ANZAC HOCKEY SERIES 2023

The 2023 Anzac Hockey series, played in Christchurch, was all about mateship despite fierce on-field rivalry.

The NZDF woman came out on top in the tournament, while the Kiwi men had to accede to their Australian counterparts.

The Anzac Hockey Series took place over the Anzac weekend, with the respective teams facing off for three test matches to determine who would claim the NZDF vs ADF Hockey Challenge Cup, which had previously been played for and won by the ADF in 2008 and 2019.

At the invitation of Hockey New Zealand the matches were played alongside the Federation of International Hockey Pro League series which saw the New Zealand, Australian and Great Britain men’s and women’s teams play each other in a series of matches at the Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub.

All of the NZDF/ADF matches were very competitive hard fought affairs as you would expect when New Zealand and Australia play against each other in sport. Rivals on the field, mates off the field and plenty of banter. All of the matches played on day one and two resulted in draws and could have gone either way epitomised by the results in both of the men’s games coming down to goals being scored in the dying stages of the matches.

Results from the first two women’s matches were 1–1 with PTE Rosemary Reed scoring for NZDF, and 0–0 draw. In the deciding match played on Anzac Day the NZDF women applied the pressure to the ADF women coming away with a much deserved 3–0 win in a competitive and hard fought match. Scorers for the NZDF were A Nadia Mwila, PTE Rosemary Reed and CPL Bailey McNair.

Results for the first two men’s matches were both 3–3 draws with LAC Byron Buys (2) and AC Andrew Stretton scoring the goals in the first game while CPL Craig Hilbourne, PTE Dylan Mugglestone and LTCDR Jan Peterson scored for NZDF in the second match. In the deciding match also played on Anzac Day the ADF secured a 3–1 win in another competitive and hard fought match which saw the NZDF pull their keeper and substitute him for an additional field player in the hopes of securing a 2–2 draw. It wasn’t to be with the ADF scoring a third and decisive goal in the last seconds of the match, to square the series. This resulted in the NZDF vs ADF Hockey Challenge Cup being shared.

Anzac Day saw both contingents attend the Dawn Service at Burnham with NZDF and ADF representatives laying wreathes on behalf of the contingents.

Ahead of the Blacksticks Women’s match against Australia at Nga

Puna Wai, representatives from the NZDF and ADF conducted an Anzac Day commemoration which included the reading of the ode in Te Reo (delivered by PTE Ariana Blackwood) followed by the Last Post, a minute’s silence and Reveille with the Last Post played by CPL Marc Ellis. Additionally flag bearers from the NZDF (ENS Charlotte Thomas and AC Andrew Stretton) and their ADF counterparts were positioned in front of the New Zealand and Australia women’s and men’s teams for their respective national anthems.

NZFDF players of the matches during the series went to CPL Jade Forman, POCSS Samantha Scothern and LCPL Petra Dye-Hutchinson for the women while PTE Dylan Muggleston, LTCDR Jan Peterson and LCPL Kent Horsley were NZDF men’s players of the matches.

At the conclusion of the tournament Corporal Jade Forman was named NZDF Women’s Player of the Series and Private Dylan Mugglestone was named the NZDF Male Player of the Series. Additionally a men’s and women’s

Anzac Squad was named. Captain Sandy Mitchell, AC Kristen Smith, CPL Jade Forman, PTE Rosemary Reed, LCPL Petra Dye-Hutchinson and 2LT Elese Russell were named in the women’s squad with PTE Dylan Muggleston, LAC Byron Buys, LCPL Kent Horsley, A Myles Vos and LTCDR Jan Peterson being named in the men’s squad.