Semifinal hopes over but WA women record impressive win over SA in Hockey Australia Country Challenge

WA have finished their qualifying games with a win but they will not feature in the semifinals of the women’s competition at the Hockey Australia Country Challenge in Albany. Four straight losses to start the national tournament ended WA’s hopes of title glory on home turf, however, they bounced back strongly on Wednesday morning to secure their first win. A 3-0 defeat to New South Wales on Tuesday night officially ended WA’s semifinal hopes but they finished their pool games on a positive note, downing South Australia 4-2. A two-goal first quarter was the catalyst for the WA triumph. Lauren Newman scored in the fifth minute before Bella Connelly capped a dominant first period for the hosts, converting a penalty corner in the 14th minute. SA were buoyed at the start of the second term, with Chloe Boylan scoring her team’s first goal of the tournament in the 16th minute. But 22-year-old WA midfielder and Lower Great Southern representative Zali Spencer answered with two field goal conversions in the 23rd and 40th minute to put the result beyond doubt. SA finished the game strongly, with Dana Jones finding the back of the net from a penalty corner in the last minute of the game but it was too late. The win means WA will officially finish fifth with SA set to finish sixth. The two sides will now meet again in Friday’s fifth and sixth play-off at 7pm. WA were defeated by tournament leaders NSW on Tuesday night, conceding three second-half goals in a 3-0 defeat. NSW had all of the play early but were unable to convert and the hosts were put under more pressure in the second term, conceding three penalty corners in the space of five minutes, but they defended well. Amelia Leard broke through for NSW five minutes into the second half, fizzing through a calmly taken penalty corner. NSW striker Sarah White came to life in the last term, firing home two superb goals to help NSW remain undefeated. On Monday night WA suffered a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Queensland with Spencer scoring an 18th-minute penalty corner. Queensland’s Tinesha Carey was the star, netting a hat-trick.