Australian selection a family affair
MERMAID Waters’ Will Mathison is tracing the footsteps laid out by his siblings as he fights to guide Burleigh into Gold Coast Hockey’s men’s division 1 grand final.
After helping Queensland claim School Sport Australia’s national under-16 title on the Coast earlier this month, Mathison has been named in the Australian schoolboys side.
With older sisters Morgan and Lindsay making national schoolgirls teams in recent years, his selection continues a remarkable run in the Mathison household.
“He is the third sibling in his family to make this team. It’s a pretty rare event,” Burleigh committee member Ann Rawding said.
Mathison’s immediate focus is now on Burleigh’s division 1 preliminary final showdown with minor premiers Kingscliff at 2.30pm tomorrow at the Gold Coast Hockey Centre.
Burleigh kept their season alive with a 5-1 victory over Waratahs in last week’s knockout final, with Mathison, who also plays for Labrador in the Brisbane Hockey League, opening the scoring.
It was the third goal in 13 games this season for the 16year-old striker.
Having lost just once during the regular season, Kingscliff were stunned 4-2 in last weekend’s major semi against Labrador, who have now booked their ticket to the September 8 grand final.
In women’s division 1, Morgan Mathison will line up for Burleigh in tomorrow’s 1pm preliminary final against Roosters.
Burleigh had romped to the minor premiership but fell 2-1 to Labrador last weekend, while Roosters beat Mudgeeraba 4-2.