STYLISH ENGLAND RETAIN HOME INTERNATIONALS CROWN
ENGLAND women have retained the Home Internationals crown
with victories in all of their matches at the Monmouth School
for Girls.
The national side, who will be gunning for honours at the
World Cup in America (June 23 - July 2), defeated Scotland
(12-3), England B (13-2) and Wales (11-1) to win the title
this year.
"I've been impressed with our progress before the World
Cup, but there's still plenty of areas to work on," Lois
Richardson, the England head coach, said.
"I wasn't that impressed with our performance against
Scotland, but we performed much better against Wales.
"We made too many errors against Scotland but against
Wales we controlled the game and played some good lacrosse."
England play guest nation Japan this morning (9.30) in their
final match of the four-day tournament in the Welsh border
market town, but the result only count's as a friendly.
A victory would complete a clean sweep, but Richardson and
her team are taking nothing for granted.
The Japanese, who will also be competing at the World Cup
in Annapolis this summer, defeated England B 12-3 in their
opening match of the tournament and then beat England C 19-7
on Sunday lunchtime.
"It will be an interesting match with Japan," added
Richardson. "They're a bit of unknown quantity so we
won't be taking anything for granted."
Japan also play Wales, this afternoon (2.30) in the last of
their matches on British soil.
England C have won this year's B tournament with one victory
and on draw. The national third-string triumphed 10-5 over
Scotland B and then drew 10-10 in an exciting clash with Wales
B.
Wales B beat Scotland B 6-4, so England C took this year's
crown courtesy of a better goal difference (+3).
England B play Scotland today (12 noon) in the last of their
Group A matches hoping for their first win.
England team: L McCosh, A Harle (co-capt),
F Hermson, R Kirchheimer, S Butt (co-capt), K Bennett, A Smith,
S Eul, S Gapper, E Garnier, E Garvey, J Hunt, S Kirchheimer,
L Leppard, L Lynch, R Shetty. Head coach: L Richardson. GK
coach: A Richards. Physio: S Macrae. Manager: J Lupton. Management:
C Lomas & A Stott.
England B team: A Kay, B Kiddle, C Hill,
C Hartopp, B Gray, C Tremelle, L Brown, S Petter (capt), B
Tricker, G Vickers, J Moloney, K Watt, R Cashman, M Goulty,
C Kiddle (vice-capt), A Thorose. Head coach: J Jupp. Manager:
J Haynes.
England C team: L Banner, H Barnsley, T Burrows,
C Charman, K Davey, V Hannon, N Krekis, J Lupton, A Nicholls,
L Nunn, E Oliver, L Pollard, G Aldroft (co-capt), E Radcliffe,
K Sobczyk, N Tilbury (co-capt). Coach: L Richardson. Manager:
L Cross.
WOMEN's Home Internationals Tournament (Monmouth,
Day 1-3): England 13 England B 2, Wales 9 Scotland
3, England C 7 Japan 19, Wales B 6 Scotland B 4, England B
2 Wales 7, England 12 Scotland 3, England B 3 Japan 12, England
11 Wales 1, Wales B 0 England B 16, England C 10 Scotland
B 5, England C 10 Wales B 10.
Today's schedule, Monday April 18 (9.30):
England v Japan; (12.00): England B v Scotland; (2.30): Japan
v Wales.
|