Hockeyroos Clinch Series Win

The Hockeyroos clinched a tight series win over Great Britain with a 3-2 victory in the sixth and final Test at the Perth International Hockey Stadium last weekend.

Consistent with the five matches that preceded it, very little separated the sides in the deciding test, with the both outfits dominating periods of play.

It was the Australians, through strikes to; Georgina Morgan (5min), Emily Smith (26) and Grace Stewart (35) that gained the ascendency, but the visitors set-up a nervous finale via second half goals to Sophie Bray (56) and Joie Leigh (57).

Adam Commens, who announced in the week leading into the match, that he would step down as Hockeyroos coach after the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, was happy with his side’s performance and believed the late lapse was in part a result of squad rotation.

“I’m really pleased with today’s result. I thought we were fantastic up until late in the fourth quarter, when we had a number of our players off. I think we can learn from this series, tidy up aspects of our game and if we can successfully do that we will have a complete performance.

“The level of intensity that we have been able to show in each of the games has been a standout. We have been able to use all of our players in the squad, play a good style of hockey and create ourselves plenty of opportunities. It’s also been positive that we have been able to score field goals throughout the series.”

The Hockeyroos will have the chance to meet Great Britain again in the women’s Champions Trophy tournament in London, in June, which will also feature Argentina, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United States of America. The pair have also been drawn together for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. 

WAIS scholarship athletes Ashleigh Nelson and Kathryn Slattery were both part of the Hockeyroos squad for the Great Britain series, with Nelson involved in the final test, whilst Slattery was rested.