Queensland Maroon defend Australian U15 Boys and Girls titles
Published Mon 24 Apr 2023
Queensland Maroon’s Under 15 Boys and Girls teams have gone back-to-back after winning the 2023 Australian U15 Hockey Championships in Darwin.
The two Queensland teams were standouts as they both went through the tournament unbeaten to defend the championships they won last year in Newcastle.
Victoria claimed silver in both competitions, with Western Australia taking bronze in the Boys and New South Wales State finishing third in the Girls competition.
Queensland Maroon’s dominance in the Boys was underlined by their dominant 8-1 win over Victoria in the gold medal match.
Five of the eight goals came in the space of 12 second quarter minutes after Victoria had led 1-0 at quarter time.
A Lily Punch hat-trick, her fifth of the tournament, decided the Girls gold medal match as the 14 year old putting on a masterclass in the 3-0 result.
The bronze medal matches were much tighter encounters. In the Boys match, Western Australia Gold held off a fast finishing New South Wales State 2-1.
Nothing could separate New South Wales State and Queensland Gold in the Girls bronze medal match as it finished scoreless after 60 minutes. The shootout was just as tense, with NSW Sate substitute goalkeeper Dakota Drennan proving the difference as they prevailed 3-2 after five shots each.
NSW State’s Anneliese Cullen was named Girls Player of the Tournament, while Isaac Boundy from Victoria Development took home the Boys Player of the Tournament Award.
For the second year in a row, Punch finished as the Girls top scorer with a staggering 22 goals, ten clear of the next best, Queensland Maroon teammate Aurora Kovacevich.
On the Boys side, Queensland Maroon’s Cody Hale was just as impressive finishing with 21 goals from seven matches to finish nine ahead of New South Wales State’s Archie Clarke.
The 2023 Hockey Australia U15 National Championships was proudly supported by the Northern Territory Government through Northern Territory Major Events.
2023 Hockey Australia U15 Championships - Final Standings
15-21 April 2023
Marrara Hockey Centre, Darwin NT
Under 15 Boys
Boys match results and final standings
Gold Medal - Queensland Maroon
Silver Medal - Victoria
Bronze Medal - Western Australia Gold
Player of the Tournament - Isaac Boundy (Victoria Development)
Top Goal Scorer - Cody Hale (Queensland Maroon)
Play the Whistle Award - Victoria Development
Umpires of the Gold Medal Match - Jackson Freeman, Harry Winch
Technical Official of the Gold Medal Match - Jennifer Burns
Umpires of the Bronze Medal Match - Vincent Harman, Lachlan Robinson
Technical Official of the Bronze Medal Match - Kerri McKeon
Under 15 Girls
Girls match results and final standings
Gold Medal - Queensland Maroon
Silver Medal - Victoria
Bronze Medal - New South Wales State
Player of the Tournament - Anneliese Cullen (NSW State)
Top Goal Scorer - Lily Punch (Queensland Maroon)
Play the Whistle Award - NSW State
Umpires of the Gold Medal Match - Niamh Blake, Ariana Gough
Technical Official of the Gold Medal Match - Janet Cowan
Umpires of the Bronze Medal Match - Isabel Wright, Annabel Kennedy
Technical Official of the Bronze Medal Match - Kerri McKeon
