Aussie hockey has Navy flavour

The Australian Country Men’s hockey tour had an ADF flavour when it toured New Zealand last month.

Navy’s LEUT Stuart Cayzer, Air Force’s WGCDR Rowley Tompsett, Army’s CPL Craig Tippett each represented their country before returning to Australia to compete in hometown domestic competitions.

The Australian Country squad was in New Zealand for nine days and played five games against the top New Zealand representative under-21 sides and several Auckland top club sides.

The tour was able to help grow the Hockey Australia- New Zealand relationship and foster the cross Tasman rivalry through the games played and people encountered especially in the first game against the Maori Under-21 team that started the match with the Haka.

The squad won all but one game and featured very strong attacking and physical play during all of their games. LEUT Stuart Cayzer from JOIC AUST shared the goalkeeping duties each game and had plenty of work for the tour.

One game in particular against Takapuna (Auckland A grade side) featured five internationals who had just returned from the Olympic qualifying competition making for a very busy night for LEUT Cayzer.

A clean sheet for him at the end of the game made the work all the more rewarding. CPL Craig Tippett from Robertson Barracks in Darwin was a late inclusion in the squad.

His versatility and commitment showed as he was required to play in nearly every position apart from the back line. WGCDR Rowley Tompsett from Chief of Airforce’s Office came along as Country Commission Chairman to provide support to both teams and help with coordination and liaison.

However he was required to undertake a few unexpected extra tasks while in country and even umpired a game when the Country team played the NZ Under-21 champions. A very fast and flowing game followed with Rowley’s experience as an umpire showing through.

The three representatives have just played at the ADF hockey championships (which wrapped up on June 11) and are pushing for selection to compete at the next Australian National Country Championships to be hosted by ADF and held at the Pines Hockey Stadium in Adelaide from 31 July - 7 August.

In Adelaide they will again be competing for the Australian Country Championship Title and selection in the Australian Country Team.

Match reports and photos from the New Zealand tour can be viewed at www.hockey.org.au

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