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Game 5: May 29 Canada 3 v Italy 3
(half-time: Canada 2 ? 1)


(this report has been slightly modified due to translation problems)


8 minute 1 ? 0 Canada penalty corner Peter Short(from rebound)
30 minute 1 ? 1 Italy penalty corner (drag flick)
33 minute 2 ? 1 Canada field goal Ravi Agnihotri
42 minute 2 ? 2 Italy penalty corner
46 minute 2 ? 3 Canada field goal Ravi Kahlon
49 minute 3 ? 3 Italy penalty corner


For the first thirty minutes Canada dominated, forcing three penalty corners in the first ten minutes. At the third corner a hard drive from Ravi Kahlon was saved but Peter Short pounced onto the rebound and put it away. Italy also won a penalty corner in the early going but it was scrambled clear. Towards the end of the half Italy came back into the game and for ten minutes applied heavy pressure. A long corner was converted to a penalty corner from with they scored with a high drag flick. Canada had difficulty getting out of the half but Michael Lee intercepted an attempted Italian transfer, beat the lone defender, but shot wide. A minute before half time, Ravi Agnihotri received a clearance on the mid-line and weaved through the Italian defense into the left circle. His reverse sweep beat the keeper. The Canadian team showed fatigue from the early morning start and 6 hours of bus, plane, bus travel and the inevitable hanging around airports.


In the early second half Italy scored from a penalty corner. The teams swapped penalty corners throughout the second half as play went from end to end. At mid-half the ball was worked down the left side and centered to Ravi Kahlon, whose hard drive beat the keeper low down. Italy responded by forcing a series of penalty corners, from the third of which they scored with a high drag flick. Italy came back with two penalty corners and a fast break but Matt Peck was solid each time, and the defense repelled all attacks.


Game 6: May 30 Canada 2 ? Ireland 3
(half-time: Canada 1 ? 1)


(this report has been slightly modified due to translation problems)


4 minute 1 ? 0 Canada penalty corner Ken Pereira
9 minute 1 ? 1 Ireland penalty corner
49 minute 1 ? 2 Ireland penalty corner
54 minute 1 ? 3 Ireland penalty corner
68 minute 2 ? 3 Canada penalty corner Michael Lee


Canada started with a bang and scored from a penalty corner in the fourth minute. Ravi Kahlon dummied, the ball was pushed left and Ken Pereira put it home. The response from Ireland was not long coming and a drag flick from a penalty corner evened the score.


Ireland applied pressure for the remainder of the half and Canada was forced deep in defense for long periods. Both teams missed chances in the circle with shots wide or sticks failing to contact the ball.


Ireland increased their score early in the second half with a drag flick from a penalty corner, and a few minutes later went ahead with a low drag at a penalty corner. Ireland continued to apply pressure and Mike Mahood made several good saves. Canada pressed in the last ten minutes. Anthony Wright?s penetrating free hit from the right corner led to a penalty corner but Connor Grime?s drag was narrowly wide. At a second penalty corner Ravi Kahlon?s drive was stopped by the Irish keeper lying down. The subsequent corner saw Ravi passing off to Mike Lee in left circle who swept it in. Canada continued to force the play but the whistle brought an end to the assault. As in the previous game the Canadian team showed signs of battle and travel fatigue. It has been a short, hard tour and the team has responded well.

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