Former Marist guns Blake Murdoch and Jaxon Browne claim gold while South West Hockey League action continues

Former Marist Hockey Club guns Blake Murdoch and Jaxon Browne were a part of the WA side that beat NSW in the grand final of the Under 18 Australian Championships in April. Murdoch and Browne, who also recently debuted for Hale in Hockey WA’s All Flags Premier League in Perth after moving at the start of the season, were both starters in the grand final team that defeated NSW 5-4 on April 14. Browne, who turned 18 on the day of the big dance, said the two finals at the tournament was some of the best hockey he had ever played. “Once you get to 18s it is like your first real adult competition and you feel like it is your first step into elite hockey,” he said. “I think I played pretty good (throughout the tournament) and in the semi and grand final I played probably the best game I have played in my whole life.” Murdoch, who is only 16 and relocated to Perth this year from Busselton, said it was great to see Browne with a medal around his neck after his last junior representative tournament. “I have played with Jaxon for four years now and it was good to watch him finish on a high,” Murdoch said. Meanwhile, the South West Hockey League continued at the weekend with a grand final rematch and a shock draw highlighting the round two men’s action. Boyanup and Wests met for the first time since last year’s grand final, with the men in black and gold once again claiming bragging rights with a 3-1 win. In the other two matches of the round, Towns/Souths came from behind to draw with Marist 2-2, while Associates beat Exies 6-1 in Collie. There were some big wins in the women’s fixtures, with Marist beating Towns/Souths 3-1 on Friday night, before Associates took down Exies 4-0 and Boyanup thumped Robins 7-0 on Saturday.