Grand Masters Hockey World Cup- Cape Town, South Africa
15th - 24th September 2010
Daily Synopsis
For more detailed match reports click on respective team >
England
Grand Masters:
England Great Grand Masters:
England Senior Grand
Masters: LX over
60's: LX over 65's
Preliminary
The England Grand Masters, Great Grand Masters, Senior Grand Masters and
two LX squads together
with their faithful followers - totalling around 120 persons flew by various
carriers to Cape Town and are staying at the Protea Hotel, Victoria Junction
near the V&A Waterfront.
The World Cup was opened on the evening of Tuesday 14th at Newlands Cricket ground in the Western Province building and there was a short opening address by Helen Zilla a prominent South African politician - the premier of Western Province.
Day 1 Wednesday 15th September
England and LX got off to a good start. The first match of the day was
England Grand Masters against New Zealand which England won 2-0.
Unfortunately Imtiaz Mahmood-Sheikh received a ball in the face and had to
go to hospital (he is now out and has query broken nose and some stitches
under the left eye - but seems in remarkably good spirits!) . At the same time LX (over 65's) were playing Alliance B which
they also beat 2-0. Later in the morning it was the turn of
England Senior
Grand Masters (over 70's) (a new category for the World Cup) who were
up against their old adversaries Australia many of whose players they had
met over the years in the over 60' and 65's. This game was also won by
England 1-0. At lunchtime England Great Grand Masters played the Netherlands
and won 1-0. Later in the afternoon
LX (over 60's) played South Africa B and
won 3-1
Day 2 Thursday16th September
England had another good day. First off at lunchtime was England Senior
Grand Masters who beat Alliance A 9-0 and later in the day England Great Grand
Masters took on Germany and won 1-0. England Grand Masters and both LX team had
a rest day.
Day 3 Friday 17th September
LX over 60's played LX over 65's and won 5-0 and then England GGM took on Australia and after a hard game lost 0-1. At the end of the day England SGM were up against their familiar opponents Germany and won 4-1
LX over 65 played Germany B and lost 0-2. LX over 60's played De Zestigplussers over 65's and won 16-0. At the same time England Grand Masters took on Holland and won 5-0. It was a rest day for the other teams.
England GM played Scotland and won 1-0 and England SGM (seeded first in their pool) played Germany (seeded 3) and won 1-0. The other teams had the day off
LX over 60's played Zestigplussers over 60's and drew 2-2. At the same time LX over 65's played South Africa B and lost 2-1. Later in the day England GGM played Scotland and won 4-0 and then England GM played Italy and won 7-0
HAPPY TUESDAY. A good day for England and LX all of whose teams were playing today. The first team to play was England SGM who beat Alliance 10-0. England were all out to score as many goals as possible to render their goal difference the best in their pool. England had now played 5 out of their 6 games, had won all their games and thus had 15 points, scored 24 goals with one against producing a goal difference of 23. At this stage Australia were the only team who could equal or better England's position. To do so they had to beat the Germans by a goodly margin and then beat England in the last game of the pool on Friday. As it transpired later in the morning Australia in their fifth match against Germany only managed to draw 1-1 meaning they only had 10 points, scored 21 goals and conceded 2 producing a goal difference of 19. England SGM are therefore believed to be the winners of the Senior Grand Master category with a game to spare.
LX over 65's played Sables and won 3-0. Four hours later England GM played Germany and won 1-0 and in the last game of the day LX over 60's played Germany B and won 3-1
LX over 65's played De Zestigplussers (O65s) and won 4-0; England Grand Masters then played Australia and lost 3-0; later in the day LX over 60's played Sables and won 7-0.
The last day and finals day. A clean sweep by England and LX club
First off were England Senior Grand Masters against Australia which England won 2-1 (having already won with this game to spare) and thus won all 6 of their games.
Next off were England Great Grand Masters also against Australia which England won 2-0 and accordingly England GGM are also World Champions (a satisfactory reversal of the 2008 World Cup where England GGM lost to Australia on penalty flicks).
Last off were England Grand Masters again against Australia (who they had played and lost to 2 days ago) and England gained their revenge by winning 3-1 and retaining the World Cup which they won at the World Cup in 2008 in Hong Kong.
