The Esperance Hockey Association Women’s Division 1 side came second at the 2025 CBH Group Women’s Country Championships last weekend. Photo: Esperance Hockey Association.
The Esperance Hockey Association Division 1 side were gallant in defeat, falling just short against Bunbury 2-1 in the grand final at the 2025 CBH Group Women’s Country Championships on Sunday.
Lucy Hill slotted the lone goal for Esperance in the final after a brilliant short corner play, as Bunbury scored two to be crowned champions for the second straight year.
Jacqui Tonkin, Brooke Capewell, Jess Hardman and Denise Mackenzie were the team’s most notable players for the campaign.
Esperance Hockey Association President Angela Hill said: “It was a remarkable weekend with our girls playing some exceptional hockey, ending up in the grand final of Division 1 which is unheard of, it was terrific and we only went down 2-1 which was a fabulous result.”
“The team’s tenacity, fire, and skill left other Associations talking about Esperance.”
The Championships commenced on the Friday at the Perth Hockey Stadium with the Esperance team recording two draws against Lower Great Southern (0-0) and Bunbury (1-1).
It was a creditable defensive performance on the team’s first time in the top tier as the ladies adjusted to playing on turf against teams that compete on the surface all the time.
In addition to playing on turf, the teams also came up against sides that featured current WA Country squad members and Ex-Hockeyroos in their lineups.
The side booked a berth in Sunday’s grand final against Bunbury after wins against Upper Great Southern (2-1) and Geraldton (3-1) on the Saturday, to finish in second place of the five teams.
Former Hockeyroo, Kathryn Slattery from the Lower Great Southern Hockey Association, performance as the leading goal scorer at the Championship earned her the Division 1 best-and-fairest award.
The Masters Division 1 side finished fifth overall holding Busselton to a nil-all draw in the fifth and sixth playoff on the Sunday in what was a strong and competitive division.
The Geraldton Hockey Association defeated Peel three goals to two in the Masters Division 1 grand final to cap off an undefeated weekend.
“Our Masters 1 team also had a fantastic weekend and they played off against Busselton which they drew and came away fifth in their division which they were proud of as well,” Hill said.
“The team’s grit and defensive work across the weekend was second to none.”
“Well done to all our players, coaches, managers and supporters. Esperance Hockey is on the rise, and we can’t wait for what’s next.”
The Masters team were best served by goal keeper extraordinaire Tara Wells, Jolie Delroy, Aleisha Nelson and Sam Stubna.
Off the field, there was no shortage of great times for the ladies, team dinners, a night at the football and dancing as some of the weary members of the two sides made good use of the massage chairs at Perth Airport before the return flight home on Sunday evening.
It is the Men’s turn this weekend at the Championships, starting today with the Association represented by a team in Division 3 and a Masters Division 1 side.
