Mccabe picked for under-21 world cup
Team Bath Buccaneers’ Vicki Mccabe has been selected for the England Under-21 squad for the Junior Women’s World Cup.
Taking place in South Africa between December 5-16, Mccabe is one of five members of the side that helped England qualify for the event at the 2019 Junior Eurohockey Championships.
England have been drawn in Group B of the tournament in Potchefstroom alongside Belgium – whom they drew with at the Junior Europeans two years ago – as well as Canada and Uruguay, who finished first and second respectively in the Junior Pan Am Championships earlier this year.
The squad will be coached by Great Britain Elite Development Programme (EDP) head coach Simon Letchford.
After finishing seventh at the last edition in 2016, this group will be hoping to improve on that and claim a maiden podium placing this time round after narrowly missing out in fourth in 2009 and 2013.
In the domestic leagues, Buccs overcame Penarth 2-1 in Conference West of the Vitality Women’s League for a third consecutive victory to sit fourth and only four points off top spot. As for the men, they moved into third after a 3-1 win at Teddington in Division One South.
In the West Area mens’ leagues, Buccs 2nd matched the senior side with victory at Cardiff & Met 2nd for a fourth successive win to move within three points of their rivals having handed them their first loss of the season. The derby Division One North ended honours even as Buccs 3rd drew 1-1 with City of Bath to leave Buccs third, two points off the top, and Bath three points further adrift.
Buccs 4th managed a 5-3 win at home to Newent in Division Two East, while the Fifths lost 3-2 at Lansdown and City of Bath 2nd were edged out 2-1 by visiting Stroud to continue their search for a first point of the campaign. For Buccs 4th it was their second consecutive win after two draws, with the Fifths second-bottom with just three points.
City of Bath 4th enjoyed a 3-1 victory at home to Mendip 2nd in Concorde Division One.
Keynsham just squeezed past hosts Bristol Firebrands 4th in a five-goal thriller, while Buccs 6th played out a 2-2 draw at home to Old Bristolians 3rd. Keynsham remain two points behind the leaders, a point in front of Buccs 6th, with Bath claiming their first victory of the season.
Keynsham 2nd were beaten 6-3 by Bristol Firebrands 6th in Concorde Division Two as they continue to stutter this season on four points from six. Corsham were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Chippenham 3rd in Saxon Division One, while Buccs 7th beat Royal Wootton Bassett 2nd 3-1.
City of Bath 3rd were hammered 9-0 at unbeaten leaders Swindon 2nd. Corsham remain five points off the top, three ahead of Buccs with Bath on four points.
Corsham 2nd also played out a draw, 3-3 at Shepton Mallet 3rd in Saxon Division Two. Buccs 8th lost heavily, 8-2, at West Wilts 3rd as they continue to prop up the table, three points behind third-bottom Corsham.
In the women’s leagues, Buccs 2nd couldn’t find a winner as they shared eight goals with secondplace Howardian in the Premier Division - dropping their first points of the campaign but remain unbeaten at the top. The Thirds edged out Gillingham 3-2 to make it six wins from seven atop of Division Two East.
Keynsham were also held by hosts Westberries 3rd to a 1-1 draw in Berkeley Division One, also their first points dropped of the season. The Thirds beat Knowle 3rd 2-1 in Berkeley Division Three to move into double figures after seven games.
The derby in Whitehorse Division One saw City of Bath beat Corsham 2nd 3-0, while the Second Side were battered 13-1 at home to West Wilts. Buccs 4th enjoyed a 7-1 hounding of Swindon 2nd but Keynsham 2nd were hit for six by Royal Wootton Bassett 2nd. Bath remain five points off the leaders, with the Seconds without a point at the bottom. Keynsham stay on six points, with Corsham a point off Buccs with 12.
Corsham 3rd were 5-1 winners over Chippenham 4th in Whitehorse Division Two. Buccs 5th lost 6-0 at North Wilts 2nd, while the Sixths enjoyed a 9-1 romp over North Wilts 3rd.
It was the second loss in four games for Buccs 4th who are now a point off the leaders. Corsham are five points back in fifth, with Buccs 6th now on nine.