Hockey: Stars shine for WA

Two Busselton under-13s hockey players have arrived back from Melbourne after figuring prominently at WA student representative level in a national tournament.

Melanie Russell and Dylan Dear played for the School Sports WA Girls and Boys 12s teams which finished equal second and fifth respectively earlier this month.

Strong results included draws against the eventual winners, with the girls holding Queensland to 0-0 and the boys squaring off with NSW 2-2.

The girls achieved their best ever finish, remaining undefeated after the six games and conceded one goal.

Russell, who played fullback, said the backline did really well and the overall experience brought many highlights.

“Getting a silver medal at the ceremony and representing my state,” she said.

“And the MCG was really good – Melbourne is such a great place.”

Russell thanked the community for their support during the build up to the tournament, including Busselton Hockey Stadium and her local club Countrys, and said she hoped to play for Australia in the future.

Mark Dear, Dylan’s father, said his son enjoyed the captaincy role and comradery and to perform strongly against sides which drew on bigger populations was a great accomplishment.

“It’s good to see we are not too far behind the other states,” he said.

Russell and Dear had both qualified to train in an under-13 development camp in December which could earn them selection in the WA under-13 representative teams next year.