Caitlin Keep and Rebecca Wood challenging the opposition

Phew what a scorcher!

Today was a mix of relaxation (ie sun and shopping) and an intense game of hockey against a Cairns Hockey Association "composite" side, meaning that select players from various Cairns school sides turned up at a pristine astroturf pitch ready to face the Epsom College U17A XI. 

The water-based pitch, cool as it was, was of little help against the fierce "winter" heat - this is supposedly the coldest time of year in Australia - and some equally fiery opposition. In their shiny yellow lycra one-pieces, the Cairns team was highly skilled and just as highly motivated, but the Epsom girls rose to the occasion and played their best game of hockey on the tour so far to maintain their unbeaten record.

The first quarter was a little touch and go, but a superb cross from Caitlin Keep, converted by Nat Sciver, put Epsom in the driving seat. With Tash Nichols scoring a textbook goal from a penalty corner during the second quarter and a third goal resulting from some aggressive circle play from the entire attacking unit, much to the chagrin of the opposition, the game was in the bag.

To their credit, the Cairns team fought back in the fourth quarter, scoring twice and battling until the final moments of the game, but they were unable to take victory away from the Epsom girls, who walked off the pitch bathed as much in sweat as they were in glory.

After the game, the party made their way back to the luxurious Lakes Resort and Spa for small group dinners, some venturing back into the centre of Cairns and some basking in the cool comfort of their own flats.