WA Diamonds and Thundersticks Take Clean Sweep
WAIS athletes have helped both the men’s and women’s WA hockey sides to wins over the weekend with the Thundersticks and Diamonds proving too good for their ACT rivals.
The Thundersticks enjoyed 2-1 and 3-0 wins over the Canberra Lakers, whilst the Diamonds rounded out their home fixtures with comfortable 4-1 and 3-0 wins.
The double header began on Saturday evening with the Diamonds putting on a first half master class against Canberra. Goals from WAIS athletes Ash Nelson and Shelley Liddelow followed on from an early brace from fellow WAIS scholarship holder Gemma Buckley – who was also celebrating her birthday – as the Diamonds powered to a 4-0 half-time lead.
The Diamonds rotated their bench in the second half, with the game slowing in pace in warm temperatures. Canberra produced a strong rear-guard response in the second half, and pulled one goal back through Laura Desmet.
2008 Beijing Olympians and WAIS scholarship holders Kobie McGurk and Hope Munro were outstanding for the Diamonds in front of a good Perth crowd.
The WA Thundersticks followed after and like the Diamonds before them, set a quick tempo from the first minute. Canberra struggled to match the intensity and went behind on 10m through a goal to WAIS athlete and 2008 Olympian Fergus Kavanagh who capitalised on some strong offensive work from WA.
Another WAIS representative and recent Kookaburra international Ian Burcher doubled the home side’s advantage after 20m, firing home from a penalty corner. Canberra however, was determined to make a fist of the challenge and largely dominated the second half, spurred on initially through a 37th minute strike from Garry Bachus.
WAIS scholarship holder Ross Meadows proved the hero at the death, after the goalkeeper made an improbable save from a penalty corner attempt from Canberra with the ball seemingly destined for the back of the net.
The WA Diamonds again launched a devastating first half assault on Canberra in the second match played on Sunday at the Perth International Hockey Stadium.
Goals from WAIS trio Kobie McGurk, Sian Smithson and Sam Gale killed off the contest with the second half again slowing down with temperatures nudging towards 40 degrees in the West.
The WA Thundersticks made sure of their double header clean sweep with an improved showing on Sunday evening. WAIS scholarship holder Jonathon Charlesworth set up the 3-0 win by scoring WA’s first in the eighth minute which was followed up by a double from Andrew Smith in the 30th and 56th minutes.
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