A few new faces joined the minkey program and the players trained with the skills they’ve learned over the past few weeks. 

Committee member Cheryl Sutherland said the group had good fun practising skills. 

“Welcome to Ava and Lilly,” Sutherland said.

“Ava also had a smile on her face and even a giggle when we did some tackling practice and Charlotte was a real star when it came to goal shooting practice.”

The minkey award winners were Tom Hudson and Elsie Jaye Stanley.

Numbers for the junior games were down but a “great game” was played by those in attendance. 

“It was great to see Lilly Downey back for another season and she brought along her brother Adam,” Sutherland said.

“Judging by his red face he did lots of running and is particularly strong in tackling. 

“Katrina Tuckey showed good field position while Kyal Brooks played a very good defensive game.”

A sausage sizzle follows this Saturday’s junior games. 

Knights and Wanderers clashed sticks in the first senior hockey game.

Knights hoped to cement its first place position on the competition ladder while Wanderers wanted to bounce back after a loss. 

It was a highly-skilled display from both teams and Lindy Hudson showed her class with a weaving, evasive run to score Knights’ first goal. 

Wanderers pressed hard for an equaliser and had many chances to score but couldn’t manage to get the ball into goal.

Half-time changes gave Wanderers more thrust in attack and brought a reward. 

Kate Brown equalised after a well played penalty corner by Wanderers.

A typically strong shot on goal from Julia Bartsh again gave Knights the edge with a 2-1 lead.

A rare move forward into the striker position for Judy Heyes proved a master stroke. 

Heyes was able to get a touch and direct a powerful hit in from the 25-yard line to score. 

The game kept up at a fast pace with the ball travelling from end to end. 

Soffia Pappas almost got Knights in front but her shot rebounded off the goal post.

With a draw likely, Knights put in a last ditch effort in the dying seconds.

A pass from the right wing found Sarah Fattore in space and she was able to seal a Knights victory.

Cheryl Sutherland, Nicole Compton and Sharon Carruthers earned points for Wanderers and Hudson, Alison Dyson Holland and Pappas gained the best and fairest points for Knights.

In the second game, the youthful Sticks were no match for a well-drilled Strikers’ outfit. 

“Sticks, to their credit, have lots of up-and-comers in their ranks and just need one or two more experienced players to help guide them around the field,” Sutherland said. 

Strikers are proving to be a formidable combination and will challenge for this year’s title. 

Therese Pryor is in slashing form and bagged four of her team’s seven goals. Melissa Mass, Kiara Schiefferley and Donna Ryan were the other goal scorers.

It wasn’t just one way traffic with Sticks also getting into the goal scoring act. 

A neat back-stick pass from Blake Motbey was picked up by Bec Winter for Sticks’ lone goal.

The speed throughout the Strikers team, especially in the forwards, proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Sticks’ captain Dale Sponberg led by example by communicating well with her younger players. 

“Alexa Warwick is a star of the future and she proves that really, size doesn’t matter,” Sutherland said. 

“Good games also from Bec Winter and Georgia Gilham.” 

For Strikers, it was Tyson Sieker’s best performance of the season, with Pryor’s four goals getting her the points along with Donna Ryan.

Draw for May 30:

11am: Minkey.

11.45am: Juniors.

1.30pm: Strikers v CBK.

3pm: Knights v Sticks.

Wanderers have a bye.