Home Internationals 2016

Senior Grand Masters Tournament

England, Scotland and Wales took part in the inaugural Senior Grand Masters (Over 70) tournament held at Southgate Hockey Club over the weekend of 1-3 July 2016.

England had finished with silver in the 2015 European Cup ahead of Scotland who won bronze. Wales, playing at this level for the first time in 2016, claimed bronze medal position in the 2016 World Cup, in which England took the silver medal but Scotland did not field a side. It looked set for an interesting tournament.

In the end, England were clearly the strongest side, finishing undefeated. Scotland and Wales were evenly matched and the final positions were decided on goals for, Scotland's goal against England proving the vital factor in their claiming second place after Scotland and Wales finished equal on points, goal difference and the result of the match between the sides.

Scotland also played England Over 75 in a friendly match outside the competition, drawing 0-0.

Friday 1 July
Scotland 1 (Shirreffs) England 5

Scotland Senior Grand Masters (Over 70) began Scotland's campaign in the Home Internationals, going down 5-1 to England. The majority of the game was played in the Scottish half but Scotland managed a number of chances in the second half through Roy Crichton's forceful runs at the English defence. Ian Downie's run into the circle in the last quarter led to another chance which Murdoch Shirreffs failed to convert. Finally, a Roy Crichton run and pass found Murdoch Shirreffs in front of goal and the Scottish forward netted a consolation goal from close in to add some respectability to the score. Scotland will rue their inability to clear decisively at short corners, twice having lost possession after a Scottish defender had cut off one of England's complex passing moves. Both times England took advantage and scored. England's final goal was somewhat dubious, coming after David Gill connected with an English 'pass' at head height and volleyed the ball downwards into the net. This was not to be the only time in the weekend that the umpire in question displeased a Scotland team.

Saturday 2 July
Scotland 2 (Bryce, Morrice) Wales 2

In the last match of the second day, Scotland Senior Grand Masters made life difficult for themselves, twice going behind to Wales before equalising to finish 2-2. Wales, through John Donnelly and Roger Willis, took command of the midfield from the start, firing dangerous balls in to the Scottish circle, and it was no real suprise when cack handed Martin Day in the first quarter put the Welsh ahead. Scotland replied in the second quarter with a rehearsed move at a short corner, injector Alan Bryce netting from close quarters after Roy Crichton had slipped the ball back to him from the top of the circle. Another run by Martin Day down the Scottish left resulted in a cross flicked on by Ian Phillips to the unmarked Glyn Thomas, normally a goalkeeper, who had the easiest of tasks to put the ball past Nigel Dixon in the Scottish goal. Wales, with a squad of only twelve players, started to tire and Scotland took a grip on the game. Doug Morrice was outstanding on the left up front, picking up a series of long balls fed to him, but the final product was missing as his fellow players were unable to come up quickly enough in support. However he was on hand when Roy Crichton took on the Welsh defence down the right and crossed for Doug to place the ball past the Welsh keeper for the equaliser. The final quarter was all Scotland, who were now playing good, controlled passing hockey, but they could not find the vital third goal that would have sealed second place in the tournament. They now relied on goal difference, having to wait for the result of the England-Wales match - the final game on the final day of the tournament.

Sunday 3 July
England 4 Wales 0

England put on a surprisingly lethargic performance, looking tired and jaded and seeming to have no answers to the question of how to break down a well-marshalled Welsh defence. The Scottish Over 70 players who had stayed behind to watch the last match of the whole tournament began to believe that England would never manage to score the four goals which would give Scotland second place, but a goal for England in each of the first two quarters gave them some hope. Instead of the expected English revival after their half time team talk, England continued to play across the park without any real penetration, and the third quarter ended with no more goals, though Wales had a couple of breakaways which could have changed things drastically, and John Donnelly had the ball in the English net only for the goal to be ruled out by the same umpire who had gifted England their fifth goal against Scotland. England at last upped their game in the final quarter, netting their third goal midway through the quarter. Wales continued to resist but Scottish hearts were lifted in the dying seconds when England scored the vital fourth goal which meant that Scotland would be second on goals scored.

Sunday 3 July
Scotland Over 70 0 England Over 75 0

In a match played in a good spirit, Scotland controlled most of the possession but England were always dangerous on the break, stationing one forward high and using the long ball effectively. However Scotland's back line of Alan Bryce, David Cassell, Ian Downie and Robbie Robertson restricted England to very few incursions into the Scottish circle and Nigel Dixon was a reassuring presence in goal when England did threaten him. Scotland found it difficult to break down a resolute English defence and created few clear chances, but won a good number of short corners with forceful play into the English circle. England's short corner defence was well organised, however, and this friendly match ended in a gentlemanly 0-0 draw.

Table

Squads

England

Scotland

Alan Bremner, Alan Bryce, David Cassell, Alex Cathro, Roy Crichton, Nigel Dixon, Ian Downie, Andy Ferrol, David Margerison, Doug Morrice, Donald Paterson, Robbie Robertson, Murdoch Shirreffs, Sandy Weir.

Wales

Grand Masters Reports

Great Grand Masters Reports