Well that’s it the last game is played and the tournament for us is over.

We had a tough opponent today in the Dutch but I left everything on that pitch, I gave every last bit of my game today and I came off that pitch feeling proud.

The heat was unreal and I could feel it even before I put my kit on. Playing in 35 degree heat fully kitted up is hard work, and if anyone complains about how warm it is when I get home they can look out lol

I have never experienced playing in that heat and by the end of the 3rd quarter I was done. I saved plenty of shots, even 3 on the bounce, ok I let in 7 but I saved a hell of a lot more. The Dutch were relentless but they broke through our defence.

I even had 2 penalty strokes against me, yes one was totally my fault, clearing the ball off the line with the back of my stick was not my finest moment but I never gave up, I carried on with chants of encouragement from the side line I knew I had some left in the tank, but by the end of that third quarter if I hadn’t of got off that pitch I would’ve been lying in that goal.

I’ve learnt a lot over this last week, how I can improve and what I’m doing right.

Being a goalie is hard work and sometimes you feel like you’ve let everyone down but there are games when you leave that pitch knowing you have done everything and there was nothing left in you, nothing more you could’ve done. That’s how I felt today.

We lost today but I am proud to be part of this Welsh master squads and I am proud of all my team mates, they all played their asses off today and every one of them left everything on that pitch.

It was our first tournament together and hopefully we will all be back together for the world cup next year.

I know what I need to work on and I am more determined than ever. I want a place on that squad next year and I am willing to work for it.

As my 5 year old nephew said “it doesn’t matter that you didn’t win, it’s the taking part that counts” and if I didn’t take part in this I wouldn’t be able to take all the things I need to learn away from it, and all the good things I have been told about my playing ability too.

I want to say a massive thank you to the people back home who have supported me and to my family who have wished me well before each game and told me how proud they are of me.

A massive thank you to my wife Lisa who has cheered us on at every game and given me the words of encouragement I have needed when I’ve been feeling down about my game.

As it’s the last day of the tournament tomorrow we will be heading to the pitch to cheer on the 40s in their final game.

This is definitely an experience I will never forget!

Well we scored a goal, yes we left it until the final quarter but who cares we scored, and it felt good.

It was another warm game and I felt ready, I’d had a good night’s sleep and was well rested.

So I’m not sure what happened when that whistle blew, within 1 minute of the game starting the Germans attacked and that was it 1-0, 3 minutes later another, within 5 minutes of the game I already felt like I was letting the team down.

I had a few good saves and stopped them from scoring for the rest of the quarter, but within 2 minutes of the second quarter they had another. Silly foot work on my part, the coach shouted from the side line to keep my head up. I did just that and tried to keep talking to the girls to mark their players and keep moving. 2 minutes from the end of the first half another short corner, I knew I had to keep it out but with a hell of a strike from the Germans it was in 4-0 at half time.

I left that pitch feeling totally deflated, feeling like I’d let the whole team down. My coach could see it on my face, told me that I’m a goalie and I will let in goals, but don’t forget you’ve already played against Spanish internationals and it could’ve been a lot more goals in that game.

Even though I was feeling down I was on the sidelines cheering the girls on, I could see the passes were working better and the movement was better. We were creeping into the D more and more and it was rattling the Germans. They scored another 2 that 3rd quarter, but fantastic play by the girls meant we held them off in the 4th and even got a goal ourselves.

Yes it tough being a goal keeper at times, when you feel like your not playing at your best, like I felt today, but when your team scores whether your on the pitch or the bench, there is no better feeling than having the team score.

We all left that pitch smiling feeling like we had won that game and it was great.

We have a day off tomorrow to recouporate for our last game against the Dutch on Friday.

I will be thinking of ways of how I can improve on today. Today wasn’t my best game of hockey and I know I can play better than I did.

So bring on the Dutch, and let’s give it our all!!

Like any other sport in Wales when the Welsh come up against the English you only want one outcome, unless your English of course, and that’s for a Welsh win.

Today it was not meant to be 😔

I was up and raring to go knowing what was ahead and thinking of the ways to improve on the defeat against Spain.

I knew the heat would be an issue today with it being hot before our game had even started. I was loaded with plenty of water from the off.

I had my warm up with coach Taj hitting balls at me hard, high and fast. I was pumped!

First quarter seemed to be over before it began, we rattled the English and held them off. Second quarter totally different, they came back onto that pitch wanting it and within 3 minutes they had their first goal, hard hit to my right corner hitting the side board and in. Got up dusted myself off ready for the next attack and shouting at my defence to stay tight and strong. The next two goals came at the 25th and 27th minute.

I could feel myself starting to feel deflated like I was doing something wrong or not making the right calls. With the half time whistle I jogged off the pitch trying to forget that half but still feeling the sting of each goal, words of encouragement from the coaches, captain and team mates I was ready to take on the English for the start of the second half. As were the fans on the sidelines constantly cheering us on.

I made sure I talked to my back line and told them where they needed to be and to get in front of their player. We managed to hold them off until the 44th minute, another goal had been scored.

Whilst watching from the bench for the last quarter I got a totally different perspective of the game, seeing where passes could be made and where the free people were. England had a few short corners and managed to score another 2 goals.

Not the result we wanted and we should’ve scored a few, but lessons were learnt today as they were yesterday and tomorrow we dust ourselves off and get back out on that pitch and do what we do well, play the game, keep the ball, and score some goals!

Well what a feeling, stepping out on that pitch this morning I was any thing but nervous, I felt up for it from the moment I opened my eyes.

We knew it was going to be a tough game and after our team brief and a full warm up we were ready.

The sun was shining and the fans were raring to cheer us on as much as we were raring to play. I don’t normally play in front of crowds of more than 5 people but hearing fans cheering for us gave me a real buzz, so the moment that first whistle went that was it game on!

The Spanish girls were nippy and loved their 3d skills, we managed to hold them off for 25 minutes, a few hairy moments but I stayed composed and saved a few. They got another 2 goals at the 30 and 45 minute. At one point I’m sure it was short corner after short corner but we did out best to keep them from scoring. Final quarter they managed to get another 3 goals, one of which was a penalty stroke.

We walked off the pitch knowing we had lost but taking a lot of positives from the game and what is needed to be done in the next.

Lisa asked me how I felt after the first game, and you know something, even though we lost 6-0 I have come away feeling positive, knowing as a team we will learn from our mistakes and move on. This is our first tournament as a team and it could’ve easily been double figures but we will keep our heads high and head out to the next game with even more determination and show them that we deserve to be here!!

Bring on England!!

So as I’m preparing for a nice relaxing sleep (yeah right I will be like a kid at Christmas) I am reflecting a little on the opening ceremony and the training session.

Seeing all the teams enjoying the atmosphere was great, the French looked very smart in the white shirts and chinos (that’s the men by the way), the Dutch and Spanish clapping and dancing along to the music and everyone just loving it.

So after the kit checks (thankfully all ok, phew!) And the opening ceremony us Welsh youngsters went for a little knock about. Nice to get an idea of what the pitches will be like over the next week. Even training this evening was warm and hydration will definitely be a big part of this week, it’s looking to hit 30 degrees if not a little higher, so plenty of water and suncream.

For the first time in I don’t know how long I feel relaxed for a game, and the fact that it’s possibly one of my biggest games to date has left a little surprised. I will do what I always do, go give it my all, do the best I possibly can and show them what this little Welsh dragon is made of!!

After what feels like a few days of driving we have arrived in Rotterdam..after leaving at 7 this morning, a nice little drive down to Dover (in all fairness those cliffs could do with a white wash), a ferry across the channel 🤢🤢🤢 and then a drive to Rotterdam itself, it wasn’t all bad (getting the wife out of bed was the hardest part, oh and nearly driving down the wrong side of the road 😳😳) 13 hours later and we made it to our quirky home for the next week.

So tomorrow the fun starts, first to get the kit checked, opening ceremony and then a little knock about with the squad before our first game Monday!

This still feels very surreal to be here and to think I am playing hockey for my country 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿, but it’s happening!!

Thank you to everyone who has supported me to get here, I hope I do you all proud!

Now to get my head down for some well earned rest, looking forward to the week ahead, it’s meant to be boilio too! Water buckets at the ready I think.

So for now goodnight from Rotterdam