DROUGHT BREAKER
NSW ends nine-year losing run in Adelaide

(L to R) NSW team members PTE Belinda Lewis Land Headquarters, CAPT Tanya Goddard 19 CE Works, rear - LT Anna Williams 110 SIG SQN, front - CPL Lee Purcell, and LEUT Naomi Holmes HMAS Kuttabul, in the final against the ACT. Photo by Michael Weaver.

By Michael Weaver
The NSW combined services women’s hockey team broke a nine-year drought when it narrowly defeated ACT/South Australia in the grand final of the 2003 ADF Hockey Championships at The Pines stadium in Adelaide on June 6.

The goals rained almost as freely as the torrential weather that persisted throughout the match, with the NSW team reigning supreme in the 5-3 victory.

NSW opened the scoring in the 13th minute before ACT/SA responded with two goals in two minutes to lead 2-1.

Another goal midway through the first half saw ACT/SA’s lead blow out to 3-1 until the NSW players found their mark with two goals in as many minutes to level the decider at 3-3.

NSW players virtually camped themselves in ACT/SA territory for the remainder of the half, with ACT/SA withstanding plenty of attack within their goal circle.

Seven minutes into the second half, NSW broke the deadlock after surviving two penalty corners to lead 4-3, setting up a grandstand finish.

Both teams had chances to goal up in extremely adverse conditions that saw the interchange bench working as hard as the players just to keep warm.

The game then came down to the final minute when a NSW player found the back of the net to seal an emphatic victory, 5-3, in what proved a fitting finale to the women’s competition.

Final standings: NSW, ACT/SA, Queensland, Victoria.

Men’s report next edition.

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