Banks women keep reigning WPL champions Commerce-Pints to 1-1 draw

Down players, missing their head coach and with three debutants, Banks women pulled of the result of the round. Catch up on the first round of TPL action here.

Banks were the side of the round, pulling off a 1-1 draw with Commerce-Pints. Picture: Darcy Jennings

Top End hockey is back and there are plenty of talking points from the first round of TPL action.

The story of the round was the effort by Banks’ women, pulling off a hard fought 1-1 draw with the reigning champs in the first clash of the new season.

Undermanned missing ‘half’ of its squad to the under-16 NT state team – who are currently away at nationals – as well as their head coach, Banks were forced to field B and C graders as well as promoted talented juniors.

A trio of players also made their debut for the side, Bella Andrews, Julie Andrews – who made her debut in net – and Banks’ best on Melina Schwartzkopff.

After a nil-all opening quarter, the game was halted for an extended period of time as a blue marker came out of the turf.

Thankfully, the Banks bench came to the rescue, gluing the piece back to the floor in the break.

The Banks bench came to the rescue, gluing the blue square back to the floor during the quarter time break. Picture: Darcy Jennings

The women in blue held their own against a multitude of Commerce attacking phases.

Tahlia Kemp got Banks on the scoresheet first, tapping in the ball off of a short corner.

Redbacks’ teenage weapon Niesha Casimiro levelled the score later on in the piece, the only other goal of the contest.

Elsewhere, the East Darwin men and women both proved they are true title contenders with dominant victories over a struggling Waratah, winning their matches by a combined total 11-1.

RESULTS

Round 1:

WPL – Banks 1 draw 1 Commerce, Nightcliff 1 def. 0 Palmerston, East Darwin 5 def. 1 Waratah

MPL – Banks 4 def. 2 Commerce, Nightcliff 5 def. 2 Palmerston, East Darwin 6 def. 0 Waratah