Queensland down previously unbeaten NSW to win women’s gold medal at Hockey Australia Country Challenge

Queensland have claimed a fourth straight women’s gold medal, beating fierce rivals New South Wales on the final day of the Hockey Australia Country Challenge in Albany on Saturday. NSW went into the decider having won all five of their qualifying games and Friday’s semifinal but a second-quarter strike from Queensland’s Brooke Thompson proved the difference in the gold medal match. After a scoreless opening term Queensland had the sole penalty corner of the second quarter and it resulted in the game’s only goal. An initial shot was blocked by Sarah White but Queensland earned another crack at the penalty corner and Thompson pounced, squeezing the ball past the NSW defence to put her side ahead. Star Queensland striker Tinesha Carey copped a ball to the forearm soon afterwards, resulting in a broken arm. She played no further part in the game but her side nearly doubled their advantage through Hayley Buchanan soon afterwards. NSW pressed hard after half-time to find an equaliser and they had two penalty corner chances in the third, the second of which sailed just wide of the goal. The sole penalty corner of the frantic final quarter was snuffed out by a defiant Queensland defence, and NSW brought their keeper off in the dying minutes to get an extra field player and push for that elusive goal, but Queensland prevailed 1-0. Queensland’s Eva Kersnovske was superb in the gold medal triumph and well supported by captain Sammi Morris and Jessica Wilkinson. There were nine first-year players in Queensland’s winning side and coach Elke Swain said the result was reward for effort. “We knew it would be a tough game but as long as we stuck to our game plan we knew we could win,” she said. “We had to score early. “The girls did a great job up front and got that goal. “Tinesha was having a blinder until she got hurt, Eva had a great game in the middle and Sammi (Morris) at the back ... we had a great spine. “That is four in a row. I’ve been there for all four and we’ve just picked really good sides, and it showed again today.” White was terrific in defeat for NSW and well supported by the hardworking Lucy Frame, while Caitlyn Low did some good things and captain Tamika Potter was rock-solid in defence.