AHL Finals Week

Women’s Australian Hockey League – Finals Day

Grand Final
SmokeFree WA Diamonds 3 OAMPS Queensland Scorchers 1 (1-1 half time)

Goals – Madonna Blyth (QLD) 14m PC, Lisa Eglington (WA) 33m FG, Kobie McGurk (WA) 56m PC, Ashleigh Nelson (WA) 64m FG

The SmokeFree WA Diamonds are the Australian Hockey League champions once again after defeating the OAMPS Queensland Scorchers 3-1 today in the grand final in Adelaide.

The win is WA’s fourth title in six years, while for Queensland it is heartbreakingly their fifth successive loss in the AHL grand final. With Queensland entering the match as slight favourites, things began according to plan when captain Madonna Blyth scored at the 14 minute mark to set up an early lead.

However showing the trademark of a good team, WA remained in the contest, drawing level following a penalty corner conversion by Lisa Eglington just prior to half time.

As the clock ran down in the second half the match seemed destined to go to extra time, however when WA were awarded a penalty corner much to the dismay of Queensland captain Madonna Blyth, they made the most of their opportunity and grabbed the lead for the first time in the match thanks to star defender Kobie McGurk.

With plenty of time still remaining Queensland threw everything they had at WA to get themselves back in the game. However an impressive goal against the run of play to Ashleigh Nelson with only six minutes remaining, her ninth for the tournament, sealed the victory for WA.

2010 Player of the series – Madonna Blyth (Qld)
2010 Player of the finals – Ashleigh Nelson (WA)
2010 Leading goal scorer – Ashleigh Nelson (WA) – 9 goals

3rd v 4th playoff
NSW 1 Victoria 0 (0-0 half time)
Goals – Kate Jenner (NSW) 76M pc (Golden Goal)

The NSW Arrows have finished third at the 2010 Women’s Australian Hockey League tournament, defeating Victoria by scoring in the golden goal period in Adelaide today.

5th v 6th playoff
OAMPS Southern Suns 1 Canberra Strikers 1 (0-0 half time)
OAMPS Southern Suns win penalty strokes 4-2
Goals – Tess Reynolds (SA0 39m FG, Leesa McDonald (ACT) 57m PC

The OAMPS Southern Suns have finished 5th at the Women’s Australian Hockey League, defeating the Canberra Strikers in penalty strokes today in Adelaide.

7th v 8th playoff
Tasmanian Wrest Point Van Demons 3 Darwin Airport Resort Territory Pearls 0 (1-0 half time)
Goals – Nicole Geeves 21m PC, Emily Parker 59m FG, Nina Khoury 69m PC

Tasmania has recorded their first victory at the Australian Hockey League today in Adelaide, defeating the Darwin Airport Resort Territory Pearls 3-0 in the 7th-8th placed playoff.

Queensland play Western Australia at 3:00pm (3:30 Queensland time)

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Victorian Vipers 1 SmokeFree WA Diamonds 0 (1-0 half time)
Goals – Messent (VIC) FG 16m

The 1-0 win saw Victoria finish on the same points as WA on the Pool A points table, however a superior goal difference to WA allowed the Diamonds to finish on top and book their spot in tomorrow’s final.

The Vipers will now play NSW tomorrow for third place, while the Diamonds will play the Scorchers.

Knowing they needed to win by at least two goals to make the Final, Victoria started strongly and appeared on target when Hockeyroo striker Claire Messent scored at the 16 minute mark.

Despite trailing on the scoreboard WA remained calm and continued to work the ball into their attacking area with Fiona Boyce a key player in the first half.

Despite several attempts WA could not find an equaliser in the first half, giving Victoria a 1 goal half time lead.

The Vics were desperate to score again however WA were equally up to the task, and if not for some great goalkeeping from Rachael Lynch would have recorded their first goal.

In the dying minutes Victoria threw everything at WA to get their second goal, but it wasn’t to be with WA qualifying for the Final despite the loss.

For detailed results and other games click onto the Hockey Australia website

OAMPS Queensland Scorchers 4 def OAMPS Southern Suns 0 (1-0 Half Time)
Goals: QLD – Blyth 18m FG, 63m FG, Dwyer 50m PC, Attard 52m FG

There was a lively start to the match between the OAMPS Queensland Scorchers and the OAMPS Southern Suns.  Both teams looked focussed and up for the battle.  Fast flowing hockey was the theme for the first fifteen minutes of the game.

At the 18th minute mark the Scorchers posted their first score following a great ball from Amy Korner to Marnie Hudson resulting in a field goal for Madonna Blyth.

From that moment Queensland dominated with the Suns unable to hold the ball for any length of time. The half time break offered them the chance to re-group.

Goal number two to the Scorchers followed with the Suns defence failing to hold back the Scochers and allowed Jill Dwyer to score.

Two minutes later Teneal Attard picked up a rebound neatly to put the Scorchers 3-0 up.

The Southern Suns goal keeper, Ashlee Wells was a standout player for her team but was unable to stop Madonna Blyth from taking the ball from outside the 25 yard line to finish off easily.

Both teams will now have a rest tomorrow and return on Friday for their last game before the finals day.  Queensland will play New South Wales on Friday, however regardless of the final score, the OAMPS Queensland Scorchers will be in the Grand Final on Saturday.

For detailed results and the draw for the cross overs and finals click on to  Hockey Australia's website.

SCORCHERS TOO HOT FOR VAN DEMONS
OAMPS Queensland Scorchers 4 Tasmanian Wrest Point Demons 0 (2-0 half time)
Goals:  QLD Schulz 29m PS, Attard 34m PC, Blyth 50m FG, Attard 54m FG

From the outset it was obvious that Queensland had nothing but winning on their minds and making amends from Sunday's loss to Victoria.   They had the early ascendency and all the early chances at scoring.

However it took until the 29th minute before they troubled the scorers.  Amy Korner stole the ball from the Tasmanian defence and worked it into the circle, a penalty stroke was awarded and Jodie Schulz had no trouble putting the ball past the goal keeper to give Queensland the lead.

Five minutes later Teneal Attard looped the ball over the Tasmanian goal keeper from a penalty corner hit.

Half time gave both teams time to gather their thoughts and return with determination.

Queensland dominated the start of the second half. Tasmania was unable to get the ball through the Scorchers defence and was continually under pressure from the wave of Queensland attacks, led by hard work from Jill Dwyer.

Madonna Blyth made it 3-0 at the 50 minute mark when she took a reverse stick shot and put the ball high into the net, out of the reach of Tasmanian goal keeper Harriet Moore.

Attard scored her second and Queensland's fourth goal for the match in the 54th minute.

For detailed results and the draw for the cross overs and finals click on to  Hockey Australia's website.

VIPERS STING SCORCHERS IN SECOND HALF

Victorian Vipers 3 def OAMPS Queensland Scorchers 0 (0-0 Half Time)
Goals: VIC - Berriman 45m PC, Nanscawen 53m PC, Chau 64m PS

The Victorian Vipers played top of the table OAMPS Queensland Scorchers in game 2 of round 7 in the Australian Hockey League today.

Queensland came out strong and had the better of the play in a hotly contested start to the game. The Scorchers were looking to maintain their top standing and they looked dangerous for the first 20 minutes of this game.

The highlight of the first half was the midfield battle between Hockeyroo representatives Madonna Blyth and Sarah O'Connor, with both players determined to get on top and gain the advantage for their team.

The first half concluded in a very exciting manner with Emma Pearce for the Vipers seeing her reverse stick shot come off the cross bar, and then, the Scorchers also hit the post off a penalty corner after the siren. Despite these attempts the score was still locked at
nil all heading to the break.

After half-time the Vipers were a lot more composed in their tackling and this allowed them to put sustained pressure on the Scorchers eventually earning them a penalty corner. This resulted in a great deflection goal by Megan Berriman giving the Vipers the lead ten minutes into the second half.

Less then ten minutes later the Vipers doubled their advantage after another set of three penalty corners resulted in Georgia Nanscawen scoring after a goal mouth scramble.

The Scorchers desperately tried to peg the goals back with Amy Korner and Marnie Hudson looking dangerous up front, however some consistent defending kept them at bay.

Kary Chau completed the victory for the Vipers, converting a penalty stroke with only six minutes to go after another great counter attack from her team.

Vipers coach Katie Allen said "The girls really improved their composure in tackling and also our pressing which was the key to the result" She was also pleased her team was able to absorb the pressure from the Scorchers in the first half and adjust after the break.

The teams have a rest day tomorrow and return on Tuesday 1st June when the tournament splits into two pools.

For full details results Hockey Australia

SCORCHERS PREVAIL IN WET WEATHER
OAMPS Queensland Scorchers 4 def Tasmanian Wrest Point Van Demons 0
(0-0 Half Time)

Goals: QLD - Korner 37m FG, Korner 55m FG; Blyth 65m FG; Schulz 68m PC

The OAMPS Queensland Scorchers and Tasmanian Wrest Point Van Demons kicked off Finals Week of the Australian Hockey League in cold wintery conditions at the Pines Hockey Stadium.

The Scorchers attacked for the majority of the first ten minutes, however failed to create good scoring chances.

Tasmania also had opportunities to put the ball in the net but also failed to capitalise.

Queensland kept the pressure on for the remainder of the first half but some great saves from the Tasmanian goal keeper, Harriet Moore, meant the scores remained level at half time.

The Scorchers started the second half with a lot more desire and were rewarded in the 37th minute with an Amy Korner goal set up by a fantastic run and pass from Marnie Hudson.

Another terrific run by Hudson, this time down the left side of the pitch, saw Korner once again on hand to finish strongly from the spot.

Two late goals to the Scorchers completed a dominant second half.

Queensland coach, Margaret Dilger, commented that her team had a great second half, after adapting to the cold conditions.

Tasmanian coach, Ilene Carr said "It was frustrating that we couldn't score. We matched them in the first half but needed to put away chances and didn't."

The Australian Hockey League continues all this week at the Pines Hockey Stadium culminating with the finals on Saturday 5th June.

The OAMPS Queensland Scorchers play the Victorian Vipers at 12 noon tomorrow and the Tasmanian Wrest Point Van Demons face the Darwin Airport Resort Territory Pearls in the late game at 4pm.

For full details results Hockey Australia