Fast and furious

The wet proved challenging in the men's 3rd v 4th playoff between ACT and SA/NT. Photo by Michael Weaver.

Hockey
By Michael Weaver
The ledger of tournament wins for the two combatants in the men’s final of the ADF Hockey Championships, NSW and Queensland, now reads NSW seven, QLD seven.

This follows the northerners’ 2-0 victory in the grand final of the ADF combined services championships at The Pines stadium in Adelaide on June 6.

Players warmed to the action on a cold and wet day following a week of near perfect weather, with QLD opening the scoring in the seventh minute after NSW had the early run of play.

The remainder of the half saw a high standard of end-to-end action with few chances presenting for either side.

At half-time, NSW coach CPO Adam Day stressed the need for fewer turnovers in possession, Queensland coach Rod Whitelock asked his troops to maintain their game, while the referee read the riot act to opposing captains after a typically intense first half.

The scene however, failed to settle, with NSW captain LEUT Mathew Bradley sin-binned for 10 minutes for an illegal tackle in the 10th minute, and a fellow NSW player stretchered off two minutes later after a head clash in the goal circle.

A further two minutes saw QLD score from a penalty corner after two shots at goal, with the third finding its way past the NSW goalkeeper.

NSW had plenty of chances to get back into the match with a glut of penalty corners, all of which went astray. QLD hung on for an emphatic 2-0 victory, denying NSW of its first title since 1994.

Final placings: QLD, NSW, ACT, South Australia/Northern Territory, Western Australia and Victoria.

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