Fleta Page August 26, 2012
Australian representative Glenn Turner back in action at in the Canberra Capital League, squeezes past United defender Craig Dent. Photo: Colleen Petch
THE LAST time he took to a hockey field was the bronze medal game at the Olympic Games two weeks ago, but Glenn Turner proved his value on a smaller stage at the National Hockey Centre yesterday, scoring a hat-trick in Wests' 4-2 win over United in the Men's Capital League.
It had been two years since Turner played in the Canberra league, but he had no trouble slotting back in with his old side.
''I just really enjoyed it, straight back in with the boys, it felt like I never left,'' he said.
''I hadn't touched a stick or done any running since [the bronze medal game], all I'd done was walk the parade in Sydney and a couple of little walks, so [it was] good to stretch the legs and get rid of the cobwebs.''
The ''stretch of the legs'' resulted in three goals for the striker, despite coming up against former Kookaburras defender Aaron Hopkins, and some new faces who impressed him.
''Some of the younger guys from United at the back played really well today, I don't really even know them, so it's good for Canberra hockey, and good for [Canberra] Lakers that guys are stepping up,'' Turner said.
Turner opened the scoring in the 6th minute, when a mistake from the United goalkeeper gave him an easy finish.
James Jewell levelled the match at 1-1 before half-time, scoring the equaliser in the 30th minute from a short corner flick.
After the break it was Turner who again struck early, finding space at the back post to give Wests the lead.
United controlled the next 20 minutes of play, but the Wests defence, and 15-year-old goalkeeper Brendan Hill, was superb. United striker Iain Davidson finally managed to slot one home to level the score at 2-2, only for Turner to show his class. In the last five minutes Turner earned a short corner for Adam Baxter to convert, and completed his hat-trick in the dying seconds.
The two teams are set to meet again in two weeks in the third and fourth placed minor semi-final. Wests coach Peter Legge-Wilkinson said he hoped to have Turner play again in the coming weeks, provided the Aussie striker gets good news from scans of a troublesome left hip tomorrow.