Western Australia, Queensland victorious in Day-9 of U-21 National Hockey Championship
After a couple of best shows, the women’s hockey teams of Western Australia (WA) and Queensland powered commanding victories over Tasmania and Victoria respectively by 2-1 and 6-2 in the Day-9 games of the U-21 Australian National Hockey Championship held at the National Hockey Centre in Lyneham, on July 21.
In the first game, the Western Australia team showed an impressive performance, but could take Tasmania down only by a single goal, 2-1 after the seventy minutes of play. The Western players were flying on a high note after defeating New South Wales (NSW) in the last fixture. They continued their brilliant performance and secured their second victory of the championship.
Both WA and Tasmania were looking equal and competitive at the beginning of the match and played most of the time in the mid-field position.
With the passage of some time, the Western side gathered up speed and established their dominance over the field. With one minute left on the clock, Caitlin Pascov drove the ball into the defensive circle of Tasmania and knocked the ball at the back-board, opening the score at 1-0.
In the second half, the two squads exchanged a goal and enhanced the enchantment for the onlookers. However, the second period was also same slow as the first was. After making penetrations against each other in the early minutes of the second half, Keely Hunter of Tasmania scored a goal from the field and tied the knots at one-each. It not only made the game interesting, but increased the pace of the play. Kate Morgan notched a goal in the 68th minute and decided the game in favour of her Western Australia team, 2-1.
In the other game of the championship, the Queensland trounced Victoria by 6-2 and continued their best record. The Queensland displayed impressive performances in the show against Victoria and scored six goals against the two of their rivals.
It started the action from the very opening and put the Victorian women under heavy weight. Samantha Pavish opened the scoring of the match through a field effort in the 15th minute, while her team-mate, Stephanie Kershaw, converted a penalty-corner soon after the three minutes and expanded the edge up to two goals, 2-0. The Victorian players failed to score in the first half.
With four minutes into the second period, Kandice Oliveri of Queensland scored a goal which was countered by a penalty conversion from Darcie Filliponi in the 46th minute.
In the later time, Alyssa Kerr and her team-mate, Kazzia Lammon, scored one goal each and took the lead up to five goals. Tegan Boucher of Victoria though added a goal in the 63rd minute, but it could not save them from a humiliated defeat. The Queensland won the game by 6-2.
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