Comeback Kids 2 d Knights 0

In the opening match of the day, last year’s runners-up Knights took on the Comeback Kids. Despite having a number of players taking to the paddock for the first time in a few years, Comeback Kids did not look out of place against their more match-conditioned opponents.

From the opening whistle Knights were on the back foot with Hayley Bettridge and Louisa Bonner combining against their old team to repeatedly run the ball deep into their 25 yard area and put the Knights’ defence under pressure.

Eventually Comeback Kids were awarded a penalty corner that saw Bonner’s shot deflected waist-high into the cage from a Knights’ stick to give Comeback Kids a 1-0 lead.

The Knights’ forward line consisted of three juniors and this enabled Comeback Kids’ back line to break down any possibility of scoring. Knights’ Lisa Thomas managed to slip the ball through the defence at one stage only to have the ball cleared by Comeback Kids’ goalie Lana Badullavich who was having her first game.

With the weather hot and dry the half time break was welcomed by many of the players. The second half was similar to the first with Knights just not able to finish off their attacking runs. Michelle Cottington directed Comeback Kids’ play up the right side of the field midway through the half and Donna Clark was unlucky not to score.

However Knights were unable to clear the ball enough to even give themselves a breather and again Comeback Kids attacked with Knights’ Elaine Crapp literally putting her body on the line to save a sure goal. However, Louisa Bonner eventally managed to get a second for Comeback Kids to kill the game off. Play scrambled mid circle after a penalty corner and following Bonner’s shot, the ball dribbled along the goal line giving the umpire just enough black line to award a goal.

Best and fairest for Comeback Kids were Louisa Bonner (3 points), Hayley Bettridge (2 points) and Michelle Cottington (1 point). Best and fairest for Knights were Lindy Hudson (3 points, Elaine Crapp (2 points) and Sarah Gardner (1 point).

Tigers 2 d Sticks 1

The second game of the day was between Tigers and Sticks who were both coming off losses the previous week. Sticks were again playing without a goalie but played a sharp team game with lots of passing to move the ball from defence to attack.

Karen Senior and Marijke VanDer Heijke combined well in the forwards but were unable to break the solid defence of returning player Renee Jobson. Tigers’ forwards Bec Winter and new-comer Gail Ohlsen put enough pressure on the Sticks’ mother/

daughter defence of Di and Julie Challice to see Winter open the scoring for Tigers.

The youngest Sticks player, Ellen Hosking had a great game, breaking down the Tigers’ attack and was well supported by Paula Fry.

Louise Shilling was again solid for Tigers clearing the ball well with plenty of back up from her two new outside halves Kylie McLaren and Lisa Ohlsen.

Karen Seniors’ persistent efforts paid off when eventually she managed to get the ball past the fill in goalie for Tigers to level the scores at 1-1.

However, late in the second half Tania Maddison found an open cage and was able to slot home the winning goal for Tigers. Sticks had the majority of the play for this game but could just not get home with a win.

Best and fairest for Tigers were Remi Wilton (3 points), Renee Jobson (2 points) and Gail Ohlsen (1 point). Best and fairest for Sticks were Marijke VanDer Heijke (3 points), Ebony Bray (2 points) and Adele Lotze (1 point).

Eurobodalla Hockey would like to congratulate all the clubs who have embraced the region’s junior players and encouraged them to continue their development.