BALLARAT women Tammy Hansford and Ruth Ryan both had a successful week playing hockey for Victoria at the Australian Women’s Master Championships in Melbourne from September 27 to October 6.
Hansford won gold in the over-35s and Ryan won silver in the over-50s and was selected for the Australian team.
Ryan, a goalkeeper, said she would now start working towards playing in the Trans Tasman event in Auckland next May.
“We finished on top of the ladder – we had played six games, and drew one with New South Wales on two all,” Ryan said.
“In the grand final we were up against New South Wales again. It was nil all at the end of full-time. We played 15 minutes extra and it was still nil all.
“We then went into a penalty shootout and after the first five no one had scored.
“Then we went into sudden death, and unfortunately it was New South Wales who scored first.”
Handford’s tournament had a happier ending.
“Queensland actually beat us in the pool game five to nil, but in the finals we beat them one nil,” she said.
“New South Wales also beat us three to two in the pool, but we were able to beat them three nil in the semi-finals.”
