CITY HOSTS SUPER6S INDOOR TOURNAMENT
City to host Super 6s indoor titles
INDOOR HOCKEY: Indoor hockey is back on court in Toowoomba this weekend with the city hosting the Super 6s/Under 21 men’s and women’s championships for the first time.
The action takes place at University of Southern Queensland’s Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre with play beginning tomorrow and continuing on Saturday and Sunday.
Teams from around Queensland will be converging on the city to play the indoor version of hockey which has been making an impact in Toowoomba recently.
USQ last month hosted the Queensland under-18 men’s indoor invitational which showcased the state’s emerging indoor hockey talent.
This weekend marks the first time Toowoomba has hosted the open indoor competition and the first time it has submitted men’s or women’s teams.
Toowoomba will field two teams at this year’s championships with men’s and women’s sides both lining up.
The Toowoomba teams are called the Funnel Webs, named after the region’s newly famous local variety of Funnel Web spider whose venom is helping to cure cancer in Tasmanian Devils.
Toowoomba Indoor Hockey spokesman David Hilton said the sport was gaining wide appeal.
“The games will be played on hard floor, rather than on the turf or grass hockey is normally associated with,” Hilton said. “Indoor hockey teams feature five players and a goalkeeper and rebound side-barriers along the court.
“Though the rules are similar to outdoor hockey, some
vary including the inability to lift the ball up or hit and slap the ball.
“Players instead need to
push and pass the ball before flicking at the goal.’
The Funnel Web men are pooled with Maryborough, Cobras
and Rocky Mob while Pool A features Gold Coast, Ipswich, Thunder and God’s Gifts.
The women’s pool includes Funnel Webs, Brisbane, Cobras, Insanity Streak, Ipswich Heat, Mackay and the Mixed Muddies.
Play starts at 5pm tomorrow and 8am on Saturday and Sunday. Men’s and women’s finals are scheduled to begin at 2.35pm on Sunday.