WA Diamonds Take Bronze in Darwin

Published On: 5 June 2011

The WA Diamond’s streak of defeating the Queensland Scorchers in finals has continued, with the Diamonds winning 4-3 in Darwin to finish third overall at the Australian Hockey League Finals Week.

With the Diamonds and Scorchers having done battle in four out of the last five grand AHL grand finals, it was a different concept this time around, with third place the best either team could claim in 2011.

Despite the stakes not being as high the intensity of the match was just as fierce, with no love loss between these teams.

The Diamonds got off to the perfect start after just six minutes, with Olympian Shelly Liddelow striking for WA to take an early 1-0 lead. Any thoughts of an easy contest were quickly assuaged when Kandice Olivieri equalised for Queensland.

Chantelle Ciallella restored the Diamonds one goal advantage through a well taken field goal, before Jodie Schulz converted a penalty corner to again bring the bronze medal match to parity.

With half time approaching, veteran Hope Munro scored a decisive goal from a Western Australian penalty corner to give the Diamonds a slender lead heading into the break.

It was an advantage doubled on 62m when Sian Nelson stretched the lead to 4-2 via a field goal. Hockeyroo Amy Korner narrowed the margin to 4-3 in the 69th minute, but the Diamonds held firm to claim the bronze medal and rivalry bragging rights for another year.

The Southern Suns won their first Australian Hockey League championship since 1995, overcoming favourites NSW to hang on to a thrilling 1-0 win in the gold medal match.

The Suns were considered underdogs going into the match, having only one Hockeyroos squad member compared to NSW’s seven. But they played a great team game and managed to protect their one goal lead despite some enormous pressure in the second half.

The pressure in the last three minutes of play was enormous, with SA just trying to hang on. After gaining the ball in the last minute SA managed to work down the clock and claim what was a very memorable championship win.