Country Challenge Day 3: WA men score impressive first win but WA women’s semi hopes are all but ended

Victoria strengthened their claims on a semi-final berth in the men’s division after a thumping five-goal win on day three of the Hockey Australia Country Challenge in Albany. Three goals in the opening term of the Monday fixture set the tone for Victoria as they went on to score their first win of the tournament. Evan Douglas, Lachlan Hansford and Keeley Butler-Kerridge all found the back of the net in the first quarter. Victoria extended their lead to 4-0 when Max Ferrier converted a penalty corner conversion in the 18th minute. The ADF defence was under constant pressure but they managed to pinch a goal back early in the fourth quarter when Antony Doolan netted a field goal. Victoria were not done with yet however as Noah Erdeljac added a fifth goal for his side and then Douglas helped himself to a brace in the final moments to seal a thumping 6-1 win. The win came as captain Cale Rout celebrated his 50th cap for Victoria. Victoria sit in fourth place on the standings with four points from three matches ahead of games against South Australia and Queensland. WA have notched their first win after coming from behind to emerge as 2-1 victors against Queensland in their men’s match on Monday night. WA were under pressure early and goalkeeper Jason Vuletich was forced to make two terrific saves from penalty corners. However a blistering run and tomahawk finish from Queensland’s Noah Gauci put the WA side on the back foot early. WA’s Jarrod Booth missed two early opportunities early in the second term but bobbed up at the back post to put through his third attempt, levelling the scores. WA continued to press but couldn’t convert from two penalty corners late in the second quarter. Queensland had plenty of the play in the third quarter but WA captain Darren Parkes did well to repel the opposition’s attacking drive. After a see-sawing start to the fourth quarter, Brayden Dalton fired home a terrific long-range field goal in the 49th minute in front of the vocal home crowd. Queensland were awarded a penalty corner shortly after but Vuletich once again made a brilliant save to help his side hold on for a thrilling victory. Dalton was a big presence in the contest while Parkes held firm in the back half to help bolster WA’s chances of reaching a semi-final, sitting in fifth place but only two points adrift of the top team. New South Wales crushed SA earlier in the day as prolific scorer Brandan Horner netted his second hat-trick of the tournament. Horner opened the scoring in the seventh minute and then added goals in the third and fourth quarters as NSW finished emphatic 5-0 winners. The win moved NSW to six points, level with the ADF and Queensland after three qualifying games. In the women’s competition NSW are the early pacesetters after winning a third straight game on Monday. An early Laura Watts goal put NSW on top but SA fought back and defended particularly well. NSW won eight penalty corners for the game and Caitlyn Low converted one of those in the third term, helping her side claim a 2-0 triumph. WA’s chances of securing a semi-final spot are all but over after a Tinesha Carey hat-trick powered Queensland to a 5-1 victory. Carey struck first for Queensland in the 17th minute before Zali Spencer answered back immediately, scoring from a penalty corner. However Carey added two more goals in the 30th and 33rd minutes and then Hayley Buchanan and Majella Barnes joined the party, scoring the final two goals of the game to hand WA their third straight defeat. Goalkeeper Bonnie Crook made several impressive saves for the losing side. A dominant opening term from Victoria helped them defeat the ADF and record a second win of the Challenge. A penalty corner conversion in the first minute from Merryn Coffey was the perfect start for Victoria, who led 3-0 at quarter-time. Riley Smith and Paula Grover-Johnson pegged goals back for the ADF but they fell short in the end, Victoria prevailing 3-2.