Ryde Players Shine at U18 Nationalsâ€
Two Ryde players, Alex Morrison and Rachel Divall, have just returned from Canberra where they represented NSW in the 2013
Be the Influence U18 Women’s National Hockey Championships.
Their
first game vs. TAS was controlled by NSW from the outset resulting in a
3-0 win with Alex scoring the first goal at the tournament for NSW in
her first National Championship and Rachel
some driving runs in to the circle. With temperatures of 3-10 degrees
throughout the fortnight the mandatory ice bath after the game was one
that sent chills running through the girls at the mere mention of the
word.
NSW also went on to beat NT 8-0, WA 4-1, SA 3-1, VIC 6-1, ACT 2-1 and
drew with QLD 2-2. NSW finished top of the table, with a stronger goal
difference to close rival QLD and in the semi-final on Friday 12th
July NSW resoundingly beat ACT to book
a berth in the Grand Final against QLD. In a nail biting grand final
it was even at 1-1 all with 5 minutes to go NSW put away the winning
goal and took out the National Championship. An ecstatic coaching team,
of Greg Doolan and Andrew Davy, both from Tamworth,
having finished 3rd last year where beaming at the medal presentation.
When interviewed by HockeyNSW Alex said the standard of hockey from all teams had been first class.
“Not
that I was surprised at all by how good the hockey has been, but the
tempo and standard has been really high†said the outside defender
following
NSW’s final qualification game. “All of the coaching staff and all the
girls are terrific and I feel like I’m learning new things all the
time. Every day that I’m here I feel like my game is improving and I’m
becoming more and more confident.â€
Photo: Left to right, Rachel Divall and Alex Morrison with National trophy and Alex (far left) in penalty corner set up
