WA Diamonds Make Perfect Start to 2009 AHL Season
The Smokefree WA Diamonds have made a solid start to the defence of their Australian Hockey League title after defeating the Northern Territory Pearls 2-0 and 3-0 in their Darwin double header over the weekend.
In drizzly conditions WA got their campaign off to the perfect start with a hard fought 2-0 victory over NT with goals from WAIS athletes Chantelle Ciallella and Jemma Buckley.
Scores were locked at 0-0 well into the first half, with NT keeper and American import Barbara Weinberg, doing well to stop two WA penalty corners.
NT had a chance to score, with a Heather Langham flick off a penalty corner being stopped by a defenders stick.A well taken goal from Chantelle Ciallella in the 16th minute proved the only thing separating the sides at half time.
The West Australian team found it hard to score all match due to the NT team’s harassing tactics, but Jemma Buckley found a way through in the 45th minute to make the score 2-0.Both teams found it hard going in the rain and warm temperatures, and it appeared both sides were looking to get some cobwebs out of their system.
The 2-0 final score was a positive start for the Diamonds and looked to give the team a boost ahead of the second match in the series.
After the first up win the night before, WA were expected to come out hard to show their championship credentials. The first half saw WA camped in the oppositions half with NT keeper, Barbara Weinberg, the only thing preventing WA from striking an early lead. Weinberg managed to deflect and block numerous raids on goal from the Diamonds,with defenders Heather Langham and Jessica Maclean also having stand out first halves, with the two sides heading into the break at 0-0.
WA found its groove in the second half the first goal arriving at the 49 minute mark, with WA scoring off a penalty corner after Weinberg had first blocked the shot, but NT could not clear. WAIS athlete Lisa Eglington scored her first goal for the season and was a constant menace to the opposing defence.A quick fire double to Harriet Collins just 10 minutes later sealed the game for Western Australia and ensured they would head home with two wins, maximum points and no goals conceded in a sharp start to the season.
Click here for the current 2009 AHL ladder.
