England dominant as they attain 4 of 5 Masters European Championship Finals
The Federación de Hockey de la Comunidad Valenciana introduced the curtain down on the opening stage of the World Masters Hockey European Championship Valencia 2025 this previous Sunday, with the following block of matches scheduled for 20–29 June. Over ten thrilling days, the Poliesportiu Verge del Carme-Beteró, Tarongers and La Carrasca venues performed host to nearly 1 500 individuals—gamers, coaches, umpires, officers, volunteers and help workers—alongside households, buddies and followers who flocked to Valencia for this celebration of veteran hockey . The FHCV, as hosts, delivered an occasion that went far past worldwide competitors, showcasing social hockey and sports activities tourism within the area .
Males’s +45 Closing: England 2–1 Eire
Eire seemed to be in management when Simon Hunter rifled dwelling early within the third quarter, sending their supporters into raptures. England, nonetheless, answered earlier than the break: Tim Johnson—launched within the opening quarter—struck from a well-rehearsed penalty nook to attract degree. Quickly after, captain Titch Hanspal pounced on a free ball to steer England forward, giving his facet a slender lead as the ultimate quarter dawned.
Eire threw all the things at England thereafter. Within the 59th minute, Damon Garwood was proven a inexperienced card for a late problem, forcing England to see out the closing phases with solely ten males. But their defence held agency. Wave after wave of Irish assaults had been repelled till the hooter, and when the mud settled, Johnson’s set-piece experience and Hanspal’s scientific end had secured a hard-fought 2–1 victory and the +45 title . In the meantime, the bronze-medal play-off noticed the Netherlands overcome Wales 3–1.
Ladies’s +45 Closing: Eire 1–0 Germany
In a tense, tightly contested encounter, it took till deep into the third quarter for the impasse to interrupt. E.J. Walsh pounced on a free ball inside Germany’s circle and confidently slotted dwelling, sending the Irish bench into raptures. As much as that time, goalkeeper Claire Grills had marshalled her defence fantastically, whereas Maike Nissen within the German aim had produced a sequence of high-quality saves.
Simply earlier than Walsh’s strike, Annika Kuefer-Weiss collected a inexperienced card for a late problem, leaving Germany down to 10 gamers. Two minutes later, Valena Clasen additionally noticed inexperienced for a foul, compounding their numerical drawback. Eire weren’t resistant to punishment—captain Linda Maher picked up a inexperienced card early within the fourth quarter—however the Irish backline stood resolute. Regardless of a late German surge, Eire held on to say a 1–0 triumph and raise the +45 crown .
Spirit of Masters Closing: England B 6–1 Alliance
Within the supplementary “Spirit of Masters” fixture, England B raced right into a commanding lead from the primary whistle. Dan Bleach opened the scoring inside minutes of the match’s begin, drilling dwelling to go away Alliance reeling. Barely had that celebration subsided when Chris Web page doubled England’s benefit. Halfway by way of the second quarter, Edward Hauck swept dwelling a 3rd, and Bleach claimed his second simply after half-time to stretch the result in 4–0.
Though Danny Harwood and Paul Barker each picked up inexperienced playing cards late within the third quarter, England B’s momentum by no means faltered. Jon Weait added a fifth simply on the quarter-time hooter, and after Alliance’s Parimal Mody pulled one again early within the fourth quarter, Bleach accomplished his hat-trick to seal a convincing 6–1 victory .
Males’s +50 Closing: Netherlands 2–2 England (4–3 shoot-out)
England appeared to have the higher hand when Brad King pounced on a turnover within the first quarter and tucked away the opener. They continued to press, and Matt Clark’s composed end halfway by way of the second quarter doubled their lead. The Dutch defence had regarded stretched, however as half-time approached, the Netherlands started to seek out their rhythm.
Early within the fourth quarter, Bastiaan Bröring halved the deficit with a composed strike, after which Mark-Jan Kleijsen produced a second of magic to degree the scores and ship the match right into a shoot-out. Joost Weissink and Maarten Burgers had already collected inexperienced playing cards for late challenges, however neither sanction proved decisive throughout common time.
Within the shoot-out, England transformed their first two makes an attempt, just for the Netherlands to reply. Danny Bell denied the Dutch within the second spherical, however Kleijsen and Co. levelled once more within the third. Either side then missed their fourth makes an attempt, leaving the tie poised. Into sudden demise, England scored adopted by a Dutch response; after a pair of misses within the sixth spherical, England’s seventh try was saved, permitting the Netherlands to fit dwelling and clinch a 4–3 shoot-out victory and the +50 crown .
Ladies’s +50 Closing: Netherlands 2–1 England
England struck first within the second quarter when Lynn Wright—launched early on—calmly slotted dwelling at 25 minutes, giving her facet the lead. Moments earlier, Sacha Bal had been proven a inexperienced card for a reckless problem, however England carried that benefit into half-time.
Early within the third quarter, Lianne Blaas Degroot noticed inexperienced for a late sort out, lowering the Dutch to 10 gamers. Undeterred, they regrouped and fought again within the ultimate quarter. Nienke Lokhorst drew the Netherlands degree with a relaxed end, and simply 4 minutes later Maaike Schröeder reduce contained in the English defence to fireplace dwelling the winner.
England searched desperately for a late equaliser, however goalkeeper Eline van der Veen marshalled her defence fantastically to disclaim each effort. When the hooter sounded, the Netherlands had secured a 2–1 victory and lifted the +50 title .
With the +45 and +50 contests now full, Valencia appears to be like forward to internet hosting the Masters +35 and +40 classes from 20 to 29 June. The Championship is organised by the FHCV with help from the Actual Federación Española de Hockey, the Ayuntamiento de Valencia, the Diputación de Valencia, the Generalitat Valenciana and the Fundación Trinidad Alfonso, alongside the Spanish Olympic Committee by way of the PAC-CV programme, and is sponsored by the Fundació Go to València .
