TWEED Border open women’s team had one clear aim at the state championships at the weekend.

It was to win the open division and be promoted to premier division.

Everything was going to plan, until the last game of the tournament.

In its round matches, Tweed Border beat Mt Isa 7-0, Rockhampton 5-2, Maryborough 5-2 and had a tough tussle to edge out Toowoomba 3-1.

Many people at the championships were impressed by the style of hockey being played by the Tweed women.

Coach Scott Fitzpatrick said Tweed’s rapid transfer of the ball really tested the fitness of the opposition teams.

Assistant coach Brian Fitzpatrick said Hockey Queensland officials had big predictions for the Tweed Border team in the near future.

The last-round game was against Sunshine Coast, which was equal on the ladder but behind the Tweed team on goal average.

Unfortunately, Tweed’s goal-scoring machine Kim Tuckwell was taken out by a bad tackle towards the end of the previous game and was left with a strained hamstring.

Sunshine Coast scored two goals early in the first half and Tuckwell, who played despite her injury, managed to score a goal for Tweed Border to trail 2-1 at half-time.

For the first 20 minutes after the resumption, Tweed Border penetrated the attacking circle on several occasions.

Shots at goal were defended well and two hit the post. The team needed only to draw the game to be promoted but it wasn’t to be.

With three Queensland Scorchers in its ranks, Sunshine Coast had other plans.

With five minutes left on the clock, it scored from a penalty corner to take the match 3-1 and Tweed Border had lost its chance of promotion.

Considering eight members of the team are aged between 14 and 18, and four of these players are already identified by Hockey Queensland at under-18 level, the future looks bright for promotion in the near future.

Tuckwell was unstoppable as the team’s highest goal-scorer.

She was well supported by Sophie Rodda, Cath Conlon and Vanessa Robson.

Gabi Nance, Savannah Fitzpatrick and Margie Coleman gave a great foundation to the midfield of the team.

In defence, Lou Ferguson, Allie Farrell, Hayley Seaton, Celeste Murray, Madison Fitzpatrick, and Deb Dolan provided a robust wall, which teams found difficult to break, while at the back Djena Jordan played superbly in goal.