Australian Country Challenge makes memorable return

The successful return of the Hockey Australia Country Challenge has seen Queensland dominate this year’s event in Albany, Western Australia.

In the first Country Challenge held since 2019 due to COVID, Queensland won the Men’s and Women’s competitions, had both the Men’s and Women’s Player of the Tournament as well as the Top Goal Scorers.

Queensland defeated Western Australia 5-0 in the Men’s Gold Medal Match thanks to a double inside 10 minutes from Noah Gauci, plus goals from Callum James, Drew Wenzel and captain Grant Dilger.

In the match for the Bronze Medal, Cody McCann gave New South Wales a 9th minute lead, but Victoria stormed back to score the next three goals all from the stick of Max Ferrier to win 3-1.

The Women’s Gold Medal match went down to the wire, Brooke Thompson’s 22nd minute goal proving the winner as Queensland held off New South Wales 1-0.

Victoria went home with the Bronze Medal thanks to Pippa Best, who scored the only goal of the game to beat the Australian Defence Force.

Queensland skipper Dilger was named the Men’s Player of the Tournament, with teammate Gauci taking home the Top Goal Scorer Award.

The Women’s Player of the Tournament went to Queensland’s Eva Kersnovske, as Tinesha Carey took out the Top Goal Scorer Award with 10 goals, five more than Victoria’s Pippa Best and Sarah White from New South Wales.

The 2022 Hockey Australia Country Challenge was made possible thanks to the City of Albany and Hockey WA.

A replay of every match from the championships is available on LIVEHockey.

2022 Hockey Australia Country Challenge - Final Standings
Lower Great Southern Hockey Association, Albany WA

Men's Competition
Men’s match results and final standings
Gold Medal - Queensland
Silver Medal - Western Australia
Bronze Medal - Victoria

Player of the Tournament presented by Just Hockey - Grant Dilger (QLD)
Top Goal Scorer - Noah Gauci (QLD)
Play the Whistle Award - Australian Defence Force
Umpires of the Gold Medal Match - Adrian Cross, Beau Cornelius
Technical Official of the Gold Medal Match - Ian Lugg
Umpires of the Bronze Medal Match - Sebastian Hood, Daniel Mander
Technical Official of the Bronze Medal Match - Shayley Mcgurk-Davy

Women's Competition
Women’s match results and final standings

Gold Medal - Queensland
Silver Medal - New South Wales
Bronze Medal - Victoria

Player of the Tournament presented by Just Hockey - Eva Kersnovske (QLD)
Top Goal Scorer - Tinesha Carey (QLD)
Play the Whistle Award - New South Wales
Umpires of the Gold Medal Match - Isabel Wright, Helen Kura
Technical Official of the Gold Medal Match - Ian Lugg
Umpires of the Bronze Medal Match - Sabriah Peterson, Jaimee Shannon
Technical Official of the Bronze Medal Match - Shayley Mcgurk-Davy