Heartbreak For Wales Women, Hockey Delight For The Men's Team

EuroHockey women:

Wales 1, Russia 2

Wales women suffered EuroHockey heartache at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff.

They were denied promotion to the top tier after Russia scored following a short corner with nine minutes left in this semi-final.

While the Welsh players reflect on what might have been, Russia celebrated promotion and a place in the final.

Sophie Clayton went desperately close to levelling the scores after Phoebe Richards produced pace and skill to surge forward and fire the ball low across the area. Clayton gave it everything, but could not quite get the vital touch in front of an empty net.

Sian French, too, went close with a reverse stick shot which went just wide.

Overall Russia, who forced seven penalty corners, just had the edge.

They had two players sent off for two minutes each, but stayed solid and for the first three quarters denied Wales clear cut chances.

Leah Wilkinson, who scored the home goal, and Tina Evans were among the Wales players to shine, while the team effort over the tournament has been huge.

Goalkeeper Rose Thomas was taken off with three minutes left and Wales went with a kicking back, giving themselves more offensive options in the closing stages.

But they could not quite find the goal they needed to tie things up.

Steady rain made the surface slick, but the score was 0-0 at half-time.

Russia went ahead one minute into the third corner when their shot following a penalty corner was stopped on the line. Because the ball wasn’t blocked with a stick the officials awarded a penalty shot.

Bogdana Sadovaia scored with a low shot into the corner, past a valiant effort by Thomas to save.

Pace and direct running by Phoebe Richards earned Wales a penalty corner of their own and it was Wilkinson who deflected the shot into the Russian goal to make it 1-1.

Wales worked hard as a team and could not have given more, but Russia regained the lead from their seventh penalty corner.

The Russian team celebrated wildly – one member of their coaching staff performing acrobatics on the sidelines – and they now play Belarus in the final. They defeated Austria 4-2 in the other semi-final.

The Welsh players take on the Austrians in the third/fourth place play-off.

Eurohockey men:

Wales 4, France 3

The Welsh men secure promotion in Glasgow, clinching a place in the top tier of EuroHockey in 2019.

Wales are through to the final against hosts Scotland, who defeated Russia 4-2. Both are already promoted.

Rupert Shipperley put Wales ahead against France when he deflected the ball into goal after 13 minutes.

Gaspard Baumgarten levelled the scored with a reverse stick finish, while James Carson regained the advantage for Wales and Gareth Furlong converted from a penalty corner.

France fought back again before Luke Hawker gave Wales a 4-2 lead from another penalty corner.

A late French goal set up a nervy finish but Wales held on for victory.

“This is a huge moment for Hockey Wales and the squad,” said Wales captain Lewis Prosser.

“We have been building towards this for the last two years and we are playing the best hockey we have ever played.

“I am so happy we got to the A division and I can’t quite believe it.”