Local duo Keyes and Wood to lead Australia charge in Oceania handball championships

KELLYVILLE’s Brianna Keyes and Jessie Wood from Acacia Gardens will be joining forces today and tomorrow as Australian challenge arch rivals New Zealand for a spot in the 2017 Asian Women’s Championships.

The Australian women's handball team taking part in the 2016 Oceania championships at Stanhope Gardens. Picture: Anthony Keyes

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KELLYVILLE’s Brianna Keyes and Jessie Wood from Acacia Gardens will be joining forces today and tomorrow as Australian challenge arch rivals New Zealand for a spot in the 2017 Asian Women’s Championships.

The two-game Oceania championships will be worked off at the new courts at the Blacktown Leisure Centre, Stanhope Gardens, with Wednesday’s game starting at 6pm and Thursday at noon.

Keyes, 23, and Wood, 19, are fresh from competing at the Australian University Games in Perth and bring a lot of skills and experience to the team.

Brianna Keyes gets ready for the championships.

Both Keyes and Wood play on opposite wings and have a wonderful rapport, having played together for several years.

Australian team manager Anthony Keyes said the games will be keenly contested and spectators can expect some high quality action.

“They should be exciting games that are fiercely played by both teams,” Keyes said.

Jessie Wood from Acacia Gardens will play for Australia in the Oceania series.

“Australia has a strong team with many experienced players, but you can never underestimate the New Zealanders.”

The Oceania qualification is the lead up to the 2016 Australian men’s and women’s senior nationals competitions at Blacktown Leisure Centre from tomorrow (October 6) to Sunday (Oct. 9). The New Zealand teams will be competition along with six Australia sides

Entry is free.