Wales Euro Hockey Promotion Hopes Dashed

Wales’ bold bid for promotion to Tier 1 of the EuroHockey Youth Championship was thwarted by the Russians as they reached the final with a 4-1 win in Cardiff.

That set-up a third-place play-off against Austria, which ended up in a 3-0 defeat at Sophia Gardens. Russia beat Scotland 6-3 in the final.

Having twice come from behind to earn a draw against Scotland and a win over the Czech Republic, the Welsh Under 18s hit the front in the second quarter against Russia when Oliver Wheeler scored with a drag flick routine from his side’s second short corner of the game.

Home celebrations were short lived, however, as Russia’s Ivan Ezhelev replied with to make it 1-1 at the break. The Russians, who topped their pool earlier in the week, piled on the pressure in the second half and Welsh goalkeeper Rhys Payne was forced to make a number of important saves.

The third quarter remained tight and it wasn’t until the final quarter that the Russians were able to break down the brave Welsh defence. Visiting skipper Denis Starienko put a penalty flick past Payne to give his side the lead.

Despite Wales’ best efforts and short corners won, Alexey Sobolevskiy secured a third goal for Russia and a fourth came from Ivan Ezhelev through a second short corner drag flick.

The game against Austria gradually slipped away from Wales after Nikolas Wellan had converted a penalty corner in the ninth minute. Wellan grabbed a second from a similar routine in the 35^th minute and the game was made safe by a third goal from a penalty corner struck home by Benjamin Kolbl.