One of Launceston's sportiest families achieved a remarkable feat on Saturday when sisters Hannah and Meg Connolly scored simultaneous hat-tricks in the Northern hockey and soccer competitions.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In action at opposite ends of the city, Hannah scored her treble in South Launceston's 8-0 Greater Northern League win over Smithton at St Leonards around the same time that Meg took her season goal tally to 27 as Riverside Olympic clocked up a sixth straight win with a 3-1 Northern Championship triumph over Devonport at Windsor Park.
The sisters played both sports before focusing on their favourite and were delighted to share in the unusual family achievement.
"It was a bit weird, but kinda cool," said Hannah, 20.
Meg, 18, added: "I only knew when Mum told me after the game. I think it's great."
With parents Chris and Mel long-serving South Launceston hockey players, the sisters were destined to follow sporting footsteps and the family has spent countless hours at the St Leonards hockey centre and the Northern Tasmanian Junior Soccer Association's grounds at Churchill Park.
"They really had no choice," said Mel, who played hockey from Grade 7. "I used to run around the athletics track with them in prams and was like a tag team with Chris."
In addition to his long involvement with South Launceston, Chris also played footy with Launceston and St Pat's old boys.
"Our family have been playing hockey for years and when we were growing up we always seemed to be somewhere between Churchill Park and St Leonards," Hannah said.
"I used to play both on Friday nights. I'd go to Churchill Park, play there for Riverside, hop straight in the car up to St Leonards and run straight on there as well.
"I enjoyed hockey more. I love the intensity and a lot of the girls I play with are friends outside of hockey and we've been playing together since under-14s and they are like a little family.
"You build really strong relationships through the game."
Meg, whose hat-trick was her sixth of the season, added: "I was the opposite, I played hockey but preferred soccer.
"It's the people that make it. I've played with people like Chelsea Wing for ages and we really push each other. When we took the step from 16s to women it was good to have each other there."
Both sisters attended Riverside Primary and High School and Launceston College.
Their hockey dynasty dates back to great grandfather Ted Lambert and great uncle Graeme both playing in South Launceston's 1957 state premiership.
Hannah continued a family tradition established by her grandfather Michael and great grandfather Ted by captaining the state to the 2018 national indoor champs in Goulburn.
The girls' cousin Brad Buchanan took over the men's captaincy from his uncle Chris in 2015 and has since led the side to three more Northern premierships.