Wales versus Scotland Three Tests Series begins tomorrow
Scotland’s Under-18 men and women hockey team are all set to play a three Test series against Wales at Wrexham from April 22-25, this weekend.
A major European tour is approaching this summer that features Euro Hockey U-18 Trophy and Championship tournaments. Most expectedly, the Welsh Tests will highly contribute in the preparation for these European competitions.
Recently, the Scottish U-18 men’s squad returned home after playing a two-Test series against England with a 5-1 loss and a 3-3 tie at Lilleshall.
However, the Scottish men performed quite well and are expected to further improve in the matches against the Welsh junior men. Moreover, the team's manager, Bill Robson, and Assistant Coach, Harry Dunlop, felt a considerable improvement in the squad’s
performance.
Robson said, “The first game against England was a real learning curve for the boys, but the second game was a real improvement and the players worked extremely hard to come away with a credible draw. In fact, we could have won it, if it hadn’t been
for an excellent penalty save from the English goalkeeper.”
He further stated, “The higher objective for this weekend against Wales is to build on these performances and continue the players’ preparations for the European competition in the summer. We’re determined to win promotion back to the ‘A’ division
so we’re upping the level of intensity. Three games in three days will provide a tough test for the players but they will have to get used to this level with five games in six days when we travel to the Europeans”.
On contrary, the Scottish junior women also returned after a face-off against the English women in which they lost the second match by just one goal at 3-2.
The striker k**e Lawal will make a comeback in the Welsh series along with CALA’s domestic hockey player Fiona Plain, as a debutant on the international stage.
The Scottish U-18 squad that got selected for Welsh test series by the coach Colin Clarke comprises of Jennifer Hendry, Anna Gourlay, Kirstin McIntosh, Karin Belch, Kate Smith, Heather Howie, Hazel Hall, Kirsty Hill, Mairi Drummond, Fiona Plain, Lucy
Lanigan, Jenny Morris, k**e Lawal, Heather Lang, Lucy Preston, Amanda Maxwell, Sarah Robertson and Emma Barlow.
The U-18 Scottish men’s squad to play against Wales tomorrow includes Scott Lindsay, Blair Fotheringham, Scott Coughlin, Peter Brown, Michael McKenzie, Craig Morton, Ross McIntyre, Michael Nicol, Corey Hastings, Grant Veitch, Jonny Roy, Aiden Docherty,
Ian Duke, Tom Kelmsley, Jake Hibbert, Duncah Riddell and George Adams.
Meanwhile, the Men’s Euro Hockey Club Trophy stage has been set to be held from April 21-24, in Rome, Italy. It has been organised by the Italian champions, Hockey Club Roma, with eight clubs participating this year for the trophy.
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