SA and Queensland win in Day 5 games in Australian National Hockey Championship
South Australia (SA) overpowered Tasmania by 2-0, while Queensland shot down Northern Territory (NT) by 4-0 in the Day-5 games of the U-21 Australian National Women’s Hockey Championship, which is being played at the National Hockey Centre, in Lyneham of
Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
It was the third game of the day, where South Australia established their dominance in the very opening minutes and held back throughout the two rounds. The Southern squad was looking for a place among the top four, while their opponents were in a bid to
make first triumph in the championship.
South Australia started back-to-back attacks against Tasmania from the very beginning and pushed them on defence. They looked very aggressive in their attacks and tested the defence-line of Tasmania through penetrations inside the defensive circle.
With six minutes into the first half of play, Brooklyn Buchecker managed to take the ball inside the D-line and volleyed a brilliant low-flick into the Tasmanian goal. It was the point that increased the courage of South Australian players, while putting
the opponents under severe pressure.
In a matter of five minutes, Jane Claxton of SA received a pass from the midfield and crossed the 25-yard-line, while dribbling a couple of defenders. She pounded a classic shot into the cage and doubled the tally up to two goals, 2-0.
After marking a couple of goals, it seemed that the strikers from SA went on a rest and enjoyed the situation. They adopted defensive policies and did not allow opponents to come on the score-board, neither in the first half nor in the second.
At the end of the first half, SA was hanging on to a two-goal advantage which continued throughout the second period. The Tasmanians, who are hoping to get the first victory, lost the game with empty hands by 2-0.
In the final game of the day, the women from Queensland whitewashed Northern Territory by four goals. It was the best show from Queensland which lost a game in the hands of New South Wales (NSW) last week.
With a few seconds into the match, Alyssa Kerr of Queensland opened the scoring and put NT under heavy pressure. Ashlea Fey converted a short-corner in the 23rd
minute, while Stephanie Kershaw added a field goal in the 33rd minute of the match.
Kandice Oliveri of Queensland added a goal from the field in the 66th minute and sealed a commanding 4-0 win over Northern Territory.
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