The SmokeFree WA Diamonds have won back-to-back Australian Hockey League (AHL) titles after defeating the Queensland Scorchers 2-1 in Brisbane on Sunday.
Playing in the final together for the third year in a row the Scorchers were keen to reverse last year's result and take back the title, however, the Diamonds made the most of their opportunities and came away with the win despite Queensland controlling most of the ball in the second half.
The Scorchers will rue their six second half penalty corners and their inability to find a way past Kate Hubble, the Diamonds' keeper's performance today was outstanding, throwing herself around the box and blocking everything that came her way.
The win was the Diamonds' third in four years and took the Queensland Scorchers' final ratio to two wins eight losses.
In earlier matches, the Victoria Vipers accounted for the NSW Arrows, their 2-1 win giving them third place, while Peta Gallagher showed her worth for the Strikers in the play-off for fifth, her second consecutive hat-trick of goals giving them a 3-1 win over the Van Demons, while the Pearls' late goal gave them seventh place and handed the Adelaide Suns the wooden spoon.
Results
Paspaley Territory Pearls 1 Adelaide Suns 0
Pearls - Emily PERIS 67m FG
Canberra Labour Club Strikers 3 Wrest Point Van Demons 1
Strikers - Peta GALLAGHER 11m/25m/ 44m FG; Van Demons - Sofie McLEOD 55m PC
Victoria Vipers 2 NSW Arrows 1
Vipers - Renee TROST 25m FG, Denise DURAJSKI 50m PC; Arrows - Rebecca SANDERS 17m PC
SmokeFree WA Diamonds 2 Queensland Scorchers 1
Diamonds - Emily HALLIDAY 10m PC, Ashleigh NELSON 37m FG; Scorchers - Angie LAMBERT 21m PC
Final Standings
1. SmokeFree WA Diamonds
2. Queensland Scorchers
3. Victoria Vipers
4. NSW Arrows
5. Canberra Labour Club Strikers
6. Wrest Point Van Demons
7. Paspaley Territory Pearls
8. Adelaide Suns
Source: Hockey Australia.
