How excited are the Australian Junior Women's team on
winning their first ever Women’s World Championship game
for Australia! Words can't describe the size of the
smiles or the volume of the cheering!
The team took the court here in Dankook University in
Cheonan (80kms south of Seoul) with a determination to
play their best. They knew they had a chance and all ten
young women didn't want to go home losing this game. It
took 3 1/2 minutes for the first goal to be scored and
it was Victoria Brunsberg for Australia. Rachel
Lodewijks was set up with the task of keeping number 29
from Hong Kong out of play. Both Lauren Keith and Claire
Dennerley scored from rebounds with Victoria Brunsberg,
scoring her second goal placing Australia ahead 4 - 0,
eleven minutes into the game. Then Hong Kong fought back
and the score crept up until they were 1 goal ahead of
Australia. The Australian women played harder with
Melissa Mellor and Victoria Brunsberg alternating
defence and attack between them, while Nina Markovic
worked hard out on the wing keeping the ball moving.
Taylee Lewis saved some great shots and with another
goal from Lauren Keith and Vanja Smiljanic and four more
from Victoria Brunsberg, Australia finished half time 2
goals ahead at 10-8.
The second half saw the Australian women more energetic
and determined in their play. It was tough and physical
for the entire 30 minutes with Lauren Keith receiving
two 2 minute suspensions and one for Melissa Mellor as
well. Vanja Smiljanic was the first to score at 2m 36s
into the second half and scored a total of five goals
for the half. Nine minutes into the half the score was
14-10 - Australia was pulling away again. Taylee Lewis
continued her great work stopping the Hong Kong attempts
at goal over and over, before doing a long pass out to
Vanja Smiljanic for another Australian goal making the
score 17-12 fifteen minutes into the half. Rachel
Lodewijks managed three goals and still spent
considerable time marking out number 29 and the score
was 19-13 seventeen minutes into the half. Claire
Dennerley managed three more goals. Brianna Keyes scored
a goal before a great steal from Hong Kong to pass up to
Rachel Lodewijks for a goal. Hong Kong was marking out
Victoria Brunsberg, but that didn't stop her scoring
another four goals. Sonja Miskovic cheered loudly as the
score pulled away to 20-14 at 21 minutes, then 23-16 at
24m 54s...it was so close they could taste it! The
Australian women never stopped playing hard and when the
final buzzer went the score stood at 27-19 a magnificent
achievement which was loudly appreciated.
 |
The Junior Women's Australian Team after
their history making
victory against Hong Kong. |
Victoria Brunsberg took out the game MVP (most
valuable player) award and Coach Janne Lilleeng was more
than proud of her team. Manager Anthony Keyes was hoarse
from cheering, Katie the South Korean attache for the
team had the biggest smile on her face - even the South
Korean bus driver was laughing with happiness for the
Australians! The atmosphere back at the accommodation
after the game was fantastic as everyone revelled in the
feeling of success - to think the ten women had to
overcome great difficulties to get here!
- Kerrie Keyes
AHF South Korean Correspondent
