WEST GIPPSLAND HOCKEY ASSOCIATION Inc.

 

PRESS REPORTS FOR:   Saturday 17 April 2010

 Perfect warm weather conditions saw many tight and competitive games, being played out in all age groups in Round 1, of the 2010 Winter season for the West Gippsland Hockey Association. We would like to welcome many new players to hockey this year, and will enjoy to watch them develop into well experience players by the end of the season.

Under 9’s

Aztecs One  def  Warriors Two 2 - 0

A great start to the season for Aztecs with all team members present. Hayden Smith scored in the first minute of play. Alannah Balcombe pushed the ball well. First time player, Ryan Giles enthusiastically charged the goals and Mikayla McDonald showed great skills for her first game. Kaitlyn Spragg and Chloe Balcombe defended well to help keep the Warriors goalless. Great job by Steph Coulter, also warding off many warrior attacks in the last minutes of play. Special mention to Claire Giles for playing a great game for the Warriors.

Goal Scorers: Hayden Smith - 2

Warriors found themselves short for their first game, but with a help from the Aztecs team, they were able to play an exciting game. Unfortunally Warriors were unable to score, but was able to push a lot of play to there end which they were able to keep Aztecs to a low score. Wade Goodwin played a great first game to the season and to hockey.

 

Drouids def Gulls Two  3 - 0

Excellent start to round one with Kelsey Powell, Courtney McDonald, Lachlan Pearson and Nathan Smith teaming up to dominate the attack. Henry Grant and Connah Smythe played a smooth game and done very well in position. Also Tamsyn Pearson, Austin Williamson and Mikayla Smith followed the play well.

Goal Scorers: Nathan Smith 1, Courtney McDonald 2.

 

Warriors One def  Aztecs Two  2 - 1

Warriors had a great first match with a warm welcome to all their new players. Fantastic play from Seth Calway, which he had many exciting runs down the field. Warriors played a team game with many players showing great skill work, which led Kate Rinehart to score.

Goal Scorers: Kate Rinehart (2)

Saffron and Erin Park and Rachel Prout played there first ever game of hockey and played exceedingly well. Chloe and Anthony Forrest have improved from last year with fantastic attacking skills. Both teams enjoyed a great game of hockey in the sunshine.

Goal Scorers: Brittany Forrest (1)

 

Under 11’s

Drouids def Aztecs 1 - 0

A tightly contested match saw under 11’s start the season strongly. First goal of the season by Issac Daly ably set up by Courtney McDonald. Aztec goalie successfully defended other attempts. With a great team effort by all. Brothers Jarrod and Nathan Smith, Grace Park and Caitlin Jones opened up the attacking play

Goal Scorers : Issac Daly  (1)

All Aztecs' players gave the game their best effort to keep the score even until into the second half.  Tim Giles tackled well and pushed the ball strongly. Chloe Scott was not afraid to get in the play, was a strong runner and demonstrated great skills. Leah Rasmussen provided helpful back up and positioned well while Ariane Ross showed real promise, read the play and played a consistent game. It certainly looks a promising season for this team.

 

Gulls def Warriors 1 - 0

With new players coming out of the woodwork, the new look Warriors team look promising. Led by Captain Michael Knersch, the young team made Gulls fight all the way to the final siren. Lachlan Naylor, Mathew Luberink and Jasmine Mead lead the attack with many attempts at breaking the Gulls defence and were solidly backed up by Sarah Ashby, Nicholas Frost and Kate Rinehart, in goals. Considering many of the children met today for the first time, we are anticipating great things from this young team and their esteemed coach Andrew Marks.

 

 
 
 
Under 13’s

Warriors def Gulls 3 - 0

Both teams were enthusiastic for the first game of the season.  Warm weather and sunny skies made the players pretty hot, and the goalies sweltered in their gear.  The teams played well with Warriors winning 3 goals to nil.  The first goal for Warrior’s season was scored by Giselle McNamara in the first half.  Gulls played a good defensive game and the Gulls goalie made some terrific saves as the Warriors eagerly attacked the goal.  Fletcher Boreham scored again for Warriors and Jack Rinehart finished the trifecta.  A good first game for both teams, and all players showed that their skills were not lost despite the summer break.

Goal Scorers: Giselle McNamara (1), Fletcher Boreham (1), Jack Rinehart (1)

 

Under 15’s

Warriors  def Gulls 5 - 4

What a great first game for the Warriors under 15 team. With pleasure Warriors welcomed back Hayley Knersch, Carly Mattson and Ben Murphy as well as new player Shae Honan.

In offence, Hayley, Brendan Noye and the highly vocal captain, Aiden Cumming, displayed strong play. When the defence was pressured goalie Ben Murphy remained strong with the score not reflecting those that didn’t get in. Tayla Stephens and Damian Crawford supported him all the way. A great result for the new coach Janet Boreham. Well done all.

Goal scorers: Brendan Noye (4), Sam Cumming (1)

 

Aztecs drew Drouids 1 – 1

What A good way to start off the season, beautiful weather nice and sunny with a slight breeze. Both teams played a great game, especially with all Aztecs but one player playing two games throughout the day. Sarah Chandler of Under 13’s playing as goalkeeper, we were lucky to only have one goal scored against us. Also in the back line Chris Cooper played and excellent game using some beautiful stick skills and big whacks down to the forward’s with the help of Stuart McKenzie. In the mid field Luke Hall, Lucas, Katie and Michael Finger worked well together and also assisted very well in both defensive and attacking aspects of the game. Chloe Bourke and Todd Mclean also did well on the forward line keeping the ball well up in the attacking area. Overall it was a well played game, and a great team effort by The Aztecs.

Goal Scorers: Michael Finger (1)

Drouids and Aztecs were a strong match for each other in the opening round of the season drawing at 1 all.  Jacob Bush scored first for Drouids and in reply Michael Finger from Aztecs evened the score.  Good attacking and defending were evident as the score stayed even till the games end.  Great show by the fullbacks who were very dominating in both teams.

Goal Scorers: Jacib Bush (1)

 

Under 17’s

Drouids  def Aztecs 6-0

Round 1 started with a 27-degree day. The game started with Drouids getting the first goal. At half time the score was 4-nil. Unfortunately Keshia Leggett was hit in the head with the ball, taking her out of the game. Everyone was sweating, Drouids scored twice more, making the score 6-0.

Goal scorers: Lachlan McLean (1), Sam Stenson (1), Jim McCormack (1), Luke Jamieson 2, Jenna Pedersen (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women’s

Aztecs drew Drouids 4 - 4

Aztecs women experienced a phenomenon that they haven’t seen for a few years – a full team and 3 on the bench! In a hard but friendly game, Aztecs fought valiantly against last year’s premiers. All players contributed well and found the conditions tough and energy zapping.

Tiffany Bourke, Jan Park and Sam Hill were relentless in their defence of the ball and drove Aztecs into attack for much of the game. Alicia Wood-Davies, who scored two goals, enjoyed having extra support on the forward line, thanks to Bridget Ockerse’s determination and new players, Jane Rees and Nat Tyson.  Special mention to Barb out goalie who did an awesome job against Drouid’s attack.

Goal Scorers: Alicia Wood-Davies (2), Bridget Ockerse (1), Jane Rees (1)

Drouids team found themselves short, but with the help of some new players were still able to play a very defensive game, which held Aztecs to a draw. Helen Timbury played an outstanding game, stopping a lot of attacking Aztecs players, then hitting the ball to the forward players. Justine Gooding played strongly on the right side taking the ball into Drouids attacking circle with Claire Wiglesworth. New player Jackie Smythe played high in the circle to score 2 goals with sister Becky Smythe scoring the other two. Meg O’Brien stayed strong in defence with goalie Heather Fleming to keep many attacks from Aztects out.

Goal scorers: Jackie Smythe (2), Becky Smythe (2)

 

Warrior’s def Gulls 8 – 0

Warriors team started the hockey season with a fantastic win over Gulls. With old players coming back, the warrior is going to be a strong team to beat. Many players, played a strong attacking game, to which led to Kim Rinehart, Lisa Smith and Bindi Hatfield scoring a whopping 8 goals. Also would like to give much thanks to Paula Mattson, whom played after working in the canteen all day.

Goal Scorers:Kim Rinehart (2), Lisa Smith(1), Bindi Hatfield (5).

 

Men’s

Drouids def Aztecs 3 – 1

The Drouids Men kicked the season off with a hard fought win. Dan Wiglesworth was strong in the midfield controlling the play well all game with support from Anthony McDonald and Dean Gallagher.  Michael Smyth made some great saves in goals.  John Thomson scored all three goals for the Drouids with assistance from Tom Copping and Chris Addison.

Goal Scorer: John Thomson (3)

The almost summer-like heat of the late afternoon soon took its toll on even the fittest players in this fast attacking game. Both teams battled hard to convert goals with Drouids coming out on top, but with no lack of trying from the Aztecs, especially in the dying stages of the game with a series of penalty corners. Great to see Ross Midgley and Dean Crawford returning to the field, showing much vigore and panache in the attacking line. Ben Falzon (goals) and James Gunn are new to the Aztecs and bring with them some valuable skills. Brian and Matt Taylor and the Childe brothers ever present in the play. Also thanks to our under 17s Luke Taylor and Owen Douglas for helping out.

Goal Scorers: Brian Taylor (1)

 

Warriors def Gulls 3 - 0

A terrific start to the season with a 3 nil win against the Gulls. Welcome
back to our players who have been absent for a number of years, plus our
newest recruit Nelville Dyt who played a fantastic game in defence. Attacking play by Brendan Noye, Michael Crawford who was assisted by Tyler McGuiness to help the scoring of goals, and Andrew Messer who score the final goal of the match.

Goal scorers: Brendan Noye (1), Michael Crawford (1), Andrew Messer (1).