Scotland Senior Women face autumn away trip for Germany internationals

 

Scotland Senior Women’s preparations for the EuroHockey Nations Championship in London next August start in earnest next month with three international matches against world number 7 Germany from 13-17 October.
Head Coach Gordon Shepherd has included four new caps in the travelling party, including Clydesdale Western trio Camilla Brown, Fiona Bruce and Rowan Sinclair, and Bath University’s Fiona Burnet.
Grove Menzieshill defender Leigh Fawcett assumes captaincy of the side following the retirement of Linda Clement, while Aileen Davis, Amy Gibson, Emily Maguire and Morag McLellan are not available for selection with commitments to the Great Britain women’s squad.
Looking forward to the forthcoming series, Scotland Senior Women Head Coach Gordon Shepherd said, “We have brought in new players to the squad as we wanted to look at these individuals and give them an opportunity on the international stage to try and stake a claim in the squad.
“It’s going to be a tough camp as they won’t just be about playing matches; there will be training, physical profiling and a lot more going on. This camp is all about us learning and improving from playing a world class side. I know we will be able to compete with Germany physically, but it will be extremely hard for the squad, new and experienced players alike, as Germany are preparing for the Champions Trophy in a few months’ time.
“But will give new players a great opportunity to perform and help build our squad for the Europeans next summer. It is a real bonus having international matches at this time of the year especially off the back of a big tournament as we wouldn’t normally start preparations until warm weather training in March.”
The Scots will face the Germans in Pool B of the Europe’s elite competition next summer, along with England and Italy. The two sides last met in Boom during the 2013 EuroHockey Nations Championship, with Shepherd’s charges losing by just the one goal in a narrow 1-0 defeat.
With Scotland not participating in the current cycle of the International Hockey Federation’s World League competition, Shepherd was keen to emphasise the importance of these matches, stating, “It’s a shame we miss out on World League as after the Europeans we don’t have another tournament till 2016. International games are vital for players’ development so it’s important we get these games”.
Midfielder Nikki Kidd is in line to win her 150th international cap should she play in all three matches.
Scotland Senior Women: Jennifer Eadie, Susan McGilveray, Alison Howie, Nicola Skrastin, Rowan Sinclair, Camilla Brown, Fiona Bruce (all Clydesdale Western), Vikki Bunce, Becky Ward, Heather Elder (all Dundee Wanderers), Nicola Cochrane, Becky Merchant (both Edinburgh University), Sarah Robertson (KHC Leuven), Kareena Marshall (Western Wildcats), Leigh Fawcett (captain, Grove Menzieshill), Robyn Collins (Beeston), Nikki Kidd (Mannheimer HC), Fiona Burnet (Bath University).

Scotland Senior Women’s preparations for the EuroHockey Nations Championship in London next August start in earnest next month with three international matches against world number 7 Germany from 13-17 October.

Head Coach Gordon Shepherd has included four new caps in the travelling party, including Clydesdale Western trio Camilla Brown, Fiona Bruce and Rowan Sinclair, and Bath University’s Fiona Burnet.

Grove Menzieshill defender Leigh Fawcett assumes captaincy of the side following the retirement of Linda Clement, while Aileen Davis, Amy Gibson, Emily Maguire and Morag McLellan are not available for selection with commitments to the Great Britain women’s squad.

Leigh Fawcett v Ireland

(Scotland defender Leigh Fawcett named as captain for Germany series. Photo Credit: Frank Uijlenbroek)

Looking forward to the forthcoming series, Scotland Senior Women Head Coach Gordon Shepherd said, “We have brought in new players to the squad as we wanted to look at these individuals and give them an opportunity on the international stage to try and stake a claim in the squad.

“It’s going to be a tough camp as they won’t just be about playing matches; there will be training, physical profiling and a lot more going on. This camp is all about us learning and improving from playing a world class side. I know we will be able to compete with Germany physically, but it will be extremely hard for the squad, new and experienced players alike, as Germany are preparing for the Champions Trophy in a few months’ time.

“But will give new players a great opportunity to perform and help build our squad for the Europeans next summer. It is a real bonus having international matches at this time of the year especially off the back of a big tournament as we wouldn’t normally start preparations until warm weather training in March.”

The Scots will face the Germans in Pool B of the Europe’s elite competition next summer, along with England and Italy. The two sides last met in Boom during the 2013 EuroHockey Nations Championship, with Shepherd’s charges losing by just the one goal in a narrow 1-0 defeat.

With Scotland not participating in the current cycle of the International Hockey Federation’s World League competition, Shepherd was keen to emphasise the importance of these matches, stating, “It’s a shame we miss out on World League as after the Europeans we don’t have another tournament till 2016. International games are vital for players’ development so it’s important we get these games”.

Midfielder Nikki Kidd is in line to win her 150th international cap should she play in all three matches.

Scotland Senior Women: Jennifer Eadie, Susan McGilveray, Alison Howie, Nicola Skrastin, Rowan Sinclair, Camilla Brown, Fiona Bruce (all Clydesdale Western), Vikki Bunce, Becky Ward, Heather Elder (all Dundee Wanderers), Nicola Cochrane, Becky Merchant (both Edinburgh University), Sarah Robertson (KHC Leuven), Kareena Marshall (Western Wildcats), Leigh Fawcett (captain, Grove Menzieshill), Robyn Collins (Beeston), Nikki Kidd (Mannheimer HC), Fiona Burnet (Bath University).

Match Schedule:
13 October 19.00 (CET) Scotland v Germany Moers Hockey Club, Germany
15 October 19.00 (CET) Scotland v Germany Moers Hockey Club, Germany
16 October 19.00 (CET) Scotland v Germany Moers Hockey Club, Germany

 

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