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Navy takes a hit
By LEUT Stuart Cayzer

Edition 5009, 31 May, 2007
 
ONE ON ONE: AB Scott Duffey, left, takes on CPL Andrew Henderson in the Navy v Army game.
Photo: ABPH Paul Berry
 
It took the combined talents of Army and Air Force to finally extinguish Navy’s chance of winning the NSW inter-Service Hockey Championship at the Olympic facilities at Sydney’s Homebush state sports centre in early May.

Navy, traditionally strong in NSW, had many players unavailable because of operational deployments and preparations for exercises.

Air Force built on its outstanding opening-day performance to win its fifth successive title after being the most consistent team of the three-day championship in winning both its games.

Army lost 5-2 to Air Force on opening day but downed Navy 4-3 in the final game on day three with the assistance of some Air Force recruits after Navy had led 3-0 at half-time.

The fit and fast Army team outran Navy in the first half. Navy was unable to fully recover to take the lead as Army continued to dominate in the second half.

CPL Andrew Henderson (Holsworthy Barracks) and SGT Craig Williams (Victoria Barracks) controlled the Army team as the game developed and each took their turn in the forward line and used their immense experience to wreak havoc with Navy’s defence. Navy was close to taking the lead several times but with two minutes to go Army went ahead for the final time with a well-worked short corner that had the ball clip the pads of Navy keeper LS Michael Tozer (HMAS Newcastle) and thud into the back board.

The traditional Air Force-Navy rivalry played out on the second day with a highly motivated Air Force team taking an early lead and not letting Navy back in to the game as it won 3-1. Again it was fast forward line and a strong midfield for Air Force that controlled the game’s tempo and structure, primarily through FLTSGT Andy Eagling (285SQN) and FLTLT Ron Batcheldor (HQAC).

The Navy’s defence, controlled through PO Derek Bunt and SMN Jason Sekulich, was able to absorb considerable pressure from Air Force but the continued attacks kept coming from a speedy forward line and Navy was unable to hold them out.

After the championship, a NSW Combined Services team was selected to compete at the Australian Defence Hockey Championships in Albury from June 2-9. These championships will bring together ADF teams from around the country and NSW will have to perform exceptionally to defend the men’s and women’s championships it won last year.

All Service teams suffered from a reduced number of players because of operational deployments, exercise preparations and increased workloads. This lack of players was particularly felt in the women’s ranks, where the high unavailability rate resulted in the women’s inter-service event not being held for the first time.

The recent changes to the policy for Australian Defence sport now allow and encourage public servants to participate in these and higher level competitions.

Any public servants who wish to participate in ADF hockey at any level are encouraged to contact the AD Hockey representative in their state or LEUT Cayzer on 02 9359 4233.