Under 16 National Championships Conclude In Hobart

Published Wed 22 Apr 2026

The 2026 Under 16 National Hockey Championships have come to a close at the Aurora Energy Tasmanian Hockey Centre, capping off a thrilling week of high-quality junior hockey from across the nation. Tasmania proudly hosted the tournament and delivered strong performances in both the girls’ and boys’ competitions, showcasing resilience, skill, and outstanding team spirit. Across six days of intense competition, both squads faced the country’s best, producing memorable moments, dramatic finishes, and individual brilliance.

Bush and Meikle Lead Scoring Charts

A standout achievement came from Joey Bush, who claimed the boys’ tournament top goalscorer award with an incredible 11 goals. Lucy Meikle managed the same feat in the Girls', scoring a total of five goals, though unfortunately, field goals were used as a tie-breaker to determine the official award.

Sixth Place Finish For Girls

Tasmania’s girls produced a determined and competitive campaign, highlighted by their progression to the quarter-finals and a series of impressive performances against top-tier opposition.

Their tournament began with a tough clash against eventual champions Queensland, falling 4-1 but competing hard, followed by a strong bounce-back win over the Northern Territory, where Lucy Meikle’s penalty corner prowess proved decisive. As the group stage unfolded, the girls continued to build momentum, pushing the silver medalists New South Wales to the brink in a narrow 3–2 defeat, arguably their most complete performance early in the week.

Day 3 saw them earn their way into the quarter finals with a spirited 3–2 victory over Victoria Development. Goals from Savannah Rice, Essie Pelham, and Amaya Williams powered Tasmania into the quarter-finals, with goalkeeper Abigail Smith playing a crucial role in holding off a late surge.

Despite a narrow 1–0 quarter-final loss to the ACT, the girls responded strongly with a convincing 3–0 win over Western Australia Black, featuring goals from Essie Pelham, Sophie West, and Lucy Meikle.

On the final day, Tasmania looked set to finish strongly, racing to a 2–0 lead against Victoria thanks to Lucy Meikle and Claudia Windsor. However, momentum shifted as Victoria mounted a comeback, eventually securing a 3–2 win via a penalty stroke. The result saw Tasmania finish sixth overall, a placing that reflects both their competitiveness and growth throughout the week.

A Tournament of Almosts For Boys

The Tasmanian boys’ tournament was defined by late drama, and the exceptional scoring form of Joey Bush, who emerged as one of the competition’s standout players and scored a tournament high 11 times.

The campaign began with late heartbreak, which would become a them for the week, as Tasmania surrendered a late lead to fall 3–2 to New South Wales, despite two early goals from Bush. A thrilling 3–3 draw with South Australia followed, with Bush netting a hat-trick but the side conceding a late equaliser. A 1-0 loss to Western Australia showcased plenty of defensive grit, but they couldn't find a way to get on the scoreboard.

Day 3 brought one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament. Again, a late goal proved costly, as a final-minute penalty stroke saw Queensland hit back from a Bush opening goal, and secure a tense 1–1 draw at the end of regulation time, forcing a shootout. In a marathon penalty shootout that stretched to eight rounds, Hamish McGuire delivered a heroic performance between the posts, but it was not to be, as Queensland won 2-1, and it meant the side would have to settle for a spot in the consolation group, to fight it out for 9th-12th.

The boys bounced back strongly on Day 5, defeating the Northern Territory 3–2. Goals from Bush and Shanon Waite secured the win, with Bush’s tally climbing to eight goals at that stage of the tournament.

The final day saw the side play out a pulsating 3–3 draw with Victoria, Bush delivered his second hat-trick of the tournament, taking his total to an outstanding 11 goals. Despite leading three times, Tasmania was unable to hold on for the win, and saw Tasmania finish in 10th position.

Beyond the results, the tournament was a celebration of junior hockey, made possible by the dedication of players, coaches, officials, and volunteers. Special recognition goes to Tasmanian technical officials Greer Wells (Tournament Director), Ali Judd (Assistant TD/TO), Angela May (Umpire Manager), Andrew Hickman (Umpire Manager), and Aleda Bayley (Umpire), who was selected to umpire the Girls Gold Medal match between New South Wales and Queensland.