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The nation’s peak hockey association is investigating a country town team that let an opponent win in the dying minutes of a game in order to meet an easier team in the finals.
Key points:
- Towns South Hockey Club has apologised for its behaviour, blaming it on a coaching decision
- Hockey Australia is investigating the matter
- Opposing team Wests Hockey Club president Julie Cockman says they had no discussion with the hosts
Towns South Hockey Club last night admitted players were directed to “tank” or let the opposing team, Wests Hockey Club, score and win the match.
In a statement, the Western Australian club offered an unconditional apology for the actions of its men’s team last Friday at its home ground in Bunbury.
They blamed their coach for the tanking episode.
“There is no reasonable justification for the action which involved some players following a coaching directive to allow Wests to score two goals tangibly unopposed to draw the game,” the statement said.
“The action taken violates both the Towns Souths Hockey Club and South West Hockey Association codes of conduct and is not congruent with the values of our club.”
The club said it was cooperating fully with South West Hockey Association’s investigation and would not comment further.
But Hockey Australia, the sports’ national association, has now confirmed it has stepped in to conduct an investigation of its own through its integrity unit.
“Hockey Australia is aware of an alleged incident around match integrity in Western Australia last weekend,” Hockey Australia said in a statement.
“Match integrity and fair competition is of the utmost importance to the sport of hockey.”
“An investigation into the alleged incident has commenced, and a thorough, independent process will take place.”
Opposing team ‘confused’ by tanking
The team had come under intense scrutiny by the public and in local media.
Wests Hockey Club president Julie Cockman said no discussion had taken place with Towns South Hockey Club before the game.
“As a team, we were left pretty confused by the events that unfolded,” she said.
“They went with the intention of good quality hockey and ideally winning.”
In an ironic turn of events, Towns are scheduled to play the Busselton Wests again this weekend.
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