Blistering Blaze blows Tigers away

THE Brisbane Blaze were simply too good for the travelling Tassie Tigers women at the Brisbane Hockey Centre overnight, running out comfortable 5-0 winners.

Tigers midfielder Katerina Lacina was a class above anyone on the pitch, but the depth across all positions was telling in the end for the Brisbane Blaze who demonstrated why they are one of the Hockey One title fancies.

For the third consecutive match, Tassie earned the first penalty corner of the game as their new attacking press reaped rewards but the Blaze were all class burying their first chance.

Ruby Harris fired home off the inside of the upright on eight minutes before Tigers goalkeeper Ruby-Rose Haywood-Gibson superbly saved her conversion attempt.

The first quarter had a harsh end with the Blaze scoring an upright reverse stick strike from Brit Wilkinson, who duly converted, to make it 3-0 seconds before the first break.

The Tigers lead the shot count 2-1 in the second term but could not edge closer, and it was a similar story when Tassie earned two penalty corners for no reward to open the third quarter.

The visitors’ period of dominance continued as skipper Amelia Spence drove through three tackles and fed Sarah McCambridge, but her heavy first touch saw a diving effort blocked by the Blaze goalkeeper.

An umpiring error allowed Brisbane to earn a penalty corner chance in the 38th minute and former-Hockeyroo Ashlea Fey extended the margin to 4-0 with a high penalty corner flick.

The Tigers fifth penalty corner of the night couldn’t find a way past the Blaze defences, before Brit Wilkinson netted her hat-trick.

With Haywood-Gibson saving the ensuing conversion attempt, the Tigers battled gallantly to keep Brisbane scoreless in the final term.

Tassie will go in search of their maiden Hockey One win when they face the Canberra Chill in the capital tomorrow from 2pm.