Final Standings 1. Queensland *Champions* 2. Western Australia 3. New South Wales 4. Australian Capital Territory 5. Victoria 6. South Australia 7. Tasmania 8. Northern Territory Player of the Tournament: Eddie Ockenden (TAS) Top goal scorer: Aaron Kershaw (ACT), Mark Paterson (NSW) 5 goals Goalkeeper of the T’ment: Andrew Charter (ACT) Play by the Whistle: South Australia 7th/8th Place Playoff WA 2 def SA 1 WA goals: Craig Boyne 15m FG, Frank Main 61m FG SA goals: Tom Wickham 50m FG The WA Thundersticks finally broke the drought and scored their first win of the 2013 AHL championships. The SA Hotshots yet again finished the tournament in last place but were denied by a hungrier WA Thundersticks that made their opportunities count. The early minutes of the first half was evenly spread by both sides. The end to end play saw WA have more opportunities to score but they were unable to due to the SA defending formation. To counter the Hotshots cluster in the middle of their defence the Thundersticks switched the play deep in attack by lob passes. This tactic enabled the WA attackers to stretch the SA defense and then enter the circle knowing there was space to work in. This allowed WA to score thanks to the space created. Craig Boyne scored the first goal of the game and the Thundersticks looked intent on maintaining their lead into the halftime break. Awarded four penalty corners for the half, WA were doing all the attacking as SA were wasteful in possession. After the halftime break WA continued to attack fiercely but early in the second half they were not rewarded on the scoreboard. SA launched a smart counter attack with many players moving around and creating options. Unopposed on the post Tom Wickham scored to level the score and make the remaining 20 minutes very intriguing. Instead of relying on attacking from the wing WA centered their play and a shot was easily deflected into the goals from the post by Frank Main. Scores were now 2 – 1 to the Thundersticks. SA continued to surge forward and try and draw the game but were denied on a number of occasions in the final five minutes by a solid WA defence. WA Thundersticks finish the 2013 AHL championships in seventh spot and the SA Hotshots finish in eighth position.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Oct 2013 00:11:03 +0000
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