Welcome to Holland

Hey all and sorry for the delay it takes time to get the net around here. but Here we are.

Ok so starting back in sydney on the 19th Sept fresh off a shattered loss in the Sydney GF we headed to the airport to board our 747 to head to Holland. Before we even got as far as the departure gate the fun started with a little over 80kgs of excess baggage......"Yes i do need them both, and no im not leaving one behind" was what i kept saying to alicia as we planned to send our bikes through unaccompanied baggage. Not the best option but at least they got here in one piece....just.

Anyway after a slog of 28hrs includinga hold up in customs due to a few tubes of every australians essential "vegemite" we arrived at Shipol airport just near amstedam met by Rogier (club Sponsor) and Yvonne (womens coach). After a few photos we were on our way to Den Haag to our new apartment.

After a day of settling in we met our teams and found out our coaching roles. . . . . . Hockey 7 days a week....well its beter than working for a living, and it helps coaching the young guys and helping to learn dutch well "hockey" dutch anyway.

Game 1 found us playing Keiveten, result (4-1) for us it seemed an easy win although they held out for the first half we ran away for the win. For me it was an introduction to the Dutch competition and a look into how they play. It is rather different to us at home but the main issue is trying to communicate. you know where you want someone to go but telling them how to get there....well thats another issue.....


Game 2 v HDS - Result (10-0). 3-0 half time the guys came together and passed the ball nicely. settled in both myself and pete had some much needed extended game time with both of us scoring, pete a little more razzle dazzle than myself but at least im on the board. So all in all a good result for both the club and ourselves.

This weekend is a big game for the team taking on Lieden (main rival for the title) which has been previewed by Hockey.nl as being an important game for both teams. hopefully we can keep the ball rolling and come out with the win.


So all in all the first few weeks have treated us well and we have settled in nicely, though adjusting to left hand drive and the vast amounts of bycicles that are everywhere things are going well. So keep your eye out for more on our results, my training and our journey. . . . .

Enjoy and ill report back soon

Daniel


you can view news from our competition here: (make sure you have google translate)
http://www.hockey.nl/5/eerste_klasse/

Our Competition results are here:
http://www.hockeyuitslagen.nl/heren/1eklasse/h1a/

And here is an article on myself and Pete at Cartouche (this was the headline for over a week....go us though pete could have smiled).
http://www.hockey.nl/14035/Nieuwe-Aussies-direct-belangrijk-voor-Cartouche