The meteoric rise of the Pilbara Krocs continues with their second-place finish at the country championships

A Pilbara hockey team has come agonisingly close to making it back-to-back State championship wins after losing to Eastern Districts in a penalty shootout in the final. The CHB Group Women’s Hockey Championship took place over the weekend, on June 17 and 18, and the Pilbara Krocs have continued with their strong form from last year with a division two silver medal. In 2022, Pilbara News reported on the team’s division three triumph and subsequent promotion. Team coach Fleur Trewick said the Krocs’ rise in the tournament was typified this year by their semifinal win against competition stalwart Bunbury. “Getting into the final of division two was the main highlight,” she said. “It’s always good to beat Bunbury to get into the grand final because Bunbury has won for years.” The Krocs drew their opening match 1-1 against the Central Great Southern Region, before losing to Eastern Districts 2-1 in the first two pool games. They bounced back for the third game beating Roe 3 -1 and then downed Bunbury in the semifinal 1-0. With scores tied at one apiece in the final against Eastern Districts, the game went to a shootout with the Krocs losing 3-1. Standout player, Shona Haynes, who scored in the final, was selected to the WA State Country team which will take part in the Hockey Australia Country Championships in Victoria in August. There was less luck for the Krocs division four team, who ended up coming last after going winless in the tournament. The 2023 tournament was the first time Pilbara Krocs had two teams in what was their fourth outing in the tournament.