2013 Australian Hockey League Update
The 2013 Australian Hockey League has served up mixed fortunes for WA’s men’s and women’s state teams, with the WA Diamonds undefeated heading into cross overs, whilst the men’s Thundersticks have finished winless and bottom of their pool.
The women’s AHL hosted in Tasmania, saw the WA Diamonds kick start their 2013 campaign in fine style, with a comprehensive 3-0 win over their hosts on game day one.
Field goals to Jess Esselmont (1m), Airlie Ogilvie (38m) and WAIS scholarship holder Penny Squibb (66m) gave the Diamonds the perfect platform to start, in a match also highlighted by the return to AHL action of Olympian Kobie McGurk (WAIS) who had injured her ACL in last year’s tournament.
The Diamonds provided further evidence of their title credentials on game day two, dispatching of a high quality Victorian outfit 4-1. Penny Squibb converted a penalty corner after 25 minutes, with Shayni Nelson adding a second a minute before half-time.
WA was firmly in the driver’s seat moments after the restart, when Jess Esselmont scored her second of the tournament and the points were secured when WAIS athlete Caitlin Pascov scored WA’s fourth in the 55thminute courtesy of a well taken field goal.
Assured of a top-two ranking heading into their final pool match, WA ensured it would receive top billing in the cross overs after defeating the ACT by a solitary goal in a tight, competitive match. A field goal to Olivia Chiu on 21m was all that separated the teams, with WA finishing the pool round undefeated, with an 8-1 goals for and against record.
The Diamonds will face perennial contenders Queensland in their first cross over match before a meeting with New South Wales on Friday, ahead of the weekend’s finals.
In the men’s AHL competition, the WA Thundersticks have finished bottom of their pool after falling to three consecutive defeats.
The Thundersticks fell 3-2 in their opening fixture against the ACT in Victoria in an entertaining, end to end match. An early 2-0 lead to the Thundersticks courtesy of goals to WAIS scholarship holders Tim Bates and Sam Pike were eroded early in the second half, with the talented ACT outfit running over the top of WA to claim the win.
Needing a positive result to keep their title hopes alive, the Thundersticks were outclassed 4-0 by an experienced Victorian team, with Kookaburras representatives Russel Ford and Chris Ciriello both influential for the victors. A 1-0 half-time deficit was all that separated the sides at the break, but for the second match running, WA fell away in the second half to concede three goals.
The Thundersticks’ final pool match gave no consolation, with Tasmania piling more misery on the West Australians, registering a 2-1 win that ensured last year’s semi-finalists would complete the preliminary round winless.
The Thundersticks took a 16th minute lead after Alistair Park finished well from a sharp team move, but goals either side of half-time dragged Tasmania back and then in front, a lead position they wouldn’t relinquish.
WA will contest the 5th-8th playoffs, with matches against South Australia and Northern Territory providing the Thundersticks an opportunity to end their campaign on a high.