Islands Tournament 2011

ISLANDS HOCKEY TOURNAMENT - GUERNSEY 2011

 

The Brewin Dolphin Jersey Men's and Ladies Hockey teams competed in the biennial Islands Hockey Tournament held inGuernseyat the weekend.  Both teams were holders of the Islands Tournament Trophies, last staged inJerseyin 2009.

 

To reach the final both Brewin Dolphin Jersey teams had to qualify from a round robin league of the competing teams.  The Men played against Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Bermuda in 60 minute matches whilst the Ladies met the same three teams plus the Orkney Islandsin 50 minute matches.  The top two teams in each round robin competition would play in the final with the next placed teams meeting in a 3^rd/4^th place play off.

 

Jersey's men took to the pitch first against the Isle of Man.  They started slowly and didn't begin to impose themselves until the second half but it was a game which saw both goalkeepers excel; John Beswick making his debut forJerseyand Matt Dyson for the Isle of Man.  Ultimately, a rare defensive error by Jersey allowed Karl Moore to pick up a loose ball and slip it past Beswick to give theIsle of Mana 1-0 victory.

 

Jersey's ladies faired better in their first encounter as they recorded a 6-0 win overBermuda.  Goals were scored bySarah Heelis(2), Chrissie Helmholt-Kneisel (2), Lisa Grant and Sarah Smith.  The girls were really pleased to settle into the tournament with such a positive result and their goal haul was to prove vital at the end of the round robin stage.

 

The second game for Jersey's men was against the "auld enemy",Guernsey, and whatever the competition there will always be a keen edge to this encounter.  Jersey dominated the early stage of the game and it was a great disappointment to Jersey and their supporters whenGuernseybroke out with a long ball picked up by their Captain Matt Watson who scored to give them the lead.  This boosted Guernsey and gave both teams an equal footing, particularly when Peter Millar equalised forJerseyshortly before half time. Jerseythen took the lead midway through the second half when Arnou Helmholt-Kneisel scored only for Watson to score again from a short corner just before the final whistle to leave the match a 2-2 draw.

 

The ladies also playedGuernseyin their second game and it was time for revenge after losing out in the inter insular match in March.  When Natacha Kay rounded three Guernsey players and slipped the ball to Helmholt-Kneisel there was no hesitation from the latter and she slotted the ball neatly past Emma Atkinson inGuernsey's goal for what turned out to be the winning goal.

 

In the final match of their round robin stage Jersey's men metBermudaand were three up at half time with goals from Helmholt-Kneisel, Captain Mark Dicker and Gordon Hunt.  Bermuda got one back early in the second half but further goals by Tom Boswell from a penalty stroke and Tom Millar gaveJerseya resounding 5-1 victory.

 

The ladies took on Orkney in their third match and after a bloody encounter, which saw three Orkney players having to leave the pitch, the game ended in a 2-2 draw.  Natacha Kay scored first forJerseyand Sarah Smith got the second.  This result put Jersey and Orkney on equal points behind the Isle of Man but Jersey's better goal difference put them into second place with one game to play against theIsle of Manon Sunday morning.  This encounter also ended with a 2-2 draw with Heelis puttingJerseyin front with a straight strike from a penalty corner and Grant grabbing the second with a superb strike from the top of the circle.

 

…and so with the round robin element at an end Jersey's men found themselves in the final with Guernsey and the ladies took on the Isle of Man.  The finals were played to the normal 70 minute standard.

 

 Right from the off Guernsey's men putJerseyunder pressure and Beswick had to pull off a fine double save in the opening minute.  Shortly afterwards further sustained pressure broughtGuernseytheir first goal from Andy Whalley.  Undeterred Jersey went on the attack and soon after Tom Boswell provided a killer ball from 30 yards which was beautifully picked up by Jon Cartmell who deflected the ball pastGuernsey'keeper Rob Turville. Jerseythen took charge with Bobby Minty, Ross Collins, Brad Wherry and Mike James not only providing a solid defensive wall but sweeping the ball around looking for openings for their midfield.  From one such move the ball was worked to Stuart Ramskill and Tom Millar in midfield.  Millar then threaded the ball through to effervescent Gordon Hunt who converted brilliantly forJersey's second goal.  Just before half timeJerseywere awarded a penalty stroke when Millar was tackled unfairly in the Guernsey D - Cartmell duly converted for a 3-1 lead.  Jersey continued to look comfortable in the second half despite increasing pressure from Guernsey, but after 17 minutes Guernsey hit a purple patch and scored three times in the space of six minutes to take a 4-3 lead with goals from Adam Clarke and Whalley (2).  Five minutes from time Peter Millar brought the scores level following a short corner.  It looked as though the match would end normal time as a draw and head into golden goal territory but Whalley had other ideas and gaveGuernseythe victory just before full time.

 

In the ladies final Jersey started poorly and were unable to counter the pressure from theIsle of Manwho piled on the agony with two early goals.  Sylvia Spinola inJersey's goal played brilliantly to withstand constant attacks and half time could not come quickly enough.  Some stern words from Coach Masterton sawJerseyslowly regaining some of the form they had shown in the round robin games.  With ten minutes to go captain Nina Driscoll superbly converted from a penalty corner givingJerseyevery chance of getting something out of the game.  Further chances fell to Jersey but to no avail, theIsle of Manrunning out 2-1 winners.

 

The Brewin Dolphin squads were made up as follows:-

 

Nina Driscoll (Captain), Becky Darts, Zoe Smart, Ciara McQuaid, Trudy Dillon, Sylvia Spinola (GK), Lori Moran (GK), Kelly Cutting, Gaby Way, Chrissie Helmholt-Kneisel,Sarah Heelis, Liz Murfin, Lisa Grant, Sarah Smith and Natacha Kay.  Coach: Paul Masterton.

 

John Beswick (GK), Garret O'Brien (GK), Mark Dicker (Captain), Stuart Ramskill (Vice Capt), Tom Boswell, Jon Cartmell, Ross Collins, Arnou Helmholt-Kneisel, Gordon Hunt, Mike James, Neil Merritt, Peter Millar, Tom Millar, Bobby Minty, Alan Morris, Sean O'Flaherty, James Wetherall, Bradley Wherry.  Coach: Shelagh Herbert, Asst Coach: Bill Aston, Manager: Ed Daubeney (Manager)