WA Diamonds Make Strong Start to 2010 AHL
Western Australia have made a bold start to the 2010 Australian Hockey League, with two strong victories and a draw resulting from round one clashes in Queensland over the weekend.
The SmokeFree WA Diamonds firstly defeated the Darwin Airport Resort Territory Pearls 3-0 in game one of round one of at the Ipswich Hockey Complex in Queensland on Friday night.
Diamonds’ striker Sian Nelson launched a competitive start to Western Australia’s AHL campaign with a field goal in the ninth minute of the match.
2010 National Development Squad member Chantelle Ciallella matched Nelson’s efforts in the 28th minute when she netted another field goal for the Diamonds.
2010 Hockeyroo Squad member and WAIS athlete Fiona Boyce continued Western Australia’s dominance in the second half and again contributed to the Diamonds’ tally on the scoreboard in the 61st minute with a goal from a penalty corner.
Northern Territory assistant coach Melissa Hall said despite the dominant attack of Western Australia the young Pearls’ side is happy with the result.
“Five players made their debut in the Australian Hockey League tonight, and this game was the first time the team had played together as a group,” Hall said.
“It was a good result and I am sure we will improve as the players have more opportunities to train and play alongside each other,” she said.
Western Australian coach Neil Hawgood said he was pleased with the momentum the Diamonds built throughout the match.
“I am happy with how we played tonight, it was a strong start to the tournament,” Hawgood said.
The Darwin Airport Resort Territory Pearls’ next Round 1 challenge will be against the OAMPS Queensland Scorchers at the Ipswich Hockey Complex at 2pm tomorrow, Saturday May 8.
WA continued its promising start to the 2010 season with a commanding win over South Australia on Saturday.
Despite being strong in attack, the OAMPS Southern Suns were unable to outshine their Western Australian rivals when they went down 5-0 on day two of the Australian Hockey League.
Both teams failed to convert numerous penalty corners, but it was the Smokefree WA Diamonds that capitalised on the most opportunities to secure victory.
Smokefree WA Diamonds coach Neil Hawgood (WAIS women’s hockey coach) believes that his team’s improved performance is a result of shifting their focus.
“All of the girls played brilliantly today because they have started to focus more on what we’re doing rather than on the opposition,” Hawgood said.
OAMPS Southern Suns coach Craig Victory said that despite the loss his team is showing improvement.
“Despite the disappointing score at the end of the game, the team showed a definite improvement in their defence from yesterday’s game, which is pleasing,” Victory said.
The Diamonds had the biggest test for round one on Sunday, up against a quality Queensland outfit on home soil, with the match ending in an entertaining 2-2 draw.
Queensland was first on the score board with Jill Dwyer scoring a spectacular goal just outside the left post in the 13th minute, however WA lifted when Ashleigh Nelson converted a penalty corner in the 33rd minute to equalise the score at 1-1 just before half time.
Both teams kept the pressure on in the second half, with the Scorchers’ Teneal Attard responding with a penalty corner for Queensland only five minutes after Sian Nelson had scored the Diamonds’ second penalty corner of the game.
OAMPS Queensland Scorchers coach Margaret Dilger felt that a draw was a good result against strong opposition and is pleased that the team continues to get stronger with each game.
“I was happy with the way the girls played all weekend and in this game in particular,” Dilger said.
“We put them under lots of pressure but unfortunately we didn’t make the most of all opportunities, which is something that we’ll be focussing on when we play again in Darwin in two weeks,” she said.
Round 2 will be held from May 22 to 23 in Darwin and Perth before the finals week is held from May 29 to June 5 in Adelaide.
– Hockey Queensland