Boyce Makes Debut as Halliday Retires

WAIS hockey youngster Fiona Boyce took to the field for her first senior International over the weekend as the Hockeyroos overcame Germany 2-0 at the Perth Hockey Stadium.

22-year old Boyce made her debut in front of her home crowd, playing alongside fellow WAIS athlete Hope Munro as the Australian side began their final series before the Champions Trophy takes place in Sydney later this month.

The Hockeyroos began brightly against the world’s number three ranked side, opening the scoring via a penalty corner in the 12th minute to the delight of the strong Perth crowd. Germany looked dangerous towards the end of the opening stanza but the Australians held firm to keep the one goal advantage going into the break.

The home side doubled the score line after the half, with a field goal to the youngest player on the pitch, 17-year old Georgia Nanscawen, in the 55th minute securing a valuable victory.

Both Boyce and Munro are expected to feature again in the second Test, also at the Perth Hockey Stadium on Monday night, with another WAIS athlete in Kate Denning a possibility of making her senior debut for the Hockeyroos.

The other major story to come out of Saturday night’s clash with the Germans was the confirmation that dual WAIS Olympian Emily Halliday is to retire due to a debiliating hip injury.

30-year old Halliday has not played for the Hockeyroos since the Beijing Olympics but was hopeful that she would be able to overcome injury to take her place as a leader within the young and rebuilding side.

Unfortunately for the 2004 and 2008 Olympian doctors advised that continuing to play elite level hockey was not possible, making retirement the only option.

Halliday retires after 186 matches in the green and gold, including two Olympics, a Commonwealth Games (2006), World Cup (2006) and six Champions Trophies.