Round 1 results were as follows:
Pool B -
Korea 2 – China 1
England 3 – Spain 2
Argentina 5 – South Africa 2
Pool A
Netherlands 7 – India 0
Germany 2 – New Zealand 0
Australia 2 – Japan 1
What is fascinating with this 2010 Women's Hockey World Cup is the range of teams who have qualified -
Asia
Korea. China. Japan, India
Europe
Germany, Netherlands, England, Spain
Australasia
New Zealand, Australia
Southern Hemisphere
Argentina, South Africa
Obviously there are three blocks of international women's hockey: Europe, Asia and Australasia.
New Zealand were only just pipped by Germany in their 0-2 loss and such a results bodes well for the Kiwi's against the power hockey style of the Germans in a first round where defence is the hallmark.
The Netherlands 7-0 drubbing of India certainly showed the strength of the Dutch who have won six previous World Cups. England's 3-2 win over Spain against the run of play illustrated again how important defence has become.
The Hockeyroos 2-1 over Japan was a scrappy game by both teams who were very unsettled, and that was possibly because is the the last of the first round matchers. Kobie McGurk scored first in the 14th minute (penalty corner) and in the second half Madonna Blyth made it 2-0 in the 61st minute. Japan pulled one back but it was all too late.
Round 2
Pool B
China v England
South Africa v Spain
Argentina v Korea
Pool A
India v Australia
Netherlands v New Zealand
Germany v Japan
The weekend's games will make it more clear as to which teams look like semi-final contenders and therefore my next report will be Monday 6 September.
As an author of five books on hockey (and a Baptist minister to add some spice), the Women's Hockey World Cups held every four years is a major world hockey event between each Olympics.
Hockey has a lot that reminds me of the Christian ministry in that it is a team effort. The ball passing on the artificial turf can be exact or way off, and in this we see much of what occurs in Christian ministry.