Victoria over 50s goalkeeper Stuart Bethell makes a save to deny Tasmania’s Mark Schuettpelz. PHOTO: Sam Bradbrook
SOUTH Australia’s senior teams are well-poised to make the finals of the National Inline Hockey Championships being held at STARplex, in Evanston Park, this week.
State inline hockey sides from 12 age divisions have ventured from across Australia to Gawler to compete in the national titles.
Inline hockey is similar to ice hockey, except it is played on roller-blades and uses a hard floor, rather than an ice rink.
Gawler hosted last year’s event, with organisers so pleased with Gawler’s facilities that they didn’t hesitate to return to STARplex for the 2019 instalment.
Inline Hockey Australia national organising committee member Andrew Johnston said the interstate teams were loving their time in Gawler.
“The teams were excited to be back after the experience last year, they’re having a great time,” he said.
“Outside of the competition, they’re doing the tourist things out in the Barossa and other things around the place.
“The tournament has gone quite well so far, we’ve had no big issues.”
The national championships began on Saturday and will run through to this Saturday, October 5, with all the divisions’ grand finals to be held back-to-back.
South Australia’s senior women’s team will be defending its championship from last year during the week, led by Gawler local Bailee Major.
At the time of print, the team sat second in the standings, trailing only Queensland on goal difference, with two wins from three games.
South Australia’s senior men’s side sat fourth in the competition, despite having a healthy goal difference of +7.
Mr Johnston hoped the weekend and finals games would attract interested locals who were keen to see a new sport.
“You’re going to see fastpaced action and teams putting it all on the line to take out a win,” he said.
“South Australia is defending their senior women’s title from last year, so it will be exciting to see the local girls’ final games.
“For senior men’s, it will be a hard task because they’re sitting mid-table, but they’re improving every game so it will be close.
“It’s all free entry, people can come out and watch a sport they may not have heard about before and enjoy the entertainment.”
