ENGLAND GREAT GRAND MASTERS WIN THE WORLD CUP IN LEVERKUSEN AND GRAND MASTERS ARE SILVER MEDALLISTS

The Grand Masters World Cup was contested in Leverkusen in September. This competition, which takes place every two years, was linked to the World Cups in Holland in 1998 and Malaysia in 2002, and this year formed part of Germany's World Cup programme. England are currently European Champions at both Grand Masters (over 60) and Great Grand Masters (over 65) having won both titles at the 2005 European Championships in Rotterdam and retained them at Bra, Italy earlier this year. Australia had won the last Grand Masters World Cup in Athens shortly after the 2004 Olympic Games and Germany were holders of the Great Grand Masters World Cup, so England had strong opposition in both age groups. Other participants in the competition were Netherlands, Scotland, Malaysia, Italy and Egypt.

Ken Wilcock (Bowdon) led his Grand Masters to dominant wins over Italy and Egypt and retained the ‘Ashes’ with a 1-0 win over Australia. A comfortable semi-final win over Malaysia put them in the final against Germany who beat Australia after a penalty shoot–out in the other semi-final. The England side went into the final as favourites and started well but were eventually outplayed by a well-organised German side and went down 0-2. Silver medal was a great achievement but the team was disappointed not to bring home the World Cup. The Great Grand Masters, however, did just that under the leadership of David Wright (Tring). Beating off competition from Australia, Germany and the Netherlands, they remained unbeaten and added the World Cup to their European title.

The strength in depth in English superveterans hockey was further endorsed when England’s LX Club beat other national B teams to take the Tournament Trophy, the secondary competition at over 60 level, defeating Australia B 2-0 in the final.

Squads for the two national teams were:

ENGLAND GRAND MASTERS                                                        

Ken Wilcock (Bowdon-capt), Norman Ballard (Bury St Edmunds) David Brampton (Brighton), Richard Clarke (Oxford Hawks), Rod Cochrane (Surbiton), Peter Crayford (Eastcote), Nigel Dixon (Southgate), Alan Dures (Bury St Edmunds), Terry Howlett (Colchester), John Land (Sunderland), Brian Perryman (Bournemouth), Adrian Robertson (Reading), Peter Ross (Chichester), Percy Steele (Hereford), Mike Surridge (Braintree), Peter Sharpe(Cannock), Jim Tranter (Telford).

ENGLAND GREAT GRAND MASTERS

David Wright (Tring-capt), Dominic Bann (Eastcote), Mike Beaney (Surbiton), David Birch (PHC Chiswick), Michael Fripp (LX Club), George Hazell (Bury St Edmunds), Keith Hedley (Ashford), Andy Holden (Glaxo), Alan Jackson (Trojans), Leon Mack (Cannock), Colin Pearce (Deeside Ramblers), John Seear (Reigate), Brian Tubb (Trojans), Bill Warrender ( Morecambe & District), Gerald Wilkinson (Chelmsford).

Match Reports

ENGLAND GREAT GRAND MASTERS

Friday 8th September 2006

Italy 0   England Grand Masters 3

The World Cup opened on an auspiciously sunny day at the excellent Leverkusen facility comprising two water-based pitches and a tented village. England opened their account in Pool A against Italy, the third encounter between the two countries this year. England with an overly large squad of sixteen had still not divined the strategy to plunder a weaker side whose main game plan was a resolute and massed defence. England dominated throughout, though their game varied from fluid to patchy. An early goal from Mike Surridge, following in from a short corner, failed to open the gates, though later in the first half extraordinary umpiring decisions to disallow two goals caused the half-time score hardly to reflect the passage of play. The England players were rotated and all substitutes had good spells on the pitch. Newcomer Jim Tranter and injury-recovered Terry Howlett played well, but men of the match were Peter Sharpe, giving a classic exhibition of powerful right-wing play, and forward Rod Cochrane, who ably converted two chances to bring the final score to 3-0. Ada Robertson hit the post from a corner and yet another goal was curiously disallowed, so whilst 3-0 in favour of England was sufficient it could well have been six or seven.

Sunday 10th September

Australia 0  England Grand Masters  1

Highlight of the day was the Ashes match between England Grand Masters and Australia. England won back the Ashes in Athens in 2004 but the Australians had gone on to win the World Cup so this was as ever a needle match. England were fastest out of the blocks and their speed and stickwork had the Aussies on the back foot and knocked out of their stride. Very much with the run of the play John Land controlled a ball in the middle of the D and lifted it deftly into the top of the net. Although Australia occasionally threatened their attacks petered out and a short corner in the dying moments of the game was the most anxiety that English supporters had throughout the whole game. A 1-0 win and the Ashes retained a highly satisfactory result but the World Cup has yet to be won. 

Monday 11th September

England Grand Masters 15   Egypt  0

England started their first encounter with Egypt with a goal befoe an Egyptian player touched the ball; a 1-0 lead in 35 seconds. This score was increased to 4-0 within 11 minutes, with goals from Adrian Robertson, following up his own short corner strike, Ken Wilcock direct from the second penalty corner and David Brampton in open play. England proceeded to dominated the game scored regularly to turn around at half time with a comfortable 9-0 lead with a further goals from David Brampton and Peter Ross, before Rod Cochrane added a second to his opening score of the game. There was little opposition from Egypt, who only occasionally moved the ball into the England half of the pitch, but their defence was more resolute in this period of the game allowing England to add only another six goals. Rod Cochrane completed his hat-trick by scoring from thed goalkeeper’s pads following a shot by Jim Tranter, before Ken Wilcock also complete a hat-trick with two further goals from penalty corners. Brian Perryman made way for Richard Clarke and Adrian Robertson was replaced by Mike Surridge before Davi Brampton added to his first half tally. With ten minutes left to play Peter Ross and Peter Crayford were replaced by Peter Sharpe and Percy Steele and England maintained their onslaught on the Egyptian goal, albeit neither of the newcomers was able to add to the goal count. The final total of 15 goals was complted with the double hat-trick of David Brampton and a deflection by Rod Cochrane with the final stroke of the game. The result ensured that England topped their group with maximum points and they now await the outcome of the final game in the other group to discover their opponents in the play-offs.

Wednesday 13th September

England Grand Masters  4  Malaysia  0

England moved emphatically into Friday’s final where they will play Germany, posting a 4-0 win against Malaysia. England played unevenly at the start and did not immediately impress. But they exerted sufficient pressure to win short corners, the first of which was converted by skipper Ken wilcock with a firm direct shot.  Gradually England settled and became dominant.  As the Malaysians tired in the second half under constant pressure, three excellently constructed goals, two from Mike Surridge and one from David Brampton , brought the final score to 4-0. All squad members were field and contributed to the result, particularly the defence who did not concede a single short corner. The Malaysians awarded Mike Surridge a shirt a ‘man of the match’ and Brian Perryman was also conspicuous for England, building the play and moving tirelessly.

Friday 15th September.

Final - England Grand Masters 0 Germany 2

England had reason to be cautiously optimistic as they came into the World Cup Final against old foes Germany. England had outplayed the Germans three months earlier in Bra to win the European Cup, and the Germans had stumbled into this final, beating Australia in extra time on flicks, whereas earlier in the week England had outplayed the Aussies to win their match against them and retain the Ashes.

England suffered an early blow when key midfielder Brian Perryman came off in the first minute with injury to be replaced by Jim Tranter in right midfield. Nonetheless England got off to a bright start, threatened down the flanks, and within three minutes had won the first corner. England continued to press in the first 25 minutes, a close range flick from Mike Surridge nimbly saved by the German goalkeeper, and a further two short corners added. At the other end, although Ada Robertson saved a German shot on the line, the English defence was generally untroubled, and did not concede a short corner in the first half. However as the first half ran out, there was a sense that the Germans had weathered the early storm and were starting to take the game to England.

This German momentum gathered pace from the start of the second half. Suddenly the English team looked fragile and were on the back foot. German pressure, ably dictated by a young and mobile German midfield, led to two short corners in succession. Though these were survived, shortly after a ball drilled into the English circled resulted in a goal mouth scramble in which the Germans forced the ball over the line. The English midfield was changed to move Mike Surridge to right midfield and bring on Terry Howlett at left midfield. The English forwards were now being rotated with all players spending time on the pitch.

However, the Germans now had the bit between the teeth and were not willing to give ground. A poor English clearance led to another short corner which the Germans converted somewhat controversially as the ball cleared the backboard - the question being whether a nick from an English stick had lifted the ball to an illegal height. Rather than constructing a reply, English discipline began to falter.

Positional discipline and structure was lost, careful build-up thrown to the winds, and dribbling and hitting the ball optimistically upfield were dealt with comfortably by a now very confident German side playing for each other and maintaining good possession. The English line was lucky to survive another goal mouth melee, and the Germans ran out deserved 2-0 winners . A disappointing conclusion to an otherwise excellent English campaign, but not a result England could quarrel with on the day.

Postscript

In hindsight, there are two views of the England GM performance in Leverkusen. The World Cup was a culmination of a brilliant season for England GM. England had travelled to Scotland early in the year to win 3 - 0, and on to Bra where the European Cup had been won with conviction, all four matches won, goals for 12 and 1 against.

Additionally the team had played a number of practice games and not lost, including winning the Chelmsford tournament where they played the Scottish and Welsh over 55s. Only against the team (the Members) sent over to Korea to represent England over 50s had the GM lost, and then by the narrow margin of 3 goals to 2.

There was a consensus that three tough fixtures spread over 10 days and 15 players was not 'time well spent' - however the build-up was immaculate with easy wins against Italy and Egypt, an Ashes cracker against Australia where England played the better hockey and deserved to win (1 - 0) and a comfortable 4 -0 win in the semi finals against Malaysia. So much to be proud of and not a one sided final either.

England had overall the better of the first half, but failed to convert their chances, and over the game as a whole England had six short corners to the German three. Indeed England GM could look back on an impressive season with good esprit and ably led on and off the field by Ken Wilcock and vice-captain Peter Sharpe, with support from many of the players and especially their wives and partners, who helped out in the numerous admin. and organisational challenges.

Nonetheless, England lost the 'big game', the one that really counted, and one which by and large most of the players felt that had they played to potential, they could have won. Did the Germans prevent England from finding their rhythm, or was it just an 'off day'? It certainly wasn't helped by the early departure of Brian Perryman, but England had played well in Bra in two matches without Brian. The question here will require some reflection - could we have done better, and if so, why didn't we? Since their low point in Rotterdam, the Germans had introduced a capable manager/coach, and his player rotations and tactical adjustments during the final showed the contribution that can be made during the course of a single match. Despite the post-Athens recommendation that England GM should have a coach/manager, no progress has been made on that front over those two years .

Another post-Athens recommendation was that overly large squads led to direct (or implied) pressure to rotate or substitute players at the wrong moment in matches? However the Australians and the Germans have another approach - all squad members are of merit, and all will get roughly equal field time during all matches, meaning amongst other things that 'fresh legs' are automatic. What is the right approach? Did the Germans execute better on the day without necessarily fielding a more gifted side?

A silver medal was fantastic, the Ashes retained, the European Cup defended - a great season by any yardstick. And hard work now in store to finally secure the coveted trophy of the World Cup in two years time - for those of us still standing, that is!!

ENGLAND GREAT GRAND MASTERS

Friday 8th September 2006.

Australia Great Grand Masters 0  -  England Great Grand Masters  2

The England Great Grand Masters opened their 2006 World Cup campaign with a workmanlike performance against Australia.  With Australia making the early running England were forced to defend in numbers to neutralise the early thrust. With 10 minutes gone, England forced a short corner after the Australian defence was caught napping but the danger was cleared.  After the early Australian attacks failed to produce a shot on goal, England, with Alan Jackson and David Birch providing the platform, wrested the initiative from the Australians and the English attack threatened. As half time approached the Australians found themselves a goal down when a short corner injected by Brian Tubb was struck fiercely by John Seear and Dominic Bann was in position to guide the ball into the net.

With Australia striving for an equaliser, the English defence was again overworked but as the Australians pushed forward they were punished again from a short corner when Gerald Wilkinson beat the keeper from close range. With 15 minutes to go and both teams beginning to tire, the Australians dominated possession but although they were able to force a short corner, they were unable to trouble Mike Fripp in the England goal, who was well protected throughout by a solid defensive performance.

Saturday 9th September

Netherlands Great Grand Masters  0  England Great Grand Masters  0

With captain David Wright returning to the side after injury England opened brightly against their Dutch opponents. Following early pressure England forced a number of short corners but were unable to beat the keeper. With Netherlands packing their defence and midfield, England were finding some difficulty in reaching the by-line but Netherlands seemed content to concentrate on defence. With a similar pattern emerging after the break any moves forward by Netherlands were easily broken up by the England defence and George Hazell and Leon Mack were able to concentrate on feeding their front men. Entering the final quarter, England were well in control but were unable to kill off their opponents who survived with the aid of goal-line stops by their defenders with the goalkeeper well beaten. A disappointing result for England who now meet Germany in their next match.

Monday 11th September

Germany Great Grand Masters 0  England Great Grand Masters  2

Shortly after the start a pass out from defence by George Hazell found Alan Jackson who passed to Bill Warrender who in turn made ground and smacked an unstoppable ball through the goalie’s legs making a resounding smack on the backboards to give England their first goal. Following a German short corner, well saved by Mike Fripp, England went onto the counter attack and saw two near misses with Gerald Wilkinson and Dominic Bann linking well. Another great chance was created by Gerald Wilkinson but Dominic Bann just failed to convert. Then Andy Holden hit a crisp free hit from the left, no-one seemed to move but the ball struck a German’s foot and trickled slowly onwards for Dominic Bann to push into the net for the second goal.

With Bill Warrender off to hospital with a split finger Dominic Bann opened the second half with the old style bully off routine. Early pressure from Germany was neutralised by the England defence but play was mostly in the English half for the first quarter.

Play was ragged on both sides with no real shape to either team. There was brief excitement when Germany was awarded a penalty stroke through an alleged shoulder charge by Leon Mack  but fortunately for England the stroke went wide. The score remained 2-0 to England at the close of play.

Tuesday 12th September

England Great Grand Masters  1   Australia Great Grand Masters  0

With centre forward Bill Warrender on the injured list, England were forced to make changes for this game, Dominic Bann filling the centre forward role. Opening brightly Australia went on the offensive from the first whistle, but wre unable to penetrate a solid England defence. England moved forward efficiently but were finding difficulty getting into the Australian circle. With 20 minutes gone England appeared to have scored from a well-worked penalty corner, but the ball was adjudged not to have been taken back outside the circle! The second half opened in much the same vein with very little between the sides although Australia were finding it difficult to get out of their own half. With England raising their game to get the all-important goal, Australia were fotrunate to survive when an Andy Holden shot was cleared off the lin e by a defender with the goalkeeper well beaten. The deadlock was finally broken with 15 minutes to go, when Dominic Bann was on hand to touch home from a short corner. With Australia now intent on geting back on terms, the England defence was again under pressure but solid work by Brian Tubb and Colin Pearce kept the England line intact.  With this win under their belt, England need a result against Netherlands on Thursday to maintain their unbeaten record. 

Thursday 14th September

Netherlands Great Grand Masters  0   England Great Grand Masters  2

With the result of this match possibly determining the winners of the Great Grand Masters World Cup, England took an early lead to establish a dominance from which the Dutch were unable to break free. Opening in determined mood, England moved into the Dutch half of the field and took an immediate lead, David Birch hitting a crossfield ball to Gerald Wilkinson, whose centre was cleared only as far as George Hazell. With the Dutch defence at sixes and sevens, Hazell’s ball into the D fell to John Seear who easliy beat the unprotected ‘keeper.  Having established early dominance, England piled on the pressure and Netherlands fell further behind when Andy Holden drove the ball into the circle for Brian Tubb to reverse stick home. With half time approaching England relaxed their grip but the Dutch were unable to take advantage.  From the restart, England pushed forward and forced a series of short corners without seriously threatening the Dutch goal. The Dutch, needing a goal to have any chance of improving their position in the table pushed forward and England should have moved further ahead. With time running out, Holland had the chance of a consolation goal but Mike Fripp in the England goal cleared with his only touch of the game. England with only one game left to play against Germany are unbeaten with four wins and a draw, scoring seven goals without reply and are assured of the World Championship.

Friday 15th September

Germany Great Grand Masters 0  England Great Grand Masters 0

With the World Championship already won, England struggled to show the form of their earlier games and an uncharacteristically disjointed performance resulted. A number of enforced changes meant that the England forward line was unrecognisable from the earlier stages. The German tactics ensured that very little space was available to develop attacks and both sides found defences dominant. The first serious threat to either goal came from an England short corner after 34 minutes but John Seear struck the ball wide. With the second half pattern continuing in the same vein, England forced a series of short corners and were eventually awarded a penalty stroke, but the German ’keeper made a good save.  England then found themselves defending and Leon Mack saved English reputations with a goal-line clearance. Mike Fripp had another fine match and controlled the defensive unit. With the final score 0-0 England had won the 2006 World Cup in Leverkusen without conceding a goal and can now build on their performances to retain their title in China in 2008.