Second place no disgrace

By LEUT Stu Cayzer

Navy men in action at the recent Sportex One hockey championship.

Photo: ABPH Helen Frank

The men’s NSW Navy hockey team had to contend themselves with second place after being defeated in a tight struggle with Air Force at this month’s NSW championships in Sydney.
In Navy’s first men’s game of the draw, it was the Army team who came out to prove a point and though the match was tight, Navy were strong winners 3-1.

Navy started slowly with Army making several good drives and placing the traditionally strong Navy defence under immense pressure.

This was exacerbated when CAPT Peter Young found CPL Nelson Parlett on the back line next to the goal and he successfully lifted the ball past the Navy keeper to score.

Several strong drives into the Army circle by LEUT Adrian Kremer and SMNMT Ashley Stoll created several chances that just needed a good touch to finish off the great work.

Stoll stood up and took his chance when a bobbled shot came across the goal and just needed tapping in to level the scores at 1-all. Navy grew in strength and gained control in the centre of the field through LSET Haydn Darragh.

He forced his way into the circle and put a good shot wide of the Army goalkeeper to put Navy one up going into the break.

LEUT Mark Simmonds found a foot to gain a short corner and a goal followed early in the second half. To Army’s credit at no stage did they give up and the final score read 3-1 to Navy.

Navy’s second match was against traditional rivals RAAF.

Fifteen minutes into the half CPL Ryan Bowden clipped the top of goalkeeper LEUT Stuart Cayzer’s pads, with a goal awarded.

LSET Darragh took control of the centre and provided inspirational skill and drive. His skill was rewarded when attacking the circle, a deflection got through to the goal to level the score at one 1-1.

CPL John Godward’s shot bobbled high over the keeper to put RAAF in the lead 2 to 1. Navy went into attack for the remaining 10 minutes and earned short corners including the last with 30 seconds left.

Navy’s chance rested on a shot that went wide, RAAF winning 2 to 1 and the Interservice Championships for 2004.

The selected men to represent NSW at next month’s nationals are:

Ryan Bowden, LSATA Derek Bunt, LEUT Stuart Cayzer, LSET Haydn Darragh, AB Craig Downey, LSATA Ian Fairweather, Luke Glynn, John Godward, Sam Hays, Chris Hill, David Johnston, Nelson Parlett, Shane Peachey, LEUT Mark Simmonds, Scott Warmsley, Peter Young.

Coach: Nathan Ball. Reserves: Andrew Gawthorne, LEUT Adrian Kremer, SMNMT Ashley Stoll.1

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