Hockey Match Reports: Dec 3-5
Women’s A League: Swifts A vs Wildcats A: Final score: 0-1
Wildcats dominated the first half gaining penalty corners in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 25th minute. Swifts only chance of the half came in the 34th minute when Lorina Harvey struck a penalty corner wide of goal.
In the 41st minute of the second half Raven Pearman shot wide after a good build up work by Lorendae Symonds. Both teams then had chances from penalty corners and in the 60th minute Wildcats’ Nicola Fox scored a field goal from a shot that was deflected by a defenders stick onto the post and into the goal giving the ‘keeper’ Taj Branch no chance in her first ever game of hockey which sealed the win for Wildcats.
Special mention to Swifts stand in ‘keeper’ Taj Branch as she saved many of Wildcats’ shots on goal.
Canaries A vs Swallows A: Final score: 4-5
This game was played in windy and very wet weather, but that didn’t deter these two teams from commencing with play.
Canaries started play with no goalie and Swallows got in three quick goals when Jennifer Chisnall opened the lead in the 4th minute from a field goal assisted by Maria Dobinson and in the 8th minute captain Elizabeth Stewart doubled the lead from another field goal. Kelli Nusum would score Swallows third field goal in the 15th minute again assisted by Maria Dobinson. Canaries Joanne Smith-Barrow would slip a goal in past Swallows ‘keeper’ two minutes before the end of the first half bringing the score 3-1 to Swallows.
Canaries Joanne Smith-Barrow would open the score through a beautifully orchestrated goal in the 41st minute of the second half from a field goal shot to make the score 3-2. In this tightly fought match Swallows’ Lisa LeBlanc edged ahead to 4-2 with a field goal in the 46th minute. Joanne Smith-Barrow completed her hat-trick with a 51st minute field goal cutting the lead to 1, however Swallows’ Jennifer Chisnall restored the Swallows two goal lead when she scored her second field goal of the game in the 55th minute. However, refusing to give up without a fight, Canaries’ Zina Jones drove the ball into the goal in the 57th minute, making it 5-4 in what was a very tough contested game. The final score of 5-4 would seal the game for Swallows. There were some tremendous defending by Mallory Towlson, Heather Sinclair and Ellen Goodyer. Great mid-field play by Hannah Ellison, Gemma Rowe and Elizabeth Stewart.
Women’s B League: Canaries B vs Cardinals B: Final score: 0-1
The first game of the day started a bit sluggish and the cold and wind didn’t help. Canaries were the aggressor of the two teams and that pressure resulted in two short corners, but Cardinals stout defensive unit ensured no advantage was taken from the short corner pressure sustained and the half finished scoreless.
It was quite different in the second half with Cardinals picking up the pace with quick movement on the ball and midfielder Candy ‘bulldozer’ Foggo would dribble from the half way line all the way up to the right of the ‘D’ where she cracked the ball into the circle to find Kati Flath in the 40th minute at the top who swept the ball into the left corner of the goal which caught the Canaries ‘keeper’ off guard. Even with continuous pressure by both teams the result didn’t change and Cardinals won 1-0. It was a somewhat quiet game for Cardinals ‘keeper’ Holly Augustus.
Swifts B vs Bluebirds B: Final score: 0-0
Swifts started strongly and it was over 5 minutes before Bluebirds entered the Swifts 25 metre area. Swifts had chances in the 8th minute when Iman Smith shot wide from a penalty corner, and 2 minutes later Alex Francis shot wide from close range. Bluebirds looked to have scored from a penalty corner in the 28th minute, but Rhea Gibbons made a wonderful goal line save. In the second half both sides had several scoring opportunities but neither could find the back of the net and these top two teams had to share the points of a scoreless draw. Bluebirds’ ‘keeper’ Carla Pedro saved a number of cracking shots from the Swifts forwards ably assisted by an impenetrable defense led by Kris Soares and Morag Gilliland with Kourtney Fassler and Lisa Freeman playing outstanding hockey in the midfield.
Men’s League: Polecats vs Rebels: Final Score: 7-3
Polecats took the lead in the 16th minute off a field goal shot by Hannes Robbertz, and two minutes later Nigel Deane doubled the score from a penalty stroke. In the 25th minute Rebels’ Richard Minors would score a field goal, but in the 29th minute Donnie Simmons re-established the Polecats two goal lead with a field goal. The first half ended 3-1 in favour of Polecats.
It was Rebels who would open the score in the 39th minute of the second half as a result of their continued effort and were rewarded with a field goal off the stick of Derek Thiesen, only for Donnie Simmons to come back with another field goal in the 48th minute. One minute later Polecats’ Richard Marriot would convert a penalty corner to take the score 5-2. In the 52nd minute Donnie Simmons would complete his hat-trick for the Polecats with a field goal, together with a field goal in the 59th minute by Dylan Pacheco to advance the score 7-2 to the Polecats. Despite the score line, the Rebels fighting effort paid off when Martin McHugh scored a field goal in the 65th minute, but the final score was 7-3 in favour of the Polecats.
Panthers vs Upstarts: Final score: 2-1
This was a very even and well fought game, with little action near each goals. In the 14th minute Panthers’ Manny Faria would open the scoring from a field goal and four minutes later Mark Ray would score a field goal from a very difficult angle. In the 31st minute Upstarts’ Donny Moniz would score a field goal, after a cross from Gary Tavares to end the first half 2-1. Upstarts took the initiative in the second half through Gary Tavares and Keir Savage, but couldn’t score. Panthers had some counterattacks taking advantage of the speed of Jack Finlay and Logan Alexander, but none of them found the net and the game ended 2-1 to Panthers.
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