By SQNLDR Steve Hancock
Interbase
Interbase Hockey
The 2008 Interbase Hockey Tournament was hosted by Ohakea from 21 - 25 July, with matches played at the twin turfs complex in Palmerston North.
The men’s competition saw teams from RNZAF Bases Auckland, Ohakea and Woodbourne/Wellington take part. Ohakea won the men’s round robin competition and defeated Auckland 3 - 0 to take out the Diebert Memorial Trophy; while runners up Auckland won the Molynoux Trophy, and the Noel Smart Trophy for sportsmanship.
The women’s competition saw Auckland and Ohakea play three games. Ohakea prevailed with 3 - 1, 2 – 1, 1 – 0 to win the WRNZAF Challenge Cup, and the RNZAF Hockey Cup for sportsmanship. Runners up Auckland won the Smudge Smyth Memorial Trophy.
Men’s player of the tournament was CPL Johan Harvey from Woodbourne, and the women’s was FLTLT Trish O’Neil from Ohakea.
Beca 2008 Anzac Test Series, 24 – 26 September
The last time that Service level hockey was played between New Zealand and Australia was 1995, when the New Zealand Combined Services teams travelled to Sydney – so it’s great to see it making a comeback as a result of some excellent work by LTCDR Phil Eagle (NZDF) and WO2 Scotty Downs (ADF).
Senior National Hockey Tournament
The series saw the men’s and women’s teams play two test matches – with the first two as curtain raisers for the National Hockey League Tournament at Lloyd Elsmore Park at Pakuranga. Both curtain raisers were played in hot conditions at a frenetic pace. In the men’s match, the NZDF opened up the scoring only to see the ADF storm back and hold on for a 4 - 3 win. In the women’s match, neither team could make the most of their scoring opportunities, and the game ended in a nil-all draw. The second test matches were played at the Crown Relocations Stadium at Albany. Again, both the matches were tight, keenly contested events. Despite playing some very good team hockey, the NZDF women’s team couldn’t capitalise and went down 1 - 0 to the ADF. The men’s match was somewhat controversial, with two NZDF goals being disallowed, which handed the match to the ADF again, by a margin of 1 - 0. The ADF took out the NZDF-ADF Hockey Challenge Cup, as series winners. Despite losing the test series, the matches served as a valuable build-up for the teams attending the Senior National Tournament.
NZDF Hockey thanks Beca for sponsoring the test series and acknowledges Hockey New Zealand, the North Harbour Hockey Association and the Auckland Hockey Association for their support during the test series. Planning is now underway for the NZDF teams to cross the Tasman and play a test series against the ADF as part of the build-up to their state championships.
Interservices
Interbase Hockey
The 2008 Interservice Hockey Tournament was hosted by Ohakea from 11 - 15 August, with matches played at the twin turfs complex in Palmerston North. For the first time in the history of Services hockey the men’s Navy team were the tournament victors, and are now holders of the Read Trophy. Army won the Ces Cameron Cup, the Spirit of NZDF Hockey Trophy and LT Chris Furminger was presented with the Army Hockey Trophy as the men’s most valuable player. Army won the women’s competition, defeating Navy 2 – 0, to retain the Sam Kereama Memorial Trophy as women’s champions. LET Tamara Morgan was presented with the RNZAF Hockey Association Trophy as the women’s most valuable player and ENS Clare Hayward was presented with the Navy Hockey Club Trophy for most promising player.
The Team
The following were selected to represent the RNZAF at Interservices:
RNZAF Men's Interservice Hockey Representatives
SQNLDR S. Hancock OH (Coach), SQNLDR C. McIntyre WN (Manager), SQNLDR M. Stevens WN, FLTLT B. Norton OH, F/S S. Grant OH (Captain), F/S G. Hey OH, SGT B. Pugh OH, CPL D. Ellington OH, CPL J. Harvey WB, CPL J. Ramsay AK, LAC J. Annear OH, LAC R. McFarlane AK, LAC M. Oram OH, AC C. Hickley AK, AC M. Jeffcoat AK, AC K. Leslie OH, AC C. Warner OH MR M. Cole OH (Strapper).
RNZAF Women’s Interservice Hockey Representatives
SGT S. Martelli AK (Coach), W/O K. Adams WN (Asst Coach), CPL R. Koch WN (Manager), FLTLT R. Cosford AK, FLTLT J. Goodwin AK, FLTLT P. O’Neill OH, PLTOFF T. Ware AK, W/O T. Tate OH, CPL S. Cooper OH, CPL S. Dobson OH, CPL K. Harrison AK, CPL K. Marshall AK, CPL S. Southey WB, LAC N. Lang OH, LAC R. Teasdale WB, AC M. Holah AK, AC R. Murray AK. Due to defections through work requirements or injuries, the following were bought into the team: F/S M. Adams WN, Mrs L. Waters AK.
Senior National Hockey Tournament
The 2008 Senior National Hockey Tournament was hosted by North Harbour Hockey, September - 4 October 2008, at the Crowns Relocation Stadium, Albany. The women’s team played in the Division Two Holden Cup competition and, during pool play, had matches against:
- Auckland B (lost 0 - 3)
- Counties Manukau (lost 0 - 4)
- Nelson (lost 1 - 8)
- Tauranga/Bay of Plenty (lost 1 - 5), and
- Wellington (lost 1 - 3).
Despite the scores not reflecting it, the women’s team dominated the majority of the matches that they played, and Nelson – the team that the NZDF lost most heavily to – went on to take out the final and gain promotion to Division 1 for the 2009 tournament. The men’s team stepped up to the First Division Newmans Cup competition this year. This division is the hockey equivalent of rugby’s Air New Zealand Cup and the team knew that they were in for a tough week when they were placed in a pool with Canterbury, North Harbour and Waikato, but were philosophical about their chances. Early losses showed the difference between provincial teams that play together for most of the year, versus a team that has a week’s training camp prior to the tournament. The men’s team played Waikato in the 7th/8th playoff, with Waikato ahead 4-1 at half time. After the break, Waikato extended this to 5 - 1, but the NZDF came back strongly scoring four goals to level the score 5 - 5. With only a few minutes to go, Waikato scored the winning goal, to take out the match 6 - 5. A disappointing result for the men, but a lot of lessons learnt to build on for the 2009 tournament in Wellington.
The Team
The following were selected to represent the NZDF against the ADF and at the National Senior Hockey Tournament:
NZDF Men's National Senior Hockey Representatives
SSGT A. Pourau Army (Coach), SQNLDR S. Hancock Air (Assistant Coach), SQNLDR C. McIntyre Air (Manager), Miss C Blakesley Air (Strapper), SQNLDR M. Stevens Air, LT C. Furminger Army (Captain), LT S. Valentine Army, SLT J Peterson Navy, ENS A O’Halloran Navy, POSA R. Bartholomew Navy, SSGT Q. Dickson Army, F/S S. Grant Air, F/S G. Hey Air, CPL D. Ellington Air, Cpl J. Ramsay Air, LAC J. Annear Air, LAC R. McFarlane Air, AET1 H. Kopa Navy, SPR D. McQuinn Army, PTE S. Miller Army.
NZDF Men's National Senior Hockey Development Squad
A development squad was also named as follows: CPOET M. Lithgow Navy, SGT B. Pugh Air, AC M. Jeffcoat Air, AC H. Tweedie Air, AWT1 J. Rees Navy and ACO R. Jackson Navy. Due to defections through work requirements and injuries, CPOET Lithgow, AC Tweedie and AWTR1 Rees were elevated to the full squad for nationals.
NZDF Women's National Senior Hockey Representatives
WO1 M. Fowler Army (Coach), Mrs M. McKenzie Air (Assistant Coach) CPL R. Koch Air (Manager) Mr K. Dobson Army (Strapper), FLTLT P. O’Neill Air, CAPT S Harrison Army, LT R. Kirk Army, ENS C. Hayward Navy, W/O T. Tate Air, SGT A. Clarkson Air, SGT K Walker Army, CPL S. Cooper Air, CPL S. CPL S. Southey Air, LCPL E. Geange Army, LCPL S. Geary Army, LCPL S. Hannam Army, LCO N. Morgan Navy, LET T. Morgan Navy, PTE N. Paul Army, NPTE K. Wise Army. Due to defections through work requirements or injuries, the following were bought into the team: FLTLT T Laughlan Air, FLTLT J. Goodwin Air, LT L. Bruce Navy, PLTOFF I. Dewar Air, POSTD N. Irvine Navy (Manager), CPL K Harrison (Air), LCPL K. Miller- Palatchie.