Scotland Women target promotion at European competition in Poznan

Scotland Women will hope to continue their
excellent form over recent months when they travel to Poland to
compete at their most important competition of the summer, the
EuroHockey Nations Championship II in Poznan taking place on 8-14
August.
Gordon Shepherd’s squad take their place in Pool B
of the tournament and will face hosts Poland, Belarus and Wales.
The target is to reach the semi-final play-offs and put themselves
in contention for winning promotion to the top European division,
where they would be tested against the likes of England, Germany
and the Netherlands. Pool A features France, Russia, Switzerland
and Ukraine.
The EuroHockey Nations Championship II has been on
the Scots’ radar for over a year now and as Gordon Shepherd, Head
Coach, explains, it is of real importance for the team to gain
promotion:
“This competition has been our top priority and has
harnessed our long term focus since last summer. It’s important
that we gain promotion from the second division to reach the
European Championship in 2013, which will be vital in our
preparations for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow the following
year. If we produce the form we’ve shown recently in the Champions
Challenge and the South African series, I’m confident we’ll reach
our goal.”
The Scots have recorded exceptional results so far
this summer, including the retention of the Celtic Cup for the
fifth year running, a bronze medal at the FIH Champions Challenge,
and a 2-0 series win against the touring South Africans in Dublin
last weekend.
As Shepherd is keen to highlight, this is the
result of hard work and commitment from the players:
“The players have worked extremely hard in training
and preparing for international matches over the last twelve
months. Their efforts and performances are now being rewarded with
the good results we’ve seen in the competitions and international
matches we’ve played this summer. The players are confident and
playing well. It will be hard work during this tournament, but the
players are up for the challenges ahead.”
The competition will also signal significant
milestones for two players; Milne Craig Clydesdale Western striker
Holly Cram will collect her 100th international cap, becoming the
fifth member of the current squad to do so, alongside Vikki Bunce,
Louise Baxter, Linda Clement and Sam Judge. Leigh Fawcett will also
pick up her 50th international cap for Scotland during the
tournament.
“It’s an exceptional achievement to reach 100 caps
for your country so Holly Cram deserves our congratulations for
reaching this milestone. She is a strong player and will go on to
win more caps for Scotland I’m sure.”
Live coverage of the EuroHockey Nations
Championship will be broadcast on the tournament website
http://www.poznan.eurohockey.pl/ , which also includes information
about fixtures, results and more.
Scotland Women: Abi Walker (Canterbury Ladies), Amy
Gibson, Catriona Ralph, Sam Judge, Holly Cram, Morag McLellan (all
Milne Craig Clydesdale Western), Leigh Fawcett, Kat Cameron, Louise
Baxter, Linda Clement (c), Alison Bell, Alisa Wylie, Nikki Kidd
(all Grove Menzieshill), Emily Maguire, Laura Bartlett (both
Reading), Vikki Bunce, Becky Ward (both VWS Dundee Wanderers),
Kareena Marshall (Giffnock).

Scotland Women will hope to continue their excellent
form over recent months when they travel to Poland to compete at
their most important competition of the summer, the EuroHockey
Nations Championship II in Poznan taking place on 8-14
August.

Gordon Shepherd’s squad take their place in Pool B of the
tournament and will face hosts Poland, Belarus and Wales. The
target is to reach the semi-final play-offs and put themselves in
contention for winning promotion to the top European division,
where they would be tested against the likes of England, Germany
and the Netherlands. Pool A features France, Russia, Switzerland
and Ukraine.

The EuroHockey Nations Championship II has been on the Scots’
radar for over a year now and as Gordon Shepherd, Head Coach,
explains, it is of real importance for the team to gain
promotion:

“This competition has been our top priority and has harnessed
our long term focus since last summer. It’s important that we gain
promotion from the second division to reach the European
Championship in 2013, which will be vital in our preparations for
the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow the following year. If we produce
the form we’ve shown recently in the Champions Challenge and the
South African series, I’m confident we’ll reach our goal.”

The Scots have recorded exceptional results so far this summer,
including the retention of the Celtic Cup for the fifth year
running, a bronze medal at the FIH Champions Challenge, and a 2-0
series win against the touring South Africans in Dublin last
weekend.

As Shepherd is keen to highlight, this is the result of hard
work and commitment from the players:

“The players have worked extremely hard in training and
preparing for international matches over the last twelve months.
Their efforts and performances are now being rewarded with the good
results we’ve seen in the competitions and international matches
we’ve played this summer. The players are confident and playing
well. It will be hard work during this tournament, but the players
are up for the challenges ahead.”

The competition will also signal significant milestones for two
players; Milne Craig Clydesdale Western striker Holly Cram will
collect her 100th international cap, becoming the fifth member of
the current squad to do so, alongside Vikki Bunce, Louise Baxter,
Linda Clement and Sam Judge. Leigh Fawcett will also pick up her
50th international cap for Scotland during the tournament.

“It’s an exceptional achievement to reach 100 caps for your
country so Holly Cram deserves our congratulations for reaching
this milestone. She is a strong player and will go on to win more
caps for Scotland I’m sure.”

Live coverage of the EuroHockey Nations Championship will be
broadcast on the tournament website, which also includes
information about fixtures, results and more.

Scotland Women: Abi Walker (Canterbury Ladies),
Amy Gibson, Catriona Ralph, Sam Judge, Holly Cram, Morag McLellan
(all Milne Craig Clydesdale Western), Leigh Fawcett, Kat Cameron,
Louise Baxter, Linda Clement (c), Alison Bell, Alisa Wylie, Nikki
Kidd (all Grove Menzieshill), Emily Maguire, Laura Bartlett (both
Reading), Vikki Bunce, Becky Ward (both VWS Dundee Wanderers),
Kareena Marshall (Giffnock).

Match Schedule

Pool A: Russia/Ukraine/France/Switzerland

Pool B: Scotland/Belarus/Wales/Poland

Monday 8th August

12.00 Russia v France

14.15 Ukraine v Switzerland

16.30 Scotland v Wales

18.45 Belarus v Poland

Tuesday 9th August

14.15 France v Switzerland

16.30 Ukraine v Russia

Wednesday 10th August

14.15 Belarus v Scotland

16.30 wales v Poland

Thursday 11th August

12.00 Russia v Switzerland

14.15 France v Ukraine

16.30 Belarus v Wales

18.45 Scotland v Poland

 

 

 

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