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CPL
Angela Smylie (QLD) from RAAF Amberley takes a tumble over
ACT goalie LEUT Donna Douglass of HMAS Harman.
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Photo:
CPL Belinda Mepham
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By
LEUT Stu Cayzer & SBLT Jane Pittman
More
than 150 players, officials and spectators descended on the Albury
Hockey centre last month when the National ADF Hockey Championships
hit town.
The traditional powerhouses of ADF Hockey, NSW and Queensland,
were anticipated to perform strongly, but in the women’s competition
it was the ACT who took on Queensland and came up victorious 4-2.
The ACT team, led by MAJ Brenda Sharp, started well with a goal
from a tight attack by MIDN Christie Underwood from ADFA.
The
Qld team quickly regained their composure scoring two goals both
from their captain and current ADF captain WO1 Leanne Iseppi from
direct hits in an attacking short corner.
The remainder of the first half of play was dominated equally
by the two teams with skilful work shown by CAPT Trish Sweetman
from Qld and ABSN Candice Freeman (Federation Guard) from ACT,
both playing the inner position.
The second half saw ACT even the score with an early goal and
then emerge leaders with the conversion of two penalty strokes
awarded against a Qld defender and converted with ease.
by Underwood. ACT continued to apply the pressure to the Qld defence,
through CPL Naomi Lewis combining with Freeman and FSGT Vicki
Chapman to display exceptional short passes to move the ball continuously
into attack.
With seven minutes remaining in the game, Qld gave one last effort
to even the score through several penalty corners but was unsuccessful
due to scrambling defence by CPL Kym Irvine combining with HMAS
Harman’s LEUT Donna Douglass in the goals.
Brenda Sharp capped off ACT’s win with a goal from a short corner
set play to make the final score 4-2. In the men’s grand final,
it was NSW, for the first time in 10 years, who would savour the
sweet taste of victory, defeating the ACT 4-1.
NSW were not planning on letting ACT take an early lead so strengthened
their defence and mixed their players through the midfield to
take advantage of ACT’s weakness through the centre.
NSW’s short corner battery clicked early through LAC Nelson Parlett
to put ACT on the back foot. Nelson was called upon to again stand
up and put NSW further in front, when a penalty stroke was awarded
and he duly obliged.
NSW continued to surge forward and CAPT Shane Peachey showed his
skill by driving the ball through ACT goalkeeper ABMT Michael
Tozer (Federation Guard).
ACT were able to wrestle one goal back late in the half to keep
them in the hunt and keep NSW cautious of all ACT leads through
the forward line.
NSW were not on the back foot long and were able to go into half
time 4-1 up through CPL Luke Glynn and be in command of the match.
At half time NSW coach Nathan Ball warned his players not to become
complacent and to push even harder to win the match and remove
all hope of the ACT team early in the second half.
ACT had different ideas and came out hard and fast and utilised
the experience of LEUT Andy Bewick and FSGT Garry Mott to their
advantage setting up several short corners and forcing the NSW
defence to scramble to keep them from scoring.
Traffic did not go all ACT’s way for the half however with CAPT
Sam Hay regaining control of the midfield, making the ACT defence
work.
There was great support from sidelines for both teams as the game
moved from end to end and many opinions and voices raised when
several of the NSW players were sent off within minutes of each
other.
The final result of 4-1 was a show of a good game where ACT stood
up to fight against the skill and strength of NSW.
ADF Hockey Chairman Wing Commander Ken Millar stated that “NSW
was the strongest squad all week and deserved to win the championship”.
Points
tables
The
overall standing at the completion of the Men’s round Robin competition
was:
| Team |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
NSW
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
ACT
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
SANT
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
QLD
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
| VIC
WA |
0
|
0
|
|
The
standing at the completion of the Women’s round Robin competition
prior to the Semi finals was:
| Team |
Won |
Drawn
|
Lost
|
| ACT |
2
|
1
|
0
|
| QLD |
2
|
0
|
1
|
| NSW |
1
|
1
|
1
|
| VIC
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
(Win 3 points, Draw 1 point, Loss 0 Points) Points tables
