‘Desperately disappointed’ for players denied a shot at World Cup

England Hockey’s U21 team, including Team Bath Buccaneers’ Vicki Mccabe, have been unable to take part in the FIH Junior Women’s World Cup in South Africa.

The squad was due to travel last week before the event began on Sunday and runs until December 16 in Potchefstroom.

The host country has been placed on the UK’S travel red list which carries with it significant government guidance and restrictions on travel, along with a period of hotel quarantine on arrival back in the UK.

Chief executive Nick Pink said: “First and foremost, I am desperately disappointed for our young players and staff who have prepared so well for this event.

“They have been extremely diligent and professional and can be proud of the way they have approached every challenge presented to them. We informed them this morning and once again they conducted themselves exceptionally in very difficult circumstances. Of course the opportunity to take part in a World Cup is a huge honour so we fully understand how significant this news is to our young players.

“We understand and respect the government’s decision, and of course we would never take any risks with the health and wellbeing of our travelling group, so in that respect our hands were tied, unfortunately.”

In the domestic leagues, Team Bath Buccaneers 2nd played out a goalless draw at Swansea in their penultimate game of the West Men’s Premier Division calendar year. That leaves Buccs third on 19 points, four off leaders Cardiff & Met 2nd with a game in hand. They host Bristol Firebrands this weekend.

The Thirds also secured a point in Division One North, drawing 1-1 at home to University of Bristol, while City of Bath were narrowly beaten 1-0 by visiting Chippenham for a third consecutive defeat. Buccs are now four points off leaders Clifton Robinsons 2nd - who host City of Bath on Saturday - after a second draw in four games as they travel to Chippenham.

In Division Two East, Buccs 4th and 5th were involved in 4-1 scorelines. The Fourths beat hosts Devizes, while the Fifths lost to visiting Wotton-under-edge A. City of Bath 2nd were beaten 6-2 at Chippenham 2nd to remain without a point before hosting second-place Ross on Wye on Saturday. Buccs 5th are second bottom on six points and visit third-place Cirencester, while fourth-place Buccs 4th will be looking for a fifth consecutive win at home to unbeaten leaders Royal Wootton Bassett.

Keynsham made it ten games without defeat in Concorde Division One after thrashing sorry City of Bath 4th 11-1 to keep them bottom of the table on one point. Buccs 6th were edged out 2-1 at Bristol & West 4th for just their second loss of the campaign to sit seven points off Keynsham in fourth, whom they host on Saturday. Bath welcome Bristol Firebrands 4th.

The derby in Saxon Division One saw City of Bath 3rd edge out Buccs 7th 3-2. Corsham were also 3-2 winners at North Wilts to remain four points clear at the top, while Bath were just picking up their second victory of the campaign as Buccs lost for a second consecutive match. Buccs host North Wilts on Saturday in their penultimate game of 2020, while City of Bath visit Devizes and Corsham host Marlborough in their final games of the year.

The only game in Saxon Division One was another derby as Buccs 8th hosted Corsham 2nd and again it finished 3-2, in favour of Corsham for just their second win of the season to move four points clear of second-bottom Buccs. The sides return to action on January 15.

With just a handful of matches taking place in the women’s divisions, Keynsham 3rd ended their calendar with a 7-1 hounding at Berkeley Division Three leaders Bristol UWE, their third consecutive defeat. The Second Side held Whitehorse Division One leaders North Wilts to a 3-3 draw, while City of Bath 2nd played out a 2-2 stalemate at home to Royal Wootton Bassett 2nd for their first point of the campaign.