Tambellup star Penny Squibb helps Hockeyroos win Trans-Tasman series against New Zealand Blacksticks

Tambellup’s Penny Squibb and the Hockeyroos ended a nine-month hiatus from playing international hockey last week. Squibb was part of the Australian national women’s team that played a four-match Trans-Tasman series against New Zealand in Auckland that began on Tuesday, May 10. Last year’s Olympic Games was the last time the Hockeyroos took to the pitch internationally. The new-look Hockeyroos squad featured a host of young talent as they build towards this year’s World Cup and Commonwealth Games. It was a successful return to competition as they won the series 2-0 over the Blacksticks. The Tambellup-raised Squibb was making just her 15th appearance for the Hockeyroos in the first match of the series on Tuesday. The Blacksticks led 2-0 heading into the last quarter but the young and inexperienced Hockeyroos fought back to draw the first of the four-game series. The Hockeyroos had to fight back from two goals down in the opening match and escaped with a 2-2 draw after late goals from Maddy Fitzpatrick and Mariah Williams. Fitzpatrick opened their account in the 47th minute and then a minute later the Hockeyroos were awarded another penalty corner. Squibb’s drag flick caught a New Zealand defender and the Hockeyroos were awarded a penalty stroke, which Williams duly dispatched into the top corner to draw Australia level. The game marked a return to Hockeyroos colours for Squibb, who was ruled out of the Olympic Games in Tokyo last year with a quad injury days before the team departed. The Hockeyroos won the second match of the series on Thursday, thanks to a double from captain Brooke Peris. Peris opened the scoring against the Blacksticks in the 13th minute before the hosts hit back after half-time to level scores. A 57th minute strike from Peris guided the Hockeyroos to a 2-1 victory to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Squibb missed the third match on Saturday due to illness but a first international goal from WA’s Shanea Tonkin helped the Hockeyroos to a 1-1 draw with the Blacksticks. The Hockeyroos rounded out the series with a 2-1 win on Sunday. Goals from Rebecca Greiner and Peris put the stamp on a dominant performance. Squibb also didn’t feature in the fourth and final game.