Hockey: Best on a show in the SW

International hockey moves from the Lanco Super Series in Perth to the South West thisweek with fans getting the chance to watch a series of internationals featuring some of the best men’s and women’s teams in the world.

Picture by David Bailey: South West Striker Simon Orchard and Hockeyroo Fiona Boyce

Australia, and teams from India, Pakistan and China arrived in the South West earlier this week to start their 10-Test campaign on the Busselton Hockey Stadium yesterday evening with the Australian men’s and women’s teams taking on Pakistan and China before moving north on Saturday to train on the Bunbury Stadium.

While the men’s line-up is exciting with Bunbury’s former Marist and South West Strikers star goalkeeper Tristan Clemons and Strikers’ colleague Simon Orchard the big drawcards, there is sure to be disappointment among home fans that former Bunbury Cathedral Grammar head girl Jayde Taylor will not be playing for the Hockeyroos.

Taylor, one of the stars of the present team, is in the Hockeyroos’ leadership group and after a huge season is being rested until the final two internationals in Perth on November 2 and 3.

‘‘Jayde Taylor and captain Madonna Blyth have commitments in Perth and are being rested for the South West series,’’ operations manager of the women’s program, Ben Tarbox said.

He paid tribute to the Department of Sport and Recreation for bringing international hockey to the South West.

Apart from the matches themselves Bunbury fans will be able to see the internationals on the training track on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

The South West International series hits Bunbury this Sunday when the Hockeyroos take on China at 1pm, followed by the Kookaburras v Pakistan game at 3pm.