Roller Hockey Photos

The prestigious Coupe Des Nations tournament will be held in Montreux Switzerland over the Easter holiday. Eight senior teams some of which are national squads will compete in this bi-annual competition. Coaches of national squads will use this competition to test players and try new tactics in preparation for the forthcoming world championships in Vigo Spain.

Roller Hockey competition at this level has been seen in Switzerland since 1921, England have had success in the past winning competitions on eight occasions ending in1950. Several English clubs have also won titles over the years, Herne Bay won in 1932 and 1938. One other English club, Faversham won in 1930.

England last competed at the Coupe des Nations in 2001.

Our Photographer Gordon Morrison will be at this years competition supplying pictures for the official website again, in the past he was the official photographer for 2005, 2007 Coupe des Nations and Mens World Roller Hockey Championships so look out over easter for his pictures on the Coupe des Nations website.

Herne Bay Utd took on the mighty Reus at the weekend in the Euro Champions League and played to their strengths, the match was end to end entertaining and full of excitement.

In the first half HBU took their chances and it paid off with them going ahead at 2 – 0 fourteen minutes into the match thanks to Brendan Barker and Neil Austin, Reus responded pushing HBU’s defence with plenty of shots on goal but Danny Barton king of the goal cage repeatedly stopped the force of one of Spain’s great clubs. Two goals followed in the first half from Reus taking the half time score 2-2.

I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in the Reus changing room at half time, the language must have been colourful provoking the attitude adjustment which was evident at the beginning of the second half. Reus put in a couple more goals within the first ten minutes but Brendan Barker scored a wonderful goal (see picture) approx 13 mins. into the second half followed by another by Dendy Hudson 6 minutes later.

Final score HBU 4-7 Reus.
GOALS
Reus Pintado Caldu (x2), Matias Platero (x2), Marc Gual, Pedro Gil, Jori Molet
Herne Bay United Neil Austin, Dendy Hudson, Brendan Barker (x2).

NOW SEE THE FOTOS

Celebrations for the Under 17′s Peterborough team last weekend with winning the 2009 Farnham Shield. Six teams entered this years competition which had its age limit raised to Under 17′s as Farnham, hosts of the competition, were unable to put together an under 13′s team as in past years.

In addition to the winners teams from Bury, Plymouth, Cottenham, Farnham and Ely all entered the tournament displaying a good level roller hockey for this age group. One match displayed good attacking and skating skills, Peterborough and Bury fought hard for a place in the finals with Peterborough sealing their place in the final with a second goal in the last half of the match.

In the final Peterborough again played well against a confident Farnham who defended well in the first half but after conceeding the third goal appeared to loose the fight.

Congratulations to Arthur Corr and the Peterborough players.

The ‘Fair Play” award went to Plymouth and Sam Cayley took the “Best Goal Keeper” award.

Over many years the Farnham Shield has been played by under 13′s by many clubs but for this year the age group has been changed to under 17′s. Sue Marshall one of this years organisers said “we haven’t got an under 13′s team so we can only enter our under 17′s team”.

This years entrants are Plymouth. Peterborough, Bury, Ely, Cottenham and Farnham. The competition will be on Sunday 8th March at the Farnham Sports Centre, Dogflud Way, East St. Farnham GU9 7UD and starts at 9am.

Apart from the shield, medals for first place and runners up will be awarded with each team receiving a miniature shield for entering. Awards for best goalkeeper and a fair play prize will also be awarded on the day.

I’m sure this competitions new age group will bring a fast and exciting level of play.

Click here to see the order of play