By Leut Stuart Cayzer

Sig Leesa Purcell stays one step ahead of Navy players to score the winning goal in the combined Army/RAAF vs Navy game.

Photo by Bill Cunneen, Army newspaper

VICTORY in the women’s competition at the NSW Inter-service Hockey Championships slipped from the grasp of Army players, despite a close win against Navy.

The Army women started their campaign against Navy with great drive from a new player to NSW ADF hockey, Capt Imogen Sufrontein.

Capt Sufrontein used her skills to link with Sig Leesa Purcell, exerting her influence to prevent a lot of the Navy attack and to allow Army to counter with its stronger players.

The Navy attack could not be outdone as strikers drove into the Army circle with ease on many occasions and put the keeper back on her line to make saves. Under such immense pressure, the Army defence could not hold.

Leut Naomi Holmes took advantage of this and scored twice. Army had been attacking through set corridors and the Navy defence stood up to take them.

The Navy midfield was nullifying the high drive by the Army strikers and allowed Navy to re-link and counter- attack with ease.

The final score of 2-0 to the Navy reflected a hard fought game that saw Navy succeed through a superior attack and a solid defence.

The Army team combined with Air Force on the final day of competition to play the Navy and this match saw several new players to ADF Hockey stand up and show their skill.

The fast start to the game had all players running hard when Pte Ingrid Munchin took control with Cpl Leesa Purcell in the midfield to push the team strikers into attack.

Pte Munchin, who last year was in the NSW State under-21 side, was to be the key difference in the encounter as she exploited the holes left by the less skilful Navy team.

Not to be outdone, Smn Talei Tuliawa, who was last year in the ACT National Hockey League squad, stood up and challenged the new player.

Smn Tuliawa was able to utilise a lot of space in the midfield to link with her attack to Leut Naomi Holmes and AB Liz Duve who were able to penetrate the combined Army/RAAF circle on a number of occasions.

The combined team countered and was able to breach the Navy defence through some slick teamwork.

This turned out to be the only goal for the game, handing victory to the combined Army/ RAAF side, but the NSW Womens Inter-service Championship went to Navy.

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