Thundersticks Tamed by Late Tigers Comeback

The WA Thundersticks have suffered a sudden death penalty shootout defeat to Tasmania in the final of the men’s AHL after seeing a late 2-0 lead slip.

The WA Thundersticks found themselves two goals up inside the opening six minutes of the grand final, only for the Tigers to hit back with two goals in three minutes at the start of the final quarter, forcing the match to a shoot-out.

WAIS athlete Chris Bausor gave WA the lead before fellow WAIS scholarship holder Trent Mitton doubled the advantage, with both goals coming courtesy of slick penalty corner work.

With victory looking probable, the Tigers stormed at the start of the fourth quarter, levelling the match in a three minute spell, with goals to Sam McCambridge and Eddie Ockenden.

The match went to penalties, with Australian Kookaburras goalkeepers Tyler Lovell and Tristan Clemons (both WAIS athletes) defending both goals, the first shoot-out efforts all failed to find the target before Jeremy Edwards struck for Tasmania.

WAIS duo Nathan McGuire and Chris Bausor were then both successful for WA while William Shaw failed to score for the Tigers. Kookaburra Eddie Ockenden coolly sent the contest to sudden death. Ockenden struck again immediately in the knock-out but it was Tasmania’s WA-import goalkeeper Clemons who would secure the gold medal, sweeping away McGuire’s effort moments later.

The WA Diamonds missed out on a bronze medal in their third place play-off with Victoria, going down 3-0.

The Vipers’ win came courtesy of a second quarter strike from Hockeyroo Georgia Nanscawen, added to by goals in the final ten minutes from Pauline Brugts and Hayley Padget. Despite the final outcome, for her performances throughout the competition, WA goalkeeper Ashlee Wells was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament.

At the conclusion of the AHL, new Kookaburras coach Graham Reid named his extended squad for the Kookaburras Champions Trophy team.

WAIS athletes Craig Boyne, Kiel Brown, Fergus Kavanagh, Tyler Lovell, Trent Mitton and Aran Zalewskiwere all named in the 27 man training squad, whilst fellow WAIS athletes; Chris Bausor, Tristan Clemons and Nathan McGuire were all invited to attended a national training camp in November.

The Kookaburras will face India in five warm up tests in Perth at the start of November in preparation for their Champions Trophy campaign.