IT WAS fourth time lucky for Lawson Patten-Williams after Western Australia broke through to win the School Sport Australia national hockey 16 and under championships in Adelaide.
After leading with minutes to go in their final against New South Wales, the match was forced into an overtime five-man shootout.
Despite Patten-Williams’ shot blocked, WA went on to win 3-1 and take the championship title.
“It was so exciting,” Patten-Williams said.
“One of our coaches stands behind the goals during the game and he just ran on to the field.
“It was a great feeling; it definitely made it feel better after coming so close so many times.”
The midfielder had never won a national title having placed second on two occasions and third in his other appearance.
Last year Patten-Williams was part of the WA 15s hockey team that placed second in Darwin behind New South Wales.
WA didn’t lose a game during the tournament but because with no grand final, placed second on goal difference to NSW.
On that occasion Williams said WA were up three-nil in the opening half against NSW but let through four second-half goals to draw four-all and inevitably lose the state title based on that result.
But this year Patten-Williams had his revenge with WA beating NSW in the final to win the national title.
“We would have won this year if there was no final, there was a lot of nervous energy,” he said.
“I slept pretty well, when I woke up there was three and a half hours to the game, it was on my mind the whole day.”
It was WA who started the better of the two sides, scoring the opening goal; the only goal for the first half.
NSW responded in the second but WA was able to regain the lead soon after.
After blowing a three-goal lead last year, WA refused to give in.
“I didn’t even let myself think about it, I just was just trying to do my part to win,” Patten-Williams said.
NSW levelled scores with eight minutes remaining but it was WA who came away with the win.
“I was so disappointed [about his blocked shot], I didn’t want to be the one to let us down,” he said.
The win was the first time WA had won the national 16s title in eight years and just the sixth time in the competitions 36-year history. Patten-Williams will now return to club level before trying out for the State under 18s team later this year.
