South Australia and New South Wales win Day 6 Games in U-21 Australian National Championship
It was another fine day at the Perth Hockey Stadium, where the teams of South Australia and New South Wales won the Day 6 matches of the U-21 Australian National Hockey Championship. The Southern Australia edged past Victoria by a single goal, 3-2, while
New South Wales (NSW) trounced Queensland by three goals, 6-3.
Interestingly, both the teams played a cautious game in the first half of play. Though the period was filled with lot of attacks and counter-attacks, it concluded with both the teams locking horns at one-each.
It was South Australia that received a short-corner in the 14th minute of the match and tested the defence line of Victoria. The defensemen from the Victorian side were energetic enough and blocked the shot at the right flank of the goal-bars.
However, the Victorians accomplished a counter-attack and succeeded maiden goal. Tom Sinclair made a solo run in the 18th minute of the match and struck a powerful shot at the SA’s cage to open the scoring for his team.
After conceding the goal, the strikers from South Australia also increased their speed and levelled the game in the 29th minute of the match. Matthew Claxton managed the equalising goal for SA and brought back his side into the game. It was the
only offence from the two sides and first round concluded at 1-1.
No team succeeded to score a goal in the first 20 minutes, despite numerous short-corners. Adam Seccull converted a short-corner in the 60th minute which was answered by a field goal from Matthew Claxton. With three minutes remaining onto the
time-completion, Scott Germain marked a goal from the field and sealed their victory by 3-2.
In the other match played between New South Wales and Queensland, the former notched a three-goal, 6-3 win over the latter squad. NSW came from behind, but dominated the second half and marked six goals against the three of their competitors.
It was Queensland that drew the first blood in the 5th minute of the match, when Peter Dillon converted a short-corner. The first goal boosted the spirit of other players and Jacob Webber doubled the tally in the 20th minute. In the
latter time, NSW attack came alive, when Joshua Walters and Matthew Dawson scored two goals in the 24th and 26th minutes to tie the knots at two-all.
In the second half, Matt Willot scored a goal in the 41st minute, which was countered by a penalty-conversion from Daniel Beale in the 50th minute. However, it was last offence from Queensland and remaining time belonged to NSW. Matt
Willot and Flynn Ogilvie scored off penalty-corners in the 56th and 57th minutes, respectively, while their team-mate, Joshua Walters, added another to seal a 6-3 victory.
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