The Rachel Divall-led NSW Blues have taken out the 2018 Under 21 Women's Indoor National Championship in Gouburn with a 6-1 win over Victoria on Friday, and players from the Central West led the way.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Leading goal-scorer Kiara Marsh got the Blues off to a solid start in the 10th minute when she found the back of the net, and Taylor Thompson scored again just a minute later.
Orange’s Divall – who plays with Confederates Hockey Club – hit the scoreboard in the 16th minute, sending the half-time score to 3-0.
Bathurst’s Sarah Watterson, former Dubbo-based player Emma Corcoran and Orange Ex Services’ Hockey Club’s Chloe Barrett all added goals in the second half to leave Victoria down 6-0.
Only a consolation goal in overtime to Carly James gave Victoria any comfort.
It was sweet revenge for the Blues, who had suffered their only loss of the championships at the hands of Victoria on Thursday night in the semi-final.
The Blues went down 2-1, and defeated WA 6-0 in the preliminary final on the back of two goals each to Watterson and Marsh and one to Divall.
“I think we turned up to win, we wanted it, we were after it today,” Bathurst-based Watterson said.
“It was amazing, especially because they got rid of their goalie early on, so they played six players on the field and played quite aggressively.
“Last night we played a bit too much as individuals, but we gathered as a team, we had a great dinner and that gave us back that focus.”
The win marked the 21-year-old’s third and final national under 21s indoor title after competing in 2016 and 2017. “It was a great way to finish it off,” she said.
Max Stainkamph
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
