CWG England Hockey: England 1 - 1 Canada

Mantell brothers angry at no video referall system in Delhi

England Hockey star siblings Richard and Simon Mantell were left ruing the absence of video technology at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi after only drawing 1-1 with Canada.

The video referall system has been used at all major tournaments since 2006 but due to a mix up with organisers and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) it has been unable to be sorted out in another embarrassing mess up for Delhi 2010 organisers. And now the Mantell brothers feel Canada’s goal, accredited to Canadian forward Ian Smythe, would have been chalked off.

A fuming Richard, who confronted umpire William Drury as soon as the goal was allowed, said: “It was particularly frustrating with some of the decisions out there. To be honest it’s a shame we haven’t got the video umpire. It came right of my stick into the goal, it didn’t touch the Canadian player in the D. They also didn’t travel 5 yards when they passed it so we could have had either decision so it shouldn’t have counted.

“Over the last couple of years we’ve played with a video umpire and it’s proved very successful. A lot of the decisions we appeal tend to be right. Hockey is a better game with the video umpire at this level it’s very fast and we would have appealed a couple of those decisions,” added the full back.

England dominated the second half proceedings but could only find the back of the net once with a reverse stick strike from Simon Mantell. They could and should have won the game but for some fine goalkeeping from Philip Wright in the Canada goal.

Simon, who plays alongside his older brother Richard for club side Reading, was also disappointed that the system is not in place and admitted it is even more frustrating when you know the system works but it is not on offer.

He said: “It’s crushing but umpires make mistakes, they’re humans and we accept that but the problem is when we do have the technology. We are use to it now, it works so well and it’s just gutting when it goes against you.

“There has been so much discussion about it over the last two years and I think Hockey as got it right compared to others sports like Football. But the fact we are at such a massive tournament and we haven’t got it just means goals like that are scored.”

But despite the absence of video technology the Berkshire based pair conceded they had enough chances to win the game with goal-scorer Simon admitting it was ‘incredibly disappointing’ to not come away with a win.

He said: “It’s nice to score, I was lucky because I didn’t get hold of the shot if I did I don’t think it would have gone in but that’s completely overshadowed by not winning the game. I think we had a lot of possession - the stats will talk for themselves in terms of possession and how much circle entry we had."

Richard added: “We had a lot of the play, a lot of ball, a lot of chances - enough corners and open play chances to win the game. Overall it’s very disappointing. We would always want to go out and beat them.”

"We had loads of corners, it’s no where near the conversion rate we expect from any of us. It's equally disappointing not to score some more goals from open play. The conditions are tough and I'd like to think we are one of the fittest team here. I think that should in the end we kept the pressure up. It just wasn’t going in,” concluded the 29-year-old.

England Men's Hockey CWG: Mantell happy to be playing again

Richard Mantell was glad to be back and playing competitve international Hockey on his return to the Major Dhayan Chand national Stadium in Delhi at the Commonwealth Games.

The England star defender horrifically broke his leg back in March at the World Cup and was forced to return home for emergency treatment but after a swift recovery he is enjoying playing on the global stage again.

He said: “It’s nice to be back out here. It’s a fantastic stadium to play in and obviously seven months after being injured it’s nice to be back so quickly, its good fun.”

Mantell, whose brother Simon scored two goals to set England on their way to victory against Trinidad and Tobago before Ashley Jackson and Alastair Brogdon rounded off a 4-0 win, was pleased with the overall performance.

He said: “It’s good to start with a win. We kind of feel we have a few more gears to go into as we go through the tournament. We would have liked to have scored a few more corners and popped a few more goals in opening play. But all in all a reasonable start.”

Both male and female members of the England team have found the hot conditions in the Indian capital hard to deal with and Mantell admits it does affect the team’s performance, he added: “It’s hot out there - we knew it would be and it’s definitely a factor.

“It’s a lot hotter than we play in back home, a lot hotter than some of the international tournaments. We’ve been out here for quite a while now so we’re getting more and more used to it. Our first couple of games when we got out here were hard work they’re getting a bit easier now but there is no doubt the heat will have an affect on the way the game is played.”

Crista Cullen scores hat-trick to beat Wales in CWG

Cullen 'gutted' at Wales consolation goal

England womens hat-trick hero Crista Cullen was gutted to concede a last minute goal after giving the top seeds a three nil lead against Wales in their opening Commonwealth Games fixture in Group B.

The full-back unleashed three short corner drag flicks to steer England to victory but from a defensive point of view admitted she was ‘really gutted’ to concede late on.

Cullen said: “We worked so hard to make sure we didn’t let them in the circle. Credit to Sarah Thomas she’s a great player and she cut us open at times when we were a little bit exposed. We’ve just got take those bits out of our game and keep converting at the top.”

But apart from allowing Wales to snatch a consolation goal Cullen, left, was pleased with the overall performance even though she accepted they should have scored more goals.

She said: “It was a brilliant performance. It’s always difficult going out first game on at 8.30 in the morning to get ourselves going. I thought we started really well, we could have converted more but that’s me being harsh.


“We had the opportunities and if we are going to push for the top spot in our pool then we have to make sure we start converting but it’s the start of the tournament and we have a performance to build on. To come away with a win is what we are here to do and we need to just keep churning them over,” added the Leicester defender.

Next up for the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games bronze medalists is Canada and Cullen is aware how stern a test it will be but is confident they can get a positive result.

She said: “It’s always a tough game against Canada they’re athletic and fight for eveything. It’s an 11 o’clock match so it will be hot and humid. We’ve just got to take our game to them and I think they might struggle a bit.”


photo accreditation: chelmsfordblue (flickr)

CWG England Women's Hockey: England 4-1 Wales

Cullen rescues poor forward finishing

Hat-trick hero Crista Cullen single-handlingly saw off neighbours Wales in England’s opening match of the Commonwealth Games in Group B.

The Leicester full-back swept home three penalty corner drag flicks past Welsh stopper Margaret Rees before Charlotte Craddock capitalised on a loose ball to give the top ranked side in Delhi a four goal advantage.

But Wales, who had rarely threatened the England defence, pulled a goal back late on when forward Sarah Thomas drifted easily past four defenders before beating Beth Storry in the England goal.

Cullen made up for some poor finishing from the England forwards and head coach Danny Kerry admitted that his side must improve in front of goal if they are going to win gold.

He said: “We need to set high standards and we expect high standards from out teammates if we had done that that today it could have been double figures.

“I am happy with the performance just really disappointed with our play in the attacking circle. If we don’t have that application in the circle we won’t win Gold,” added a downbeat Kerry.

Captain Kate Walsh was also concerned that England could only score four goals considering the high percentage of play they had in Wales’ half, she added: “We’ve got to be ruthless in these games, as the goal difference might count at the end of the tournament. We have to put in a gold medal winning performance every game.”