Adelaide Fire, Canberra Chill and HC Melbourne all enjoyed wins in the first round of the Sultana Bran Hockey One League 2019 Season, as Australia’s new reimagined national hockey league took centre stage.
There were 28 goals scored across the six (three women’s and three men’s) matches as Sydney, Canberra and Perth hosted the first round of double headers.
In the women’s competition, Adelaide Fire sent an early statement as they defeated NSW Pride 2-1 at the Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre. Karri McMahon scored the first ever goal of the Sultana Bran Hockey One League in the 34th minute but the lead lasted barely a minute as Alice Arnott equalised for the hosts. However, Miki Spano’s strike with four minutes to go in the third quarter proved the winner.
The Sultana Bran Hockey One League’s first match to be decided by a penalty shootout came in the nation’s capital as the Canberra Chill edged out the Brisbane Blaze 3-2 on penalties after scores were locked 2-2 at the end of regulation time.
Naomi Evans and Rosie Malone found the back of the net for their respective teams, and both then managed to score the extra goal from their subsequent one-on-one shootout with the keeper, which is one of the exciting new initiatives that has been introduced for the competition (when a field goal or penalty stroke is scored during a match, the same player will get to have an automatic one-on-one shootout with the goalkeeper for the chance to score an extra goal).
HC Melbourne were the other Round 1 winners on the women’s side as they recorded a 3-1 win over the Perth Thundersticks in Perth. Captain Claire Messant gave HC Melbourne an early lead before Shanea Tonkin tied it up at 1-1 just before half time.
In a tense finale, Madi Ratcliffe was the hero for the Victorians as she struck in the final minute and then converted her one-on-one with the keeper to make the final score 3-1.
Every match of the Sultana Bran Hockey One League 2019 Season is LIVE and exclusive on Kayo. Tickets for all matches are available through Ticketek.
Sultana Bran Hockey One 2019 Season – Round 1 Results
Women’s Competition
NSW Pride 1 (Arnott 35’)
Adelaide Fire 2 (McMahon 34’, Spano 41’)
Sunday 29 September 2019
Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre (NSW)
NSW Pride Women’s team: 2.Sarah Johnston, 12.Mikaela Patterson, 14.Kaitlin Nobbs, 19.Morgan Blamey, 20.Maddison Smith, 21.Alice Arnott, 22.Kate Jenner (c), 23.Abby Wilson, 24.Mariah Williams, 27.Renae Robinson, 28.Casey Sablowski, 29.Courtney Schonell, 30.Jocelyn Bartram (GK), 31.Emma Spinks
Adelaide Fire Women’s team: 1.Linzi Appleyard, 3.Brooklyn Buchecker, 6.Jane Claxton, 7.Emma de Broughe, 8.Holly Evans (c), 13.Sarah Harrison, 15.Euleena Maclachlan, 17.Karri McMahon, 19.Gabi Nance, 20.Hattie Shand, 21.Miki Spano, 23.Gemma McCaw, 25.Kate Denning, 28.Amy Hammond (GK)
Canberra Chill 2 (3) (Evans 53’/53’)
Brisbane Blaze 2 (2) (Malone 43’/43’)
Canberra Chill win 3-2 on penalties
Sunday 29 September 2019
National Hockey Centre (ACT)
Canberra Chill Women’s team: 3.Brooke Peris, 4.Jess Smith, 7.Naomi Evans, 9.Sassie Economos, 10.Rebecca Lee, 11.Sophie Gaughan, 13.Edwina Bone (c), 15.Yui Ishibashi, 16.Shihori Oikawa, 17.Beckie Middleton, 19.Anna Flanagan, 23.Kalindi Commerford, 27.Meredith Bone, 31.Sakiyo Asano (GK)
Brisbane Blaze Women’s team: 1.Savannah Fitzpatrick, 2.Madison Fitzpatrick, 3.Layla Eleison, 4.Ashlea Fey, 5.Rosie Malone, 6.Morgan Gallagher, 7.Jodie Kenny (c), 8.Jordyn Holzberger, 14.Meg Pearce, 15.Hannah Astbury (GK), 19.Morgan Mathison, 21.Renee Taylor, 22.Britt Wilkinson, 25.Georgia Hillas
Perth Thundersticks 1 (Tonkin 26’)
HC Melbourne 3 (Messent 5’, Ratcliffe 60’/60’)
Sunday 29 September 2019
Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University (WA)
Perth Thundersticks Women’s team: 3.Candyce Peacock, 4.Jemma Buckley (c), 6.Jacqui Day, 8.Georgia Wilson, 9.Shanea Tonkin, 11.Rachel Frusher, 14.Roos Broek, 15.Caitlin Pascov, 16.Karri Somerville, 17.Annie Gibbs, 18.Renee Rockliff, 19.Aleisha Power (GK), 29.Agueda Moroni, 30.Chloe Pendlebury
HC Melbourne Women’s team: 1.Sophie Taylor, 5.Krissy Bates, 6.Claire Messent (c), 7.Kary Chau, 8.Olivia Colasurdo, 9.Lily Brazel, 10.Laura Desmet, 14.Laura Barden, 21.Florine van Grimbergen, 22.Madi Ratcliffe, 23.Sam Snow, 25.Hannah Gravenall, 27.Rachael Lynch (GK), 33.Amy Lawton