Rabo FIH Champions Trophy: Final Eight Standings (Part 3)
Article continued from Rabo FIH Champions Trophy: Final Eight Standings (Part 2)
England: Number Five
England, the fourth ranked hockey team in the world, failed to prove its worth in the eight-nation mega event and earned the 5th place. The English women won three games out of total six, while managed two draws. Interestingly, they were beaten
only in a single game and that was the opening fixture against reigning World Champions, Argentina. England managed a pair of draws consecutively in the second and third games. They drew the first game against Korea at 2-2, while the second against China at
0-0. That was the main turning point which put them into Pool-D.
Though, the English women revved them up and won all the next three games. In the third match they edged past Germany by 1-0, while they took the Hockeyroos down in the next two games. In the final game of Pool D, England cruised past Australia by 3-2, while
whitewashed them in the play-off game and earned the 5th place in the 2011 Champions Trophy. With this victory, the English team booked a berth in the 2012 London Olympics. England obtained the 5th spot for the second time in the recently
concluded Champions Trophy, as they previously finished in the same place in 2003.
The English team scored eight goals, while conceded only five in the last six competitions. They earned 12 short-corners, but could convert only two. Amazingly, England was the only squad that did not concede a goal on short-corner throughout the event.
Beckie Herbert, Alex Danson, Crista Cullen, Kate Walsh, Anna Bennett, Chloe Rodgers and Helen Richardson were the experienced names of the English squad who donned the colours in the tournament. Maddy Hinch, the English net-minder, though was a new induction,
but she displayed impressive performance and denied numerous efforts in the encounters.
Australia: Number Six
The Women’s hockey team of Australia, which is also known as the Hockeyroos, was one of the most failed squads of the tournament. It marked only one victory and a draw out of total six games. It lost the first two games against Netherlands and New Zealand
by 3-0 and 3-2, respectively. However, they stepped up their game and won a match against Germany at 1-0. The fourth game between China and Australia was drawn at 2-2 while the Hockeyroos lost the final two games from England by 3-2 and 2-0.
It scored only seven goals, while thirteen goals were scored against it in the six matches. They earned 27 short-corners, but could score off on only three. It is vital to mention here that they secured the lowest sixth position in the Champions Trophy for
the first time.
The best names of the Hockeyroos in the Champions Trophy were Marnie Hudson, Casey Eastham, Jodie Schulz, Megan Rivers, Madonna Blyth and Kobie Mcgurk. Toni Cronk, the Aussie player, has 91 international caps, but failed to impress the fans much in the eight-team
event.
Article continued from Rabo FIH Champions Trophy: Final Eight Standings (Part 4)
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