Sports

Army red hot after toasting
By Barry Rollings

Edition 1167, May 31, 2007
 
Quick sticks: Navy’s Scott Duffy (left) evades Army’s Cpl Andrew Henderson, 4RAR, at the Homebush Hockey Centre in Sydney during Army’s 4-3 win. The two are also team-mates playing premier league for University of NSW.
Photo by AB Paul Berry
ARMY took the old adage “if you can’t beat them, join them” to heart at the NSW Inter-Service Hockey Championship at the Olympic facilities at Sydney’s Homebush State Sports centre in early May.

After being toasted in a 5-2 loss to Air Force on opening day, Army rallied to down Navy 4-3 in the final game with the assistance of some Air Force recruits.

Air Force built on its outstanding opening-day performance to win its fifth successive title after being the most consistent team of the three-day championship.

Air Force’s 5-2 win against Army was built on some very strong defence, controlled by WOFF Peter Thompson, and fast, potent forward-line play from LAC Daniel Peake and Sgt Ryan Bowden.

Army was not without its chances, though, and missed scoring several times when the ball rolled across an open goal but the Army attack was unable to lay stick on ball.

Army, reinforced by Air Force, restored some pride on day three with a 4-3 win against Navy after Navy led 3-0 at half-time.

Navy, traditionally strong in NSW, had many players unavailable because of operational deployments and preparations for exercises. While they had the better of the fit and fast Army team in the first half, they couldn’t contain Army in the second half.

Cpl Andrew Henderson and Sgt Craig Williams controlled the Army team as the game developed, each taking turns in the forward line, using their immense experience to wreak havoc with Navy’s defence.

Navy came close to regaining the lead several times but, with the scores locked at 3-all, Army got its nose in front for the first and final time in the dying minutes with a well-worked short corner that had the ball clip the pads of Navy keeper
LS Michael Tozer and thud into the backboard.

The traditional Air Force-Navy rivalry played out on the second day with a highly motivated Air Force team taking an early lead and not letting the Navy back in to the game as it won 3-1.

Again it was a fast forward line and a strong midfield for Air Force that controlled the game’s tempo and structure, primarily through Flt-Sgt Andy Eagling and Flt-Lt Ron Batcheldor.

The Navy’s defence, controlled through PO Derek Bunt and Smn Jason Sekulich, was able to absorb considerable pressure from Air Force but the continued attacks kept coming from a speedy forward line and Navy was unable to hold them out.

After the championships a NSW Combined Services team was selected to compete at the Australian Defence Hockey Championships in Albury from June 2-9.

These championships will bring together ADF teams from around the country. NSW will have to perform exceptionally to defend the men’s and women’s championships it won last year.

“All Service teams suffered from a shortage of players because of operational deployments, exercise preparations and increased workloads,” ADF Hockey PR manager, Lt Stuart Cayzer said.

“This lack of players was particularly felt in the women’s ranks, where the high unavailability rate resulted in the women’s inter-service event not being held for the first time.

“Recent changes to the policy for Australian Defence Sport now allow and encourage public servants to participate in these and higher level competitions.”

Any public servants who wish to participate in ADF hockey at any level are encouraged to contact the ADF Hockey representative in their state or Lt Cayzer on (02) 9359 4233.