02.03.2015: In a wet and windy San Diego Ireland and Russia got off to the best start at the World League 2 with 2 wins from 2.
In a wet and windy San Diego Ireland and Russia got off to the best start at the World league with 2 wins from 2. In Pool A Ireland beat Chile in their opening game and yesterday broke down a strong Austrian defence to take all 6points on offer to them. A similar picture in Pool B as Russia are also 2 from 2 having beaten Trinidad and Tobago and Canada to earn their top ranking spot.
A well earned rest day for the players today, with the Final pool games tomorrow.
3rd March schedule:
Pool B 08:30 CAN – TTO
Pool B 10:45 USA – RUS
Pool A 13:00 IRL – ITA
Pool A 15:15 CHI – AUT
With the system of 1/4 Finals, the European’s will be looking for a best placed pool ranking to avoid a higher ranked teams in the opposite pool, but with a KO format at 1/4 Final stage, all teams are aware that no slip ups are allowed at this Tournament. Even a 1st ranked place in the pool stages does not guarantee progression to the semi-finals. So an exciting week ahead in San Diego!
The top three teams in San Diego will join Malaysia, Poland and Japan, who all qualified for the HWL Semis by taking the medals at the first men’s Round 2 tournament in Singapore earlier this year. The third and final men’s Round 2 competition takes place in Cape Town (RSA) from 7-15 March, where another eight teams will fight for three available places in Round 3.
You can keep track of all the action from San Diego on the official tournament microsite.
Once again the EHF wishes success to the European teams in San Diego.
Photograph: Italy v Austria (FIH / Paul Winstanley (c))