WA Country men’s hockey side stacked with South West talent not able to defend country championships title

A WA Country men’s hockey side stacked with South West talent was not able to defend their title at the country championships in New South Wales last week, finishing the tournament in fifth. The team, which won the competition last year after finishing second in 2022, was coached by Boyanup Hockey Club’s Lawrie Tylor and Dean Lomax and featured seven players from the Bunbury & Districts Hockey Association in the 18-player squad. Tylor said the final result was disappointing but he felt his side had played well. “It was a little bit of a shock, actually, not to play off in the finals ... but that’s tournament hockey,” he said. “A couple of results didn’t go our way and we couldn’t put the ball in the net, so we only have ourselves to blame. “Defensively we were awesome, our goalkeepers hardly touched the ball the whole week, we just keep not being able to put it in. Lots of goal-posts and goalkeeper helmets, and on any other given day they go in and we’re right up there in the finals. “It was a good trip. They were super professional, the lads, they held themselves in good esteem with that.” Tylor said several players who ply their trade in the South West had made standout contributions. “Brodie Payton playing in his first tournament, he was a late withdrawal last year with a broken hand, and he was awesome, he was probably our most consistent player throughout the tournament, he was quality,” he said. “Jack Tosana had his moments, he had a couple of good games, he was best on ground in the first game against Queensland and he was pretty good right the way through. “Probably the youngest one in the group, Raine Fisher, he was awesome the whole week as well, very consistent. Tylor said the strength of the competition had improved every year and he had already circled next year’s championships in his calendar. The team finished the carnival on a positive note by securing fifth spot with an 8-0 win over South Australia, with Collie’s Brayden Dalton scoring a hat-trick.