QLD WOMEN PRODUCE PROMISING START TO AUSTRALIAN HOCKEY LEAGUE

Determined not to finish national runners-up for a sixth year running, the OAMPS Queensland Scorchers came out firing in their round one matches of the 2011 Australian Hockey League played in Adelaide at the weekend.

The Scorchers defeated reigning national champions Western Australia 3-2 on Friday before defeating the Northern Territory convincingly 6-0 on Saturday, and being narrowly defeated 3-2 by South Australia on Sunday.

2010 Brisbane Women’s Hockey Association (BWHA) Player of the Year Jodie Schulz, who plays for Kedron-Wavell club, was a stand-out player for the Scorchers in round one with four goals.

Schulz is one of six Scorchers who were selected in the preliminary 2011 Hockeyroos Squad in January, and one of four Scorchers selected in the squad for the first time.

The Australian Hockey League is Australia’s premier women’s hockey tournament from which the annually selected Hockeyroos Squad is finalised.

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 will be out to do all they can to secure 2011 Hockeyroos selection, which will be a strong stepping stone to selection for the 2012 London Olympics.

The Scorchers will next play round two matches in Cairns over May 21 and 22 against New South Wales and Tasmania.

The Scorchers will then complete round matches with games against Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory at the start of Finals Week, to be held in Darwin between May 28 and June 3.