Ryde Women’s 1st Grade Vs. Shanghai

Fast-paced hockey was the
theme of the week when the Ryde Hunters Hill District Hockey Club played hosts
to a highly credentialed women’s team from Shanghai. The Chinese team is on a
development tour, as part of Chinese hockey’s build up to the 2016 Olympics.
Eager for competitive match play, the team arranged a match against the Club’s
first grade women’s team.

Shanghai entered the match
with a season’s competitive hockey behind them while Ryde are still emerging
from their preseason. This difference in preparation and cohesion was evident
at different points of the match; yet both teams drew significant benefit from
the contest. 

Unsurprisingly Shanghai
opened the match with considerable precision and fluidity. After some very good
passing movements, Shanghai found the back of the net in the fourth minute and
their continued dominance led to a series of short corners in the fifteenth
minute both of which were pushed wide of the goal. This pressure was however
telling.

Shanghai scored their second
field goal shortly thereafter, a conversion that was followed by some excellent
goal-bound short passing and a 3-0 lead at half-time. This score reflected the
dominance of the Shanghai team through their speed and passing accuracy.  Ryde though had their moments. Time and
patience in possession enabled Ryde to press forward on a number of occasions
only to be a denied by a extremely efficient Shanghai defence.

This pattern of play was to
continue in the second half. An early error saw Shanghai extend their lead, and
some very effective short corner manoeuvres saw the visiting team claim their
fifth and sixth goals. The final scoreline of 6-0 mirrored the pattern of the
match, yet Ryde ‘s effort was characterised by a very hard working defence and
the efforts of goal keepers, Rachelle Pole and Aisling Klimoski. Jess Dawson
stood out for Ryde who were also served well by Tami Griffiths, Lizzie Maister,
Alex Morrison and Meegan Jones

Ryde drew a great deal from
the match including a committed team effort, a contribution that was duly noted
by the coaching staff. Coach John Cullen said, “the girls now need to continue
that effort into every game throughout the season”. Evident also in the after
match discussions was the great benefit that can be drawn from these games.
Reflecting this sentiment, John Cullen noted, “we enjoyed the opportunity to
play the visitors who are very polished. The hockey set up in China allows the
Shanghai team to compete at a high level each week. Their facility with their
own pitch, accommodation, and university allows the athletes to attend full
time programs and that showed in the result tonight”.

Ryde presented the Shanghai
team with a signed playing shirt and received quality gifts in return. Both
teams then enjoyed a traditional BBQ, that was attended also by club members
who appreciated the opportunity to enjoy such high class hockey at this point
in the season.