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Queensland
evens the ledger
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South
Australia/Northern Territory captain Corporal Craig Tippett
(left) battles with ACT’s LCDR Joseph Kempton as they
play on in a torrential downpour during their playoff for
third and fourth place on the water-based surface at The
Pines stadium in Adelaide.
Photo by Michael Weaver
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By
Michael Weaver
THE ledger of tournament wins for the two combatants in the men’s
final of the ADF Hockey Championships, NSW and Queensland, now reads
NSW seven, Queensland seven following the northerners’ 2-0
victory in the grand final.
NSW went in as favourite, but Queensland was the defending champion,
leaving plenty to play for in the 2003 decider at The Pines stadium
in Adelaide on June 6.
Players warmed to the action on a cold, wet and windy day following
a week of near perfect weather, with Queensland opening the scoring
in the seventh minute after NSW had the early run of play.
The remainder of the half produced a high standard of end-to-end
action with few chances presenting for either side.
At half-time, NSW coach CPO Adam Day stressed the need for fewer
turnovers in possession, Queensland coach Rod Whitelock asked his
troops to maintain their game, while the referee read the riot act
to opposing captains after a typically intense first half.
However, the scene failed to settle, with NSW captain LEUT Mathew
Bradley sin-binned for 10 minutes for an illegal tackle in the 10th
minute, followed by a fellow NSW player stretchered off two minutes
later after a head clash in the goal circle.
Two minutes later Queensland scored from a penalty corner after
two shots at goal, with the third finding its way past the NSW goalkeeper.
NSW had plenty of chances to get back into the match with a glut
of penalty corners, all of which went astray, mostly through Queensland
defenders pressuring their opposition into taking the wrong option.
Queensland hung on for an emphatic 2-0 victory, denying NSW its
first title since 1994.
Final placings: Queensland, NSW, ACT, South Australia/Northern Territory,
Western Australia, Victoria.
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