The NSW Arrows have gone through the 2009 Women’s Australian Hockey League (AHL) tournament undefeated claiming victory over a gallant OAMPS Queensland Scorchers team to win the 2009 AHL Grand Final.
The victory is NSW’s first since 2002, ending the SmokeFree WA Diamonds’s stranglehold over the competition having won the last three championships.
Despite NSW going into the match as favorites,
However the NSW team, filled with Hockeyroos such as Fiona Johnson, Casey Eastham, Bec Sanders, Megan Rivers and Kate Hollywood, never panicked and managed to work their way back on top of Queensland to gain the lead.
Despite the loss
In today’s other results, the SmokeFree WA Diamonds salvaged something for the Finals Week, overcoming an impressive Canberra Strikers team to finish third.
Having won the last three championships the Diamonds would have been disappointed not to have qualified for the Grand Final.
Despite entering the Finals Week undefeated, their invincibility seemingly wore off as the week progressed, with the defending champions dropping their round 7 and Semi Final matches, giving them no chance of qualifying for the Grand Final.
Regardless, the Diamonds put their best foot forward against the Strikers today. However despite the score line, it wasn’t an easy victory for the Diamonds, with the Strikers defense again showing they are capable of shutting down quality opposition.
This resulted in a goalless first half, with the trend continuing on in the early stages of the second half.
Despite the gritty determination of the Strikers, the Diamonds’ class eventually shone through, with up and comer Jemma Buckley breaking the deadlock at the 53 minute mark.
Once again WA captain Kobie McGurk lead from the front, converting WA’s second goal only minutes later to secure the win.
Despite the loss, the Strikers will be content with their form during the Finals Week which saw them take it up to some of the top teams. They will no doubt hope to build on this momentum throughout next year’s competition.
The Victorian Vipers were determined to prove they were the best team outside the top four and did nothing to question their belief after they controlled their match against the Southern Suns to finish in 5th place.
Taking in a three goal lead at half time, the Suns hit back early in the second half, scoring at the 41 minute mark to keep themselves in the game.
However this only motivated the Vipers further, scoring twice more to put the result beyond doubt.
The Suns scored the last goal of the match at the 66 minute mark to make the scoreboard look a bit more respectable, but they were outclassed by the Vipers today and finished the tournament in 6th place.
In a rematch from Thursday’s Round 7 match, the NT Pearls managed to avoid finishing in 8th place when they recorded a hard fought victory over the Tasmanian Van Demons.
Once again playing without a goalkeeper due to an injury suffered earlier in the week, the Van Demons were vulnerable around goal and the Pearls made them pay early, scoring the first two goals of the match.
The Van Demons showed tremendous courage to score two late goals within the last eight minutes to force the game into extra time.
However they were always going to be disadvantaged playing without a goalkeeper and the Pearls eventually ran out winners, recording only their second victory of the tournament to finish in 7th place.
Final Women’s AHL:
NSW Arrows – QLD Scorchers 5-3
Goals:
NSW – Eastham 11 PC, Harris 27 FG, Hurtz 41 FG/58 FG, Rivers 46 FG.
QLD – Schulz 12 PC/22 PC/37 PC.
2009 Women's AHL Final Standings:
1. NSW Arrows
2. OAMPS
3. SmokeFree WA Diamonds
4.
5. Victorian Vipers
6. Southern Suns
7. NT Pearls
8. Tasmanian Van Demons
Source: Hockey
