REPLAYS: Territory Stingers face-off against 2024 Hockey One champions at second Festival of Hockey

The Festival of Hockey proved another important learning curve for the Territory Stingers as they went head-to-head with the nation’s top team. Catch all four match REPLAYS here.

Darcy Jennings and Nathaniel Chambers

7 min read

September 21, 2024 - 9:37PM

Replay: SRA Territory Stingers vs Brisbane Blaze (Women)

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Twenty four hours proved invaluable for the two Territory Stingers sides as they faced off against the Brisbane Blaze for the second night in a row.

On the back of two losses, the men’s and women’s Territory sides came into the second day with a point to prove.

Switching places, the men took to the turf first in what was a polar opposite occasion to the night before.

From one goal to 12, the match was a lot more attacking and far less defensively minded.

Unfortunately for the home team, despite a solid outing, the Blaze were just a class above and won in a 8-4 scoreline, sweeping the Stingers for the second successive year in the process.

REPLAYS (DAY 2)

SRA Territory Stingers vs. Brisbane Blaze (Women)

SRA Territory Stingers vs. Brisbane Blaze (Men)

Like the men, the women’s clash was too an entirely different occasion.

After being smashed in a 12-1 scoreline the Stingers were playing for pride.

And as fate would have it, the Stingers hit the back of the net first once again, this time, they were able to hold on to the lead until the second term.

Light and day with their defensive efforts comparatively to the night before, the Stingersmade Brisbane earn their goals rather than gifting them.

However, the Blaze proved too good for the women in blue, ending the night with a gritty 4-1 victory.

Games 1 & 2

It was a tough night at the office for the Stingers women as they suffered a heavy 12-1 defeat at the hands of Hockey One defending champions Brisbane Blaze.

A miracle start for the home side gave the crowd hope, after they netted the Kookaburra in the opening three minutes of the match.

However, this would be the first and last time the women in blue hit the scorecard as they struggled for the remainder of the contest.

A difficult task having to compete against a well-oiled machine, the Territory Stingers were off the pace for most of the night, penned inside their own half religiously.

After a 2-1 opening quarter, the Blaze piled on the hurt in the second, hitting home five goals despite some terrific work in between the sticks from crowd favourite Elizabeth (Lizzy) Duguid.

Oddly, after the break the game was sent into a stalemate.

REPLAYS (DAY 1)

SRA Territory Stingers vs. Brisbane Blaze (Men)

SRA Territory Stingers vs. Brisbane Blaze (Women)

The Blaze held the majority of possession however couldn’t put the final play together, leaving the period a goalless affair.

At 7-1 Brisbane could have taken the game easy but with their season just around the corner, decided to go full guns blazing, hammering the Stingers with attacking phase after attacking phase to take the final score to 12-1.

Unlike the women, the men played out a low scoring grudge match that saw neither side give an inch.

Despite finishing on the wrong side of a 1-0 scoreline, the boys in blue dazzled with the stick, shocking the Brisbane outfit in the process.

Also the defending Hockey One champions, Brisbane came into the night clear favourites.

But the Territory team – with a few years together as a group – put on a defensive clinic.

Again, goalkeeping was the highlight of the match with Lachlan Walters efforts in the second half coming in clutch.

Both the Stingers and Blaze will need to hit the hay early as they will take to the turf on Saturday night to run it back for the second day of the Festival of Hockey in Darwin.

PREVIEW

The NT Stingers are back and raring to go ahead of the second Festival of Hockey this Friday and Saturday at Marrara Stadium.

The Stingers will go head-to-head with dual 2024 Hockey One Champions, the Brisbane Blaze, and for the first time you can catch all the action live through KommunityTV.

All four games will be streamed exclusively through KTV and the NT News, and you can catch all the action as it happens, plus replays here.

Sporting new-look uniforms and fresh squads, the Top End’s best hockey talents will need to be on their A-game against a club littered with current and former international players.

Unfortunately for the home side, the Territory’s best hockey exports Brooke Peris and Jeremy Hayward will not be in attendance for this year’s iteration.

In their stead, the likes of goal scoring supremo Isaac Farmilo in the men’s and TPL grand final MVP Macenzee Dixon in the women’s side will be called upon to fill in the missing x-factor.

The matches are also set to be a litmus test for the NT team, desperate to prove its worth to the powers that be following its heartbreaking exclusion from the Hockey One League.

Men’s Squad

The Territory Stingers men are embracing their future with a dynamic squad full of talent ready to take on the Brisbane Blaze in the Festival of Hockey.

The Stingers proved their eagerness to play at a top level by securing a spot in the Malaysian Hockey League for 2025 this week, and now they’re ready to take on Hockey One’s top team.

And all the action will be streamed live and exclusive through the NT News and KommunityTV.

The Stingers will be without some of their heavyweight players for the fixture with Jonathon Peris, Jeremy Hayward, Leon Hayward, Dane Gavranich, and Joel Carroll all unavailable.

Vice-captain Rob Duguid has been ruled out due to a shoulder injury sustained during the TPL preliminary final, while Billy Faye is also unavailable.

However, that has given room to a host of younger talent with plenty of players making their debuts eager to show what Hockey One is missing out on.

Jeremy Mayne, Adrian Lockley and Zach Rakkas as the Territory Stingers are ready for the 2024 Festival of Hockey against the Brisbane Blaze. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Jeremy Mayne has played under-21s with the NT for the past three years and will make his debut for the Stingers main squad in games played on Friday and Saturday.

“Everyone’s really looking forward to get into these games, against a really good team in Brisbane,” he said.

“They’ve got a lot of fast and very talented players, so it’s going to be a real challenge for us, so we will need to take our opportunities and do what we can to slow them down.”

Zach Rakkas is one of the standouts of the Territory game whether for his club or on representative duty and is ready to make the most of the chance before taking his game to England.

“These matches are unreal, we look forward to them because we don’t really get many matches against high quality competition like this,” Rakkas said.

“When we get to play sides like Brisbane it makes a big difference for us, particularly those of us looking to pursue a career in hockey.”

Zach Rakkas as the Territory Stingers are ready for the 2024 Festival of Hockey against the Brisbane Blaze. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Adrian Lockley will lead the outfit with coach David Skippings, and for him he was looking forward to seeing how the young guns would step up and take the chance.

“The young, next generation is coming through and we’re here to showcase the Territory talent, so I’m looking forward to watching those guys go out and give their best,” Lockley said.

“Our individual flair is right up there, we have lots of young, skilful players so we will be looking to attack quickly and score goals from there.

“We’ll give Brisbane the respect they deserve but we’re going out there to win.”

TEAM LIST

Cameron Cooke (Nightcliff Tigers)

Calvin Farmilo (East Darwin)

Adrian Lockley (Palmerston Saints)

Huw Wiltshire (Waratah)

Tarrant Haami-Jones (Nightcliff Tigers)

Jeremy Mayne (Old Aquinian HC) – DEBUT

Matthew Fisher (UWA)

Jyhe Clarke (GK) (Palmerston Saints)

Adam Luck (GK) (Palmerston Saints)

Lachlan Walters (GK) (Nightcliff Tigers)

Nathan Hochman (East Darwin)

Karl Hochman (East Darwin)

Jayden McGregor (Nightcliff Tigers)

Aiden Able (Waratah) – DEBUT

Luke Broadway (Nightcliff Tigers)

Lucas Camara (Commerce Pints) – DEBUT

Isaac Farmilo (East Darwin)

Jamie Hullick (East Darwin)

Mitchell Lockley (Palmerston Saints)

Zach Rakkas (Waratah)

Joshua Taylor (Waratah) – DEBUT

Head Coach – David Skippings

Assistant Coach – Travis Carroll

Manager – Mathew Stripling

Physio – Zain Javaid

Women’s Squad

The Territory Stingers women’s side is set to bring the perfect mix of seasoned players and emerging talent to take on the Brisbane Blaze.

The entire fixture will be streamed live and exclusive on Kommunity TV and NT News, for both their Friday and Saturday matches.

Kookaburra legend Mark Hager’s tutelage and support to the playing group and off-field team have already paid dividends, having a significant impact on the squad’s development and preparation.

His guidance has been instrumental as the team prepares for the Festival, while Michelle Caden has coached the group.

The squad will be without Brooke Peris, but still has plenty of international experience including Izzy Gill, Jayde Taylor, Elly Buckley, Jemma Buckley and Elizabeth Duguid.

Younger players include the likes of TPL grand final MVP Macenzee Dixon and Amy Stripling, who has been one of the rising stars of Top End hockey for a long time.

Izzy Gill and Amy Stripling as the Territory Stingers are ready for the 2024 Festival of Hockey against the Brisbane Blaze. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Blackstick Izzy Gill said the side was pumped up for the contest against a red-hot Brisbane Blaze side, with some of the best players in the country.

“It’s really exciting, we have lots of young talent, but also some experienced players coming up to play for us,” Gill said.

“We are getting together quite last minute, but I think the combination of young, exciting girls and some older players coming together will really fuse and make for a great weekend.

“Darwin is such a welcoming, die hard hockey community with a lot of people who are really committed to the sport.

“Getting to play against some of the best players in the world and having that exposure is so special for the NT, and will push this group to be the best it can be.”

Head coach Michelle Caden said the squad’s senior players had really stepped up with their exceptional leadership pushing the younger athletes.

“We’ve worked hard to prepare for the Festival, and I’m confident this group is ready to show the progress we’ve made,” she said.

“It’s an exciting time for the future of the Stingers.”

TEAM LIST

Elly Buckley (Westside Wolves)

Jemma Buckley (Westside Wolves)

Koda Carne (East Darwin)

Niesha Casimiro (Commerce Pints)

Emily Chaffey (East Darwin)

Isobel Cowell (East Darwin)

Tiana Crompton (Nightcliff Tigers)

Macenzee Dixon (Commerce Pints)