Country Challenge Day 4: WA men record second straight win and NSW women stay unbeaten at Country Challenge

WA are storming towards the semifinals in the men’s division of the Hockey Australia Country Challenge after turning their campaign around in the last two days in Albany. After failing to register a victory in their first two games, WA have bounced back to win two consecutive games and move into third place on the standings, two points adrift of top side Queensland after day four. WA once again came from behind to snatch all three points in a thrilling clash with New South Wales on Tuesday. NSW had the early momentum and a calmly converted field goal courtesy of Oliver McGill forced WA on to the back foot in the first quarter. WA goalkeeper Heath Cremasco prevented NSW from doubling their advantage in the second quarter, pushing away a field goal attempt in the 24th minute. Cremasco made another important save at the back post in the third quarter before WA won a penalty corner with four minutes left to play. WA kept pressing and midfielder Brodie Sarre emerged to level scores, giving the hosts a much needed boost of momentum. NSW had two penalty corner attempts in the dying stages of the quarter and found the back of the net from their second effort. However the goal was disallowed by the officials and teams went into the last break locked at 1-1. WA earned two consecutive penalty corners in the last term and NSW goalkeeper David Reid tried valiantly to keep the ball out of the net with a terrific save. However Brayden Dalton arrived on the rebound to put the hosts up 2-1 with less than 10 minutes to play. Dalton was yellow carded and a WA turnover in midfield almost cost them a goal at the death. A NSW penalty corner in 58th minute made for some tense moments in the final stages but WA held firm to repel the attempt and record a crucial win 2-1. The host State will now face the winless South Australia on Wednesday at 10.45am in a bid to secure a semifinal berth. In the other men’s matches on day four, Victoria recorded a thumping 7-0 win over SA. Max Ferrier continued his strong national championships with a hat-trick, all of which came in a dominant second term. Victoria led 1-0 at quarter time but Ferrier’s three goals and a strike from Liam Nelson-Kerr put them up by four goals at the long break. Queensland moved to the top of the standings after prevailing 3-1 over the Australian Defence Force. Noah Gauci scored in the first minute before Drew Wenzel and Joshua McPaul handed NSW their third win of the campaign. WA’s slim hopes of a semifinal berth in the women’s competition were officially ended on Tuesday after suffering a fourth straight loss. They have missed out on a berth in the top four and will feature in Friday’s fifth and sixth play-off against SA, who they play on Wednesday in their final qualifying game. NSW had all of the play early but weren’t able 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, beating WA 3-0. Earlier on day four Victoria finished 3-0 winners over SA courtesy of a double from the classy Pippa Best. Best converted two penalty corners in the third and fourth periods as Victoria won a third game and set up a showdown with Queensland on Wednesday to determine who will finish higher on the standings. Queensland rounded out the action on Tuesday night with a 3-1 triumph over the ADF, as Tinesha Carey netted a double to put her side into second on the standings with nine points and a superior goal difference over Victoria.