QM Magazine Spring 2012 - Police Sport UK

PSUK Ladies Hockey Squad photo October 2011
The PSUK Ladies Hockey Squad
THE PSUK ladies hockey team meets up for
two weekends a year for a training session
and a couple of matches.
This year the team played two games and produced two good
victories against teams representing the Army and the RAF in
games played at Aldershot.
The police squad saw officers from all over the country,
including Northern Ireland, take part for the squad coached by
Cleaven Faulkner of Hampshire.
Police 1 Army 5
Over the last weekend of October the British police national
ladies hockey team played two fixtures against military
opposition at the army, school of hockey, Aldershot,
Hampshire. The poIice squad saw officers from all over the
country including Northern Ireland converge on the Aldershot
area to come together for a training session on the Friday to
then find themselves head long into a fixture against the army.
The fixture on the Saturday morning was always going to be
tough but in the end provided focus and comparison against
two squads who had clearly prepared in different ways.
It was apparent from the start that the police side were far
better organised and had taken the time to work out simple
and effective tactics for the fixture. This was demonstrated
within the first minute when the police took the lead with
Surrey's Henderson converting from a slipped pass by Main
(Leicestershire). The police dominated the early stages of the
fixture leaving the army no opportunities to settle or in anyway
threaten the police 25. The pressure on the army mounted
after 11 minutes when a great move down the left saw a
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resultant short corner converted from Panter (Merseyside).
The interval came with the police side not really capitalising on
their chances and keen to ensure the pressure continued into
the second period. Coach Cleaven Faulkner (Hampshire)
clarified some tactical changes that were to allow for greater
movement of the ball in closer triangles, to work the ball
around the opposition and maintain longer possession. The
tactic paid dividends when in relatively quick session the police
side were four up with goals from Main and Panter.
The police side were now cruising and were directed to work
opportunities that the lead catered for. The coach was able to
take the opportunity to look at players in differing positions
and try other short corner options. One such corner saw the
fifth goal converted by Lucy Robinson as the game closed into
the last ten minutes. A slight lapse in the defence did see an
army consolation goal but the game was already over.
"A very good performance from a side who had just been
together for 24 hours. This fixture allowed me to see some
strengths and weaknesses but overall I am very pleased with
the result and more importantly the bonding the squad have
demonstrated both on and off the field."
Coach report - Cleaven Faulkner
Police 6 RAF 1
The British Police Ladies Hockey team got off to a promising
start with a good individual goal from Mitchell (Lothian and
Borders) after just 3 minutes. However this was going to be a
tough match as the RAF were strong opponents and quick on
the break which allowed them to create some chances of their
own. British Police held them out in the early stages and went
on to consolidate their lead with another goal early in the first
half. Good work by Main (Leicestershire) down the right who
brilliantly found Henderson (Surrey) on the penalty spot and
she produced a top quality finish. The police began to
dominate the match with plenty of controlled passing. This
controlled play applying more and more pressure on the hard
Working RAF team who conceded a short corner. From this
corner the police scored again from another short corner with
another excellent finish from Faulkner who scored her second
of the game to make it 4-0 to the Police at half time.
Both teams battled it out throughout the remainder of the
first half with the RAF looking dangerous on the counter
attack but it was the police and their sustained pressure on
the RAF defence that were to score again from another short
corner. The short corner routine was broken down by the
belligerent RAF Faulkner (Hampshire) at the top of the D and
she struck her second goal of the match. Halftime score 4-0
to the police.
The second half started off brightly for the RAF and they won
a short corner early on which they scored from. The second
half was more of an even contest as neither team was able to
create clear chances and score until the 18th minute when yet
more good work by Main (Leicestershire) down the right
produced an inviting cross which Fawcett (Hampshire) didn’t
hesitate to finish off slotting the ball past the helpless RAF
keeper. The police sixth and final goal came in the last couple
of minutes from the left with strong work by McKernan who
played the ball across the RAF goal and Bemowski (West
Midlands) scrambled it in.
The Police ran out 6-1 winners but this score doesn't reflect
the RAF's efforts as they were strong competition and were
only well beaten by a strong and composed Police
performance whose defence were resolute at the back and
knew they were in a match.
PSUK Knockout Cup and Plate competitions
The 2010 - 2011 Cup was won by PSNI who beat the Met in
the final 3-1.
The 2010- 2011 Plate was won by Norfolk who beat Cheshire
1-0.
The 2011-2012 competitions finals day is on Wednesday 2nd
May 2012. This year it is being hosted by West Midlands
Police.
The cup has reached the semi final stage, matches to be
played before 31st March 2012.
West Midlands v Met
Lothian and Borders v PSNI
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The plate is still in its early stages with many teams still in the
running.
The 2010-2011 competition had 23 teams entered. The 2011-
2012 competition had 16 teams entered. All PSUK forces are
eligible to enter a team in to the competition and any police
officer, police staff or special (who pays in to the force sports
and social fund) are eligible to play in the competition.
New teams are always welcome!!!
Dates for the diary
QM Police Sport UK
PSUK Knockout competition finals day Wednesday 2nd May
West Midlands.
PSUK ladies hockey section AGM Wednesday 2nd May after
the finals.
PSUK Ladies hockey Combined Services tournament 11th-
13th May Aldershot.