Tassie fight hard against favourite

TASMANIA’S under-21 women’s side may have gone down to powerhouse NSW 5-1 yesterday, but there was much to like about the home side’s gritty performance.

Led by skipper Ione Patten, Tasmania opened the championships in Hobart in driving rain by taking it up to the pre-tournament favourite until a flurry of goals on halftime.

NSW scored through Katrina Rekunow and a Keely Hunter penalty corner two minutes before the siren, but Tasmania managed a reply through Canterbury’s Grace Calvert.

The goal showed the damage the hosts can inflict on other states, with quick ball movement out of defence ensuring a well-developed passage of play for Calvert to knock home.

On the restart Rekunow netted her second for the match, before former Tasmanian import player Greta Hayes added to NSW’s tally to make it 4-1 at threequarter time.

NSW skipper Mathilda Carmichael then iced the result with a 53rd minute goal.

Tasmania coach Simon Arthur was particularly pleased with how his players acquitted themselves in a high tempo match.

“We played some good patches of ball movement, particularly in the first half and defended well with both our goalkeepers making some great saves,” Arthur said postmatch.

“National development squad member Maddy Murphy played well in midfield but I believe we had a good effort across the park.”

Tasmania next faces Western Australia at 3.30pm today, after the Sandgropers defeated ACT 3-2 on day one.

In other results from Pool A, Victoria defeated South Australia 6-2 and Queensland defeated NSW Blue 5-0.

Tasmania’s under-21 boys side suffered a 6-1 loss to Victoria on day one of its championships, with Derwent’s Sam Grice credited with the goal.