- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
It might not get the attention that some other sports do in Australia, but the Women’s Field Hockey is one of our nation’s best events. Our team, the Hockeyroos, have won gold in the last two Commonwealth Games running, and are a strong chance to make it three in a row at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. They truly are a team to be proud of on the world stage.
What is it?
The sport of hockey, played on grass or turf. Two sides of eleven on field at a time, each trying to score a goal by sending the ball into the opposition’s net.
At Glasgow 2014, 10 countries will be participating in the event, divided into two pools of five. The Hockeyroos are in with Scotland, India, South Africa and Wales, and will play each team once. At the end of this, the two highest teams from each pool progress to the semi-finals. The winners of the semi-finals then play for gold in the final.
The other pool contains England, New Zealand and Canada who will all be fielding strong teams, and they are likely to be Australia’s opponents if we make it through to the finals. Malaysia and Trinidad and Tobago make up the rest of the second pool.
Australia’s pool matches are played July 26-31, the semi-finals are played August 2 and the final on August 3.
The Aussies
Having won gold at Delhi 2010, the Aussies will field a side that has a lot of experience and knows how to win games. Madonna Blyth, Casey Eastham, Anna Flanagan, Kate Jenner, Rachael Lynch, Georgia Nanscawen, Ashleigh Nelson and Jayde Taylor are the eight players from the Delhi 2010 winning side who will take the field in 2014.
Madonna Blyth is Australia’s most experienced player, she also featured in the side that won gold in the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, and is the only player from that side still playing. She’ll captain the Hockeyroos this time around, hoping to land herself a third gold medal.
The Hockeyroos are coming off a silver medal in the 2014 World Cup, in which they lost 2-0 to the hosting nation, the Netherlands. Australia was the only of the sides competing at Glasgow 2014 that managed to make it to the final four in the World Cup.
The Competition
Last time around the Hockeyroos beat New Zealand off a penalty shootout in a memorable final, and you can expect the Kiwis will be out to avenge such a close lose this time around. They still have seven players in their side from that game, including captain Kayla Whitelock, so expect sparks to fly if the two sides meet.
Third in last Games’ placings were England, who Australia knocked out of the running with a 1-0 win in the semi-final, and they too will be keen to give the gold a serious shake at Glasgow 2014.
Fast Facts
– Hockey has only been a part of the Commonwealth Games on four occasions prior to Glasgow 2014, and the Australian women’s team have won gold on three of those occasions.
– Hockey is the national sport of Pakistan.
– The first use of the word ‘Hockey’ dates from 1336, when in a proclamation from King Edward III it was officially banned in England, along with handball, football and cock-fighting.
What to drink while watching
These ladies are some of the best athletes in Australia, and you will need a drink that inspires the same respect as their performances do. Think elderflower cordial. Mint optional.
This article was first published on the Tenplay website here.