AHL Round One
SA hit back with a win over NT and Queensland drew with WA on the last day of the first AHL round in Ipswich. Thank you to Ipswich Hockey Associaiton and their many volunteers, Ipswich City Council, the participating teams, umpires, technical officials, Umpires Manager, Jan Hadfield and Assistant Tournament Director, Gary Marsh for your time and efforts throughout the weekend.
Sunday, May 10, 2010 - Ipswich Queensland
Western Australia and Queensland draw in Australian Hockey League
OAMPS Queensland Scorchers 2 Smokefree WA Diamonds 2 (1-1 half time)
Goals – QLD Dwyer 13m FG, Attard 59m PC WA Nelson (Ashleigh) 33m PC, Nelson (Sian) 54m PC
The Smokefree WA Diamonds and the OAMPS Queensland Scorchers both played very well defensively in the final game of Round 1 at the Australian Hockey League that resulted in a 2-2 draw at Ipswich today.
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.
SA hit back with a win over NT in Australian Hockey League
OAMPS Southern Suns 2 Darwin Airport Resort Territory Pearls 1 (1-0 half time)
Goals – SA Parker 17m FG, Greenshields 62m PC NT Peris E. 40m FG
The OAMPS Southern Suns have secured a 2-1 win in their final round one game of the 2010 Australian Hockey League (AHL) against the Darwin Airport Resort Territory Pearls at the Ipswich Hockey complex in Queensland this morning.
As both teams started the game winless in round one of the AHL after the defeats to the SmokeFree WA Diamonds and OAMPS Queensland Scorchers earlier this weekend, the Suns and the Pearls were equally eager for a win to launch their campaign in the tournament.
Despite many unconverted opportunities in attack for the South Australia in the first half, Suns’ striker Georgie Parker was able to put her team on the scoreboard in the 17th minute with a field goal.
Pearls’ striker Emily Peris however put the Northern Territory back in the game early in the second half with a field goal in the 40th minute to level the score, but this response was answered by another South Australian goal scored by 2010 National Development Squad member Bianca Greenshields in the 62nd minute.
South Australian coach Craig Victory said he was pleased his team secured some points from round one but the Suns will need to be sharper in round two.
“We have plenty of work to do for round two, we need to be more ruthless in attack,” Victory said.
“There were many missed opportunities in attack today, but there was some great keeping on display by the Pearls’ Barbara Weinberg,” he said.
Northern Territory assistant coach Melissa Hall said the Pearls were disappointed with the result and will need to work hard on improving their attack and defence ahead of round two.
“We were in the game for a long time and it is a disappointing result,” Hall said.
“Improving our conversion rate for round two will be crucial. We are giving away too many opportunities and not getting enough ourselves,” she said.
Round 1 of the AHL has been played by Western Australia, the Northen Territory, South Australia and Queensland at Ipswich in Queensland, and by the the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania in Hobart, Tasmania.
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.
For further details and results from matches played in Tasmania log on to Hockey Australia
Saturday May 8, 2010 - Ipswich, Queensland
Blyth leads Queensland to victory despite strong performance by Northern Territory
Queensland 7 Northern Territory 1 (3-0 half time)
Goals - QLD Korner 12m FG, Schulz 18m PS, Blyth 23rd FG, Eiser 40m PS, Blyth 43m FG, Dwyer 45m FG, Johnson 47m FG NT Langham 56m PC
Hockeyroos captain Madonna Blyth led her state team the OAMPS Queensland Scorchers to victory today when they defeated the Darwin Airport Resort Territory Pearls 7-1 on Day 2 of the Australian Hockey League.
Blyth was one of the best players on the field in a game that saw both teams perform well in defence.
Pearls' keeper Barbara Weinberg prevented Queensland from converting any of the eight penalty corners in the first half and denied the Scorchers numerous shots on goal throughout the match.
Playing for her adopted Northern Territory team, Queensland resident Tammy Eiser also performed well for the Pearls against one of Queensland's best defensive weapons Teneal Attard.
OAMPS Queensland Scorchers coach Margaret Dilger said the team is getting better and improving with each game.
"We had a good game but missed a lot of opportunities so the key is to learn from our mistakes and continue to build with each game," Dilger said.
"The girls are looking forward to what promises to be a challenging game against WA tomorrow," she said.
The Darwin Airport Resort Territory Pearls Assistant Coach Melissa Hall believes that changes towards the end of the game had a positive impact on the team's performance, albeit too late to change the end result.
"Although we were disappointed to concede seven goals, the girls turned things around in the last 17 minutes by stopping the flow of goals and getting one back," she said.
Diamonds prevent Suns from shining at Australian Hockey League
Smokefree WA Diamonds 5 OAMPS Southern Suns 0 (2-0 half time)
Goals – WA Nelson (Ashleigh) 5m FG, Taylor 26m PC, Nelson (Sian) 38m PC, Eglington 54m FG, Nelson (Sian) 67m FG
Despite being strong in attack, the OAMPS Southern Suns were unable to outshine their Western Australian rivals when they went down 5-0 this evening on Day 2 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 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 OAMPS Southern Suns’ Round 1 challenge will be against the Darwin Airport Resort Territory Pearls at the Ipswich Hockey Complex at 10am tomorrow, Sunday May 9.
The SmokeFree WA Diamonds will play their last Round 1 clash against the OAMPS Queensland Scorchers at the Ipswich Hockey Complex tomorrow at 12pm
For further details and results from matches played in Tasmania log on to Hockey Australia
Friday May 7, 2010 - Ipswich, Queensland
Queensland 4 South Australia 2 (3-0 half time)
QLD Holcroft 4m FG / Holcroft 68m PC, Hudson 30m FG, Holzberger 34m PC
SA Cibich 39m FG, Reynolds 60m FG
The OAMPS Queensland Scorchers defeated the OAMPS Southern Suns 4-2 in game one of round one of the 2010 Women’s Australian Hockey League at the Ipswich Hockey Complex in Queensland tonight.
Scorchers’ striker Tegan Holcroft was dominant in attack tonight netting two goals for Queensland in their opening game of this year’s tournament.
Queensland striker Marnie Hudson scored a field goal for the home side in the 30th minute before local Ipswich player and Queensland Under 18 Women’s captain Jordyn Holzberger secured a three goal lead for the Scorchers in the 34th minute.
The Suns however responded strongly to Queensland's persistent attack with Jessica Cibich scoring a field goal for South Australia in the 39th minute and striker Tess Reynolds matching this effort with a field goal in the 60th minute.
OAMPS Queensland Scorchers coach Margaret Dilger said game one was a really good hit out between two competitive teams.
“I was happy with the result tonight and the example which players such as Madonna Blyth and Teneal Attard provided younger players,” Dilger said.
“All our four debutants played well, particularly Sophie Nottle at the back,” she said.
Stand out players for South Australia included 2010 Hockeyroo Squad member Elise Stacy, defender Clarissa Eshuis and striker Tess Reynolds.
The OAMPS Queensland Scorchers’ next Round 1 challenge will be against the Darwin Airport Resort Territory Pearls at the Ipswich Hockey Complex at 2pm tomorrow, Saturday May 8.
The OAMPS Southern Suns will next come up against the SmokeFree WA Diamonds at the Ipswich Hockey Complex tomorrow at 4.30pm.
SmokeFree WA Diamonds 3 Darwin Airport Resort Territory Pearls 0 (2-0 half time)
Goals - WA Nelson S. 9m FG, Ciallella 28m FG, Boyce 61 min PC
The SmokeFree WA Diamonds defeated the Darwin Airport Resort Territory Pearls 3-0 in game one of round one of the 2010 Women's Australian Hockey League at the Ipswich Hockey Complex in Queensland tonight.
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 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.
The SmokeFree WA Diamonds will next come up against the OAMPS Southern Suns at the Ipswich Hockey Complex tomorrow at 4.30pm.
The Ipswich Hockey Complex is located at 65 Briggs Road, Raceview, entry is a gold coin donation. We hope to see you there.
For further details and results from matches played in Tasmania log on to Hockey Australia
