WOMEN'S HOCKEY:AFTER CHINA and India took the last two automatic qualifying spots for the 2010 World Cup at the Asia Cup last weekend, with China beating India 5-3 in the final, the full list of nations to compete in next year's three World Cup Qualifiers is known. Ireland are ranked sixth out of the 18 teams.
In world ranking order the participants will be: Australia, Japan, US, Korea, Azerbaijan, Ireland, Chile, Italy, Belgium, Canada, Russia, Malaysia, Scotland, Belarus, France, Trinidad and Tobago, Wales and Mexico.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is finalising the allocation of teams, locations and exact dates for the qualifiers, one of which will be played in Chile.
The other two venues will be announced no later than November 23rd, with all three tournaments scheduled to be played between March 20th and April 27th.
With only the winners of the three qualifiers going through to the finals in Argentina in August, Australia, the fifth-ranked team in the world who suffered a surprise defeat to New Zealand in the Oceania Cup back in August, are the nation to avoid.
Alas, based on the method usually used by the FIH to determine the line-ups for qualifying tournaments, the indications are that Australia will be the top seeds in Ireland’s event. That is, though, not confirmed, and Irish coach Gene Muller must hope that, somehow, his team avoids the worst draw imaginable.
Back home, Loreto and Railway Union will attempt to maintain their perfect starts to the league when they play host to UCD and Bray respectively tomorrow.
And third-placed Trinity’s promising opening to the campaign is set to be tested by visitors Hermes.
Glenanne will try to get off the mark when they play Pembroke Wanderers at Serpentine Avenue, a week after losing to the same opponents in the Irish Senior Cup, while Corinthian meet Old Alexandra at Whitechurch.
FIXTURES: Leinster League: Division One – Tomorrow:Corinthian v Old Alexandra, Whitechurch, 3.15; Pembroke Wanderers v Glenanne, Serpentine Avenue, 2.0; Trinity v Hermes, Dublin University Sports Grounds, 11.0; Loreto v UCD, Beaufort, 2.0; Railway Union v Bray, Park Avenue, 11.0.
