Star Queensland pair Grant Dilger and Eva Kersnovske named players of the tournament

Queensland clean swept the major awards at the Hockey Australia Country Challenge that wrapped up in Albany on Saturday. After winning gold medals in both the men’s and women’s divisions of the national championships, Queensland also had the best male and female player across the week-long competition and the two leading goal scorers. Captain Grant Dilger was recognised as the men’s player of the tournament while midfielder Eva Kersnovske was named the women’s player of the tournament. Dilger was superb at full back for his team and said he was just happy they broke through for a gold medal. “It was a shock to be honest (winning player of the tournament),” the 30-year-old said. “All the Queensland boys shared it around, no one really stood out, it was a good team effort, my name got pulled out of the hat I guess. “I’m very proud because you put in a lot of effort training wise and game wise to get yourself in the right frame of mind for this tournament. “It is always good to let the boys know I’m there in defence being the safety net, as a defender you are the first point of attack in giving out quality balls and really setting it up.” Dilger is a member of Commercials Hockey Club in Townsville and was playing in his sixth national country championships. “We started so unbelievable,” he said. “Our strikers did an amazing job in the first half to really set it up and I thought our backs really brought us home, nice and solid and gave out nice clear balls. “Unreal, a 5-0 win for a final.” Kersnovske had a terrific impact in central midfield as Queensland claimed a fourth straight women’s gold medal. The 34-year-old has played in the last three carnivals for her State and said it was an unreal feeling to win the prestigious individual honour. “I was shocked but it’s such an easy team to play with we play such a team game,” Kersnovske said. “We throw it around, there is no standouts, but it’s easy to play good hockey with good kids around you. I usually play as a striker in this team and it was a bit of shock to be thrown in centre mid. I just embraced it, tried to support strikers and the backs being that link for the team.” Kernovske is originally from Maroochydore but now lives on the Sunshine Coast where she plays for the Nambour Demons. Talented striker Tinesha Carey won the women’s leading goal scorer award after a wonderful week in Albany. Carey finished with 10 goals, including a hat-trick against WA, but suffered a broken arm in the gold medal match. Elusive forward Joshua McPaul was the men’s leading goal scorer, finding the net seven times in the first six games of the tournament. McPaul netted doubles in three matches during the championships to beat teammate Noah Gauci, New South Wales’ Brandan Horner and WA star Brayden Dalton. Host the Lower Great Southern Hockey Association was also recognised for its efforts in running the Country Challenge and main organiser Laura Archer received a service to country hockey medal for her tireless efforts in making the event happen. NSW and Australian Defence Force won the Play The Whistle Award in the women’s and men’s divisions respectively.