  With just over five minutes remaining, and Spain applying considerable pressure, play was halted due to the waterlogged field.  Play resumed some ten minutes later for what proved to be an action-packed five minutes. 

Spain forced two penalty corners but were unable to score only to find themselves on the defence.  A crucial tackle by Munoz denied the Japanese, and the last chance fell to Munoz.  Unmarked in the circle, a defender missed the ball but the Spaniard mistimed her shot as goalkeeper Yuka Yoshikawa made a desperate tackle.

The result leaves both teams needing big wins in the final games on Saturday in order to stand a chance of reaching Sunday’s final.

Spain  0 vs Japan  0

Standings after Day 4: 

Pool C	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
New Zealand	2	1	1	0	6	3	4
South Africa	2	1	1	0	7	5	4
Japan	2	0	1	1	2	4	1
Spain	2	0	1	1	0	3	1

 

Pool D	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Chile	2	0	2	0	1	1	2
South Africa	1	0	1	0	1	1	1
Azerbaijan	1	0	1	0	0	0	1

 

Fixtures for Saturday:

11h00:  Italy vs Azerbaijan
13h00: South Africa vs Spain
15h00:  New Zealand vs Japan