// Inter-Services Hockey 2009

By WGCDR Kelvin Read

The 2009 Inter-Services Hockey Tournament was hosted by Navy with matches being played on the new Kristin College Hockey Turf, only a short drive from Devonport.

In order to increase the number of games played and to avoid a bye, the Women’s Competition included the Kristin College Girls first XI team and the Men’s Competition included the New Zealand Police men’s team. Both of these teams were an outstanding addition to the tournament as they provided exceedingly well-matched opposition for all teams.

The selection for this year’s Royal New Zealand Air Force teams saw a number of older players come back into the playing fold. This provided an excellent experience base to assist a large group of younger players—particularly in the woman’s team—to quickly adapt to the increased skill level and speed of Inter-Services Hockey.

Women’s Competition

Day One saw the Air Force Team matched with Navy. Air proved too strong for Navy throughout and easily took the win 4–0. Goal scorers for Air were Leading Aircraftsmen Nicola Lang (2), and Aircraftsman Jemma Read and Rahza Ratapu.

However, Day Two was a reality check! Matched against the young and talented Kristin College first XI, Air met its match with Kristin College winning 6–0.

Day Three saw Air matched with the strong Army team. The game was an improvement for Air but Army had the edge, securing the win 3–0 and thereby winning the tournament overall with Air finishing second for the Services.

Men’s Competition

Day One saw the Air Force team matched against Army. The game was fiercely contested, with Army scoring the final goal of the game to win 3–2. The goal scorer for Air was, Aircraftsman Cam Hickley (2).

Day Two was also a close game for Air, this time matched against the Police team. Police pulled out all the stops and prevailed to win 2–1. The Air goal scorer was Aircraftsman Jake Bullot.

Day Three saw Air matched with Navy. Once again this was hotly contested with Navy narrowly taking an exciting, ever-changing game 5–4. The Air goal scorers were Sergeant Brendan Pugh (2), AC Jake Bullot, and Flight Lieutenant Dave Timbs. Navy was therefore the winner of Inter-services Hockey for the second year running.

Summary

Inter-Services Hockey was, once again, played in very good spirit, with the Navy putting on a first-rate tournament and a memorable final function. The spirit between the two RNZAF teams aided in the overall enjoyment and ensured that all players felt like they were valued members of the RNZAF Hockey fraternity.

The women’s team produced an excellent result for a largely very young RNZAF side that came up against an Army team that had 10 players who had recently represented the NZDF. All of the younger players showed that they were capable of performing very well at this level. Hopefully these players have used this year’s tournament as a stepping-stone towards getting the RNZAF team back on the top of Services Hockey.

Particular thanks need to go to Sergeant Simon Martelli (Coach) and Squadron Leader Stu Parker (Assistant Coach) who did an outstanding job of quickly moulding together an ever-changing team, due to player unavailability, right up until the tournament start date.

From a results perspective, this was a very disappointing year for RNZAF Men’s Hockey with the team having its worst placing in over 35 years of Inter-Services Hockey.

Looking to the future however, we still have a young side that is continuing to grow in skill, fitness, and an understanding of what is required of players at this level. The difference in every game in the men’s tournament was only one goal so the RNZAF team know they are not far from producing a completely different result.

Overall, RNZAF Hockey continues to be in good heart, with playing numbers across all of the bases, and a positive feel in the code. Competition for places in next year’s RNZAF teams, at Inter-base to be held at Ohakea, as always, will be fierce.

Men’s and Women’s Final Placings

Men’s Team			Women’s Team
1st	Navy		1st	Army
2nd	Army		2nd	Kristen College
3rd	Police		3rd	Air Force
4th	Air Force		4th	Navy

RNZAF Teams

Men’s Team

Personnel	Base
FLTLT B. Iggo (Coach)	Woodbourne
WGCDR K. Read (Assistant Coach/Player)	Wellington
SQNLDR C. McIntyre (Manager)	Ohakea
FLTLT D. Timbs (Captain)	Woodbourne
LAC J. Annear	Ohakea
AC J. Bullot	Auckland
CPL D. Ellington	Ohakea
SGT J. Harvey	Woodbourne
F/S G. Hey	Ohakea
AC C. Hickley	Auckland
CPL R. Jamieson	Auckland
LAC K. Leslie	Ohakea
CPL R. McFarlane	Auckland
SQNLDR M. Parry	Wellington
SGT B. Pugh	Ohakea
CPL J. Ramsay	Auckland
AC D. Stone	Auckland
LAC C. Warner	Ohakea

Women’s Team

Personnel	Base
SGT S. Martelli (Coach)	Auckland
SQNLDR S. Parker (Assistant Coach)	Auckland
CPL R. Koch (Manager)	Wellington
W/O T. Tate (Captain)	Ohakea
F/S J. Boylan	Auckland
CPL S. Cooper	Auckland
FLTLT G. Cosford	Wellington
SQNLDR J. Goodwin	Ohakea
LAC L. Kerr	Auckland
LAC N. Lang	Ohakea
AC J. Lindsay	Auckland
AC R. Murray	Auckland
FGOFF K. Ohlson	Woodbourne
AC R. Ratapu	Auckland
AC J. Read	Ohakea
LAC R. Teasdale	Woodbourne
AC J. Uncles	Ohakea
Mrs L. Waters	Auckland
LAC A. Wharewera	Ohakea

NZDF Team

The following RNZAF personnel were selected to represent the NZDF at the 2nd division National Hockey tournament in Wellington.

Men’s Team

Personnel	Base
SQNLDR C. McIntyre (Manager)	Ohakea
FLTLT D. Timbs	Woodbourne
LAC J. Annear	Ohakea
AC J. Bullot	Auckland
CPL D. Ellington	Ohakea
F/S G. Hey	Ohakea
LAC K. Leslie	Ohakea
CPL J. Ramsay	Auckland
WGCDR K. Read	Wellington

Women’s Team

Personnel	Base
FLTL B. Iggo (Coach)	Woodbourne
CPL R. Koch (Manager)	Wellington
W/O T. Tate (Captain)	Ohakea
CPL S. Cooper	Auckland
FGOFF I. Dewar	Ohakea
SQNLDR J. Goodwin	Ohakea

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