By
LEUT Stu Cayzer
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Navy
women had a strong win over Army 2 nil. and took out the
NSW interservice titles.
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Photo:Bill
Cunneen
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The
Navy women proved too strong for the opposition, taking out the
NSW Interservice Hockey championships at the Sydney Olympic Hockey
centre earlier
this month.
Navy started their campaign strongly with a 2 -0 win over Army.
Great control was seen from a new player to ADF hockey SMNCIS
Talei Tuliawa.
Talei utilised her skills learnt through the ACT academy of sport
to link well to all players especially LEUT Naomi Holmes who was
on fire in the first encounter of the Championship.
Army also utilised their key players well with CPL Leesa Purcell
exerting her influence to prevent a lot of the Navy attack, allowing
Army to re-attack through their stronger players.
Navy were not to be outdone as AB Liz Duve drove into the Army
circle with ease on many occasions to put the keeper back on her
line to make saves.
With such immense pressure the Army defence could not hold and
LEUT Naomi Holmes took advantage of this and scored twice to give
Navy the best chance of winning the encounter.
Army attacked through set corridors and the Navy defence stood
up to take them. Tanya Boge was nullifying the high drive by the
Army strikers and allowed Navy to re-link and re-attack with ease.
The final score reflected a hard fought game that saw Navy succeed
through a superior attack and a solid defence.
Navy's second game of the championship was against a combined
RAAF/Army team on the final day of competition in which several
new players to ADF Hockey stood up and showed their skills.
The fast start to the game had all running hard when SCDT Ingrid
Minchin took control with CPL Leesa Purcell of the midfield to
push their strikers into attack.
SCDT Minchin, who was in last year's 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.
But SMNCIS Talei Tuliawa, who was in last year's ACT National
Hockey League squad, stood up and challenged the new player and
a great tussle followed. Talei was able to utilise a lot of space
in the midfield to link her attack to LEUT Naomi Holmes and AB
Liz Duve who penetrated the combined Army/RAAF circle on a number
of occasions.
Nonetheless, the combined team countered was able to breach the
Navy defence through some slick teamwork. This would be the only
goal for the game and hand a 1 nil victory to the combined Army
RAAF side but the NSW Womens Interservice Championship to Navy
again.
The NSW combined services sides, selected to compete at the ADF
Hockey championships to be held in Albury from 5-11 June, were
announced at the completion of competion.
The women to represent NSW are: Asha Belkin, Rozanne Byass, Di
Casey, Felicity Crabb, Liz Duve, Tanya Goddard, Naomi Holmes,
Katherine McRae, Ingrid Minchin, Barbara Parker, Kate Ponto, Leesa
Purcell, Adelle Shimming, Imogen Surfontein, Talei Tuliawa, Shannon
Yates. Coach: Dave Freeman. Manager: Sarah Nicolaides. Reserves:
Tanya Boge, Claire Forbes-Smith, Kim Nicolaides, Bronwyn Penny.
