Hockey Weekend Reports: Jan 8/9
Women’s A League: Swifts A vs Ravens A, Final score: 1-4
Ravens started strongly and gained a penalty corner in the first minute which was blocked by Swifts’ runner out Toni Fray and ultimately saved by their ‘keeper’ Cheresa LeMaire to prevent Ravens going into an early lead. Ravens did get on the scoresheet in the 28th minute when Katie Masters scored a field goal. LeMaire had made a great save but could not stop the second shot.
At the beginning of the second half Swifts defense went to sleep as a short pass at the top of the circle allowed Jessica Hollis to shoot unopposed in the 37th minute. However, a minute later a long pass by Swifts’ Alex Francis into the Ravens circle was picked up by Ryanne Bardgett who scored with a reverse stick shot in the 37th minute. In the 43rd minute Hollis scored again as the Swifts defense failed again, and Ravens’ Kristen Moreby rounded out the scoring in the 52nd minute from a field goal to end the game 4-1 to Ravens.
Budgies A vs Canaries A, Final score: 0-0
There was pressure on both teams to pull out a win this weekend with it being the first hockey game back after the break and neither team has taken a win against the other this season. Canaries were out with a very strong forward line but the Budgies defence were ready for them. Budgies had guest players playing up front who are still away in university which included Yvonna Osborne and Francesca Cacace.
Mid-way through the first half Budgies thought they scored from a penalty corner but the goal was disallowed. The rest of the game saw fighting in the mid-field to end 0-0. This game was played in front of a large crowd.
Wildcats A vs Swifts A, Final score: 3-2
Swifts started brightly and in the second minute Lorina Harvey’s penalty corner shot was turned round the post by the ‘keepers’ stick.
Swifts had little attack for the rest of the half and allowed Wildcats’ Susanna Almeida to score a field goal in the 20th minute.
Swifts changed their line up at half time and Ryanne Bargett’s shot which looked goal bound in the 37th minute hit the sideboard instead. Wildcats’ Almeida doubled the lead with her second field goal in the 43rd minute. Swifts’ Iman Smith squeezed a goal passed Wildcats ‘keeper’ from a narrow angle in the 49th minute. Wildcats’ Almeida scored her hat-trick from a penalty corner in the 57th minute, but with 4 minutes left Swifts’ Raven Pearman picked up the ball on the halfway line, passed to Iman Smith whose great pass to Bargett was slammed passed the Wildcats’ ‘keeper’ as Swifts moved the ball 50 yards in no time at all. Despite an all out attack Swifts could not find a way to tie up the game and the result was 3-2 to Wildcats.
Women’s B League, Canaries B vs Bluebirds B, Final score: 1-1
This much improved Canaries team didn’t make it easy for second place Bluebirds. In the 24th minute it was Canaries’ Gabie Gabric who was first on the scoreboard scoring from a field goal, but Bluebirds’ Kourtney Fassler would get the equalizer in the 58th minute from a penalty corner to end the game all tied up 1-1.
Ravens B vs Cardinals B, Final score: 2-0
This was to be a tough game between these two teams with the likes of Georgia Harris and Katie Masters and as Cardinals were missing a few key players had to shuffle their players into unfamiliar positions. Play commenced with both team attacking and defending well, but it was Ravens’ Georgia Harris who slammed the ball home in the 15th minute which gave Ravens the lead. The first half saw many high balls which resulted in Cardinals’ defender Kaywell Outerbridge getting hit in the face and shoulder as she tried to defend some of Ravens balls either in or around the 25 metre line. No more goals were scored in the first half despite many attempts by Ravens. Cardinals’ Candy Foggo played an awesome game as center back and at times would be seen powering through the mid-field as she advanced the ball beating Ravens mid-field and placing many balls either into the circle or passing into the Ravens defensive area hoping for a deflection from her teammates on the forward line. Cardinals’ ‘keeper’ Holly Augustus was definitely the keeper of the day when she played a stormer of a game as she at times was seen out stretched on the ground clearing the ball with her stick and just doing her very best to prevent Ravens numerous attempts to score more goals.
Ten minutes from the end of the second half saw Cardinals’ Candy Foggo who was moved out of the back to midfield hoping to create some aggression to a somewhat flat side, and as a result of that Ravens’ Katie Masters took that opportunity to double the lead in the 66th minute from a field goal to end the game 2-0 to them.
Men’s League: Rebels vs Polecats, Final score: 1-3
Polecats’ Richard Marriott scored in the 2nd minute as a result of a penalty corner to give Polecats an early lead. Donny Simmons scored in the 13th minute from a field goal and then doubled in the 16th minute. The first half ended 3-0 to Polecats.
It was Rebels’ Ross Wilyman who would pull a goal back in the 56th minute, but Polecats would be the winner with 3-1.
Upstarts vs Panthers, Final score: 7-4
Both teams played without a goal keeper. It would be Panthers’ Tony Ward who would convert a penalty corner in the 2nd minute to take the lead.
Phillip Philpott would double the lead in the 6th minute from a field goal. Upstarts’ Jon Sutcliffe would pull a goal back in the 26th minute from a field goal, but one minute later Panthers’ Philpott would advance his team the lead as a result of his second field goal. Upstarts’ Alan Gilbertson would score a field goal in the 35th minute to end the first half 3-2 to Panthers. Upstarts’ John Thompson would score his first field goal in the 43rd minute of the second half, and it would be Upstarts who would now take the lead when Gary Tavares would execute a penalty corner in the 58th minute, and Gilbertson would score his second field goal in the 62nd minute to give them the 5-3 lead, but it didn’t stop there. Upstarts’ Bruce Smith then advanced the score to 6-3 in the 67th minute, and Gilbertson would complete his hat-trick in the 69th minute. Panthers’ Jack Finlay would score the final goal of the game seconds before the end of the 70th minute to end the game 7-4 to Upstarts.
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