Country Challenge Day 2: WA men snatch a point while Queensland and ADF remain unbeaten in men’s division

WA have recorded their first point of the Hockey Australia Country Challenge after a tense 2-2 draw win Victoria in their men’s clash in Albany on Sunday afternoon. After an opening loss to the ADF on Saturday, WA were again on the back foot after early field goals from Noah Erdeljac and Evan Douglas put Victoria two goals up. WA began to link some passes together and were rewarded with a penalty corner two minutes after Victoria’s second goal. Lower Great Southern star Brodie Sarre made no mistake to leave WA trailing by a goal at half-time. WA continued to press and Sarre helped them equalise in the 34th minute, converting a second penalty corner. Both teams pressed for a winner in a pulsating final term but their defensive units held firm and the two sides finished with a point each. WA captain and Lower Great Southern gun Darren Parkes was outstanding in the draw, while Sarre’s two classy finishes helped keep his side’s semi-final hopes alive. Queensland and ADF are undefeated after two days of the men’s division, both notching impressive wins on Sunday. The ADF thumped South Australia 5-0 as Matthew Hurrell and Mitchell Bisson scored in the opening half. A penalty corner goal from Aaron Evans, a field goal from Nick Waters and then a 60th minute penalty corner goal from captain Shane Rudken sealed the ADF triumph. For the second straight day Queensland scored five goals, this time beating New South Wales 5-2. Queensland had six penalty corners and dominated possession as Noah Gauci and Joshua McPaul both netted braces for the winners, who scored three goals in the final quarter. In the women’s draw, WA’s hopes of securing a semi-final berth are slipping away after losing a second consecutive match. WA had their opportunities in the Sunday night clash against Victoria but Kari Gulson’s strike in the third quarter would be all that separated the two sides. In a real arm-wrestle, Gulson broke the deadlock in the 36th minute. WA pressed hard in the final term to get back on level terms but it was in vain. Beck Gallimore and Emma Storm were terrific for WA but they lost their second game of the tournament. The ADF and New South Wales are undefeated after two days, while Queensland and Victoria have three points each. ADF backed up from their impressive win over WA on the opening day with a 3-0 triumph against South Australia on Sunday. The game was put to bed by three-quarter time as Megan Phelan opened the scoring from a penalty corner and then a Samantha Stevens field goal doubled the ADF lead. Paula Grover-Johnson sealed the win with a 38th-minute penalty corner conversion. In the other day two fixture New South Wales, who were without day one hero Sarah White through injury, prevailed 1-0 in a hard-fought tussle with Queensland. Amelia Leard converted her side’s first penalty corner of the game to lift them to a second win. Monday’s games begin with South Australia facing off against New South Wales in the women’s competition at 9am. WA women will clash with Queensland at 5.15pm and the same two states play in the men’s draw at 7pm.