Outrage as hockey team tanks game to get better run in the finals – only to have their plan backfire
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Outrage as hockey team STOP PLAYING for three minutes to throw game and get a better run in the finals – only to have their plan backfire spectacularly
- Bunbury hockey team purposely concedes goals for better finals draw
- Hockey game finishes 4-4 with official ‘disgusted’ by the tanking incident
- Tanking idea backfires with both sides having to play again this weekend
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A hockey team from Western Australia has intentionally conceded goals in the final minutes of their match in the hope to land an easier finals path – and the controversial tactic has enraged the club’s life members.
The decision by the Towns South team to tank during the final minutes of their game against Wests in Bussleton last weekend has caused such a furore that it’s prompted a local league investigation.
Towns South were leading the game 4-2 with seven minutes to go in their final regular season clash when their coach reportedly told them to let their opponents score two goals to make it 4-4.
Towns South Hockey Club. Daily Mail Australia does not imply that any of the players pictured in the above photo were involved in the tanking incident.
Wests Hockey Club. Daily Mail Australia does not imply that any of the players pictured in the above photo were involved in the tanking incident.
Players from the Towns South side stood still as their opponents scored two goals to make the scores level.
The tanking team hoped that the result would give them an easier run in the first round of the finals – but the plan looks to have backfired and both teams will now have to meet again for a second consecutive week.
Local umpire Jarrod Booth – who was officiating the game at the Bunbury Hockey Stadium – was disgusted by the display from the Towns South side.
Umpire Jarrod Booth (wearing yellow) was officiating the game and was ‘disgusted’ by the tanking tactic
‘They had just scored their fourth goal with about seven minutes to go and their coach yelled out to let them get two,’ he told The West Australian.
‘One guy went to tackle them and their whole team yelled at him to stop.
‘I didn’t know what I could do as an umpire, obviously I had never been in that situation before.
‘I thought it was rubbish. I was pretty disgusted.’
A former Towns South club president said he was outraged by the tanking incident.
‘It was pretty disappointing to hear of the event that took place and I’d hope that the club took the matter seriously and took some action,’ he said.
A Towns South side in action. Daily Mail Australia does not imply that any of the players pictured in the above photo were involved in the tanking incident.
‘It’s pretty disappointing that this happened in our premier level of hockey here in the South West but it should not happen anywhere.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted both clubs in question for further comment.
The next game between the two sides will take place in Bussleton this weekend – with Towns South finishing fourth on the ladder and Wests finishing third.