AHL HEADS TO CAIRNS

The only Australian Hockey League matches to be played in Queensland this year will take place in Cairns over the weekend.

The OAMPS Queensland Scorchers open women’s team will take on New South Wales and Tasmania in rounds four and five of the 2011 Women’s Australian Hockey League.

Queensland will play New South Wales at 7pm on Saturday and Tasmania at 4.30pm on Sunday.

Queensland will start the weekend comfortably positioned in third place on the ladder after a 3-2 victory over reigning national champions Western Australia in round one, a convincing 6-0 win over the Northern Territory in round two, and a narrow 2-3 loss to South Australia in round three.

Queensland’s round one, two and three matches were played in Adelaide over May 6, 7 and 8.

Following Queensland’s round four and five matches played in Cairns this weekend, the team will come up against Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory in their last round matches to be played at the beginning of Finals Week. Finals Week will take place from May 28 to June 3 in Darwin.
 
The Australian Hockey League is Australia’s premier annual women’s hockey tournament from which the Hockeyroos Squad is selected.

Given the success of the new-look, preliminary 2011 Hockeyroos Squad selected by new head coach Adam Commens in January, it appears likely the trend of selectors showing confidence in new talent will continue.

All players are eager to play their best hockey in this year’s AHL to secure 2011 Hockeyroos selection, which will be a strong stepping stone to selection for the 2012 London Olympics.

Six OAMPS Queensland Scorchers players were selected in the preliminary 2011 Hockeyroos Squad.

Jill Dwyer, Marnie Hudson, Kandice Olivieri and Jodie Schulz were selected in the squad for the first time alongside veterans Madonna Blyth and Teneal Attard.