Division 1 Women
West 8 d Tigers 1
LADDER-leader West took on third-placed Tigers at Blue Lake Sports Park in the Division 1 women’s Lower South East hockey Round 12 clash last Saturday.
Tigers started the stronger team, as it hit targets, connected passes and won 50-50 balls, but in the end West prevailed with a seven-goal victory.
Determined to show the top side it was willing to work hard for the ball, Tigers scored the first goal of the match, but that was its only celebration for the day.
From there West stepped up to the level of game it has shown all year.
With good passes and good skills through the Tigers’ defence, West scored the equaliser through Charlotte Foote.
West was determined to keep its top spot and answered with a further three goals before the half-time siren.
The second term was an evenly matched game and both sides moved the ball well, but West was again superior in keeping possession and piled on another four goals, with Cody Lewis, Georgia Clarke and Foote the stars in the forward line.
A strong defence helped West to victory as Carly Emerson and Michelle Clarke proved they are some of the best defensive players in the league.
Division 2 Men
West 7 d Cavaliers 4
THE only other match between West and Cavaliers’ Division 2 men this year resulted in a three-all draw, but when the two sides met again in Round 12 of Lower South East hockey on the weekend, it was West which claimed the honours.
The stage was set for a close game and clean ball movement through the middle from both teams saw a number of early chances in front of goal.
West’s Matthew Rowley was the first to hit the scoreboard, with a skilful deflection sending the ball into the top of the net.
However, Cavaliers took momentum late in the first-half, scoring in quick succession to be in front at half time.
Coming back from injury, West’s David Vine pressed the attack after the break, leading to a number of penalty corners and impressive backstick goals.
His presence in the midfield was pivotal in West’s improved attacking structure in the second term and he led the way for his team with four goals for the match.
Cavaliers continued to create opportunities, but this time West’s defensive line held strong.
Full-back Daniel Grosse intercepted a number of dangerous passes and half-back Angus Widdison provided a reliable defensive outlet for West, with the side holding on for a 7-4 win.
Division 2 Women
West 1 d/w Naracoorte 1
THE Division 2 women’s Lower South East hockey competition is extremely close this season and the encounter between third-placed West and fifth-placed Naracoorte was the prime example on the weekend.
Naracoorte came out with a defensive mindset, which was the perfect foil to West’s attacking style of play.
West found plenty of goal-scoring opportunities both through penalty corners and general play, but it was consistently denied by Gale Ellis and the Naracoorte goal keeper.
That saw neither side able to convert before half time, with the scores locked at nil-all.
The second half saw a continuation of the first, with West unable to break down the Naracoorte defence, while Naracoorte searched for the counter attack.
A turnover in the Naracoorte defensive area and a good passage of rebounding play from Steph Ward saw West eventually find Leanne Ballintyne in space at the top of the circle were she was able to turn and send a shot high into the top of the net.
As often happens though, with the lead secured, West’s defence relaxed for a brief moment and that was all Naracoorte’s Kimora Toovey needed to peg the goal back and level the scores.
Naracoorte went a player down late in the game, but West was unable to capitalise and the one-all scoreline remained in place at the final whistle.
Division 3 Women
Cavaliers 3 d West 2
ALL who took to the turf Friday night for the Division 3 women’s clash between Cavaliers and West were treated to an enjoyable match-up.
In the end Cavaliers took home a 3-2 win, but both teams had plenty of play and opportunities.
The young Cavaliers side broke away to a two-goal lead at half time and this buffer proved to be too much for West.
A well-worked goal finished on the line by Agnes Doyle pegged one back for West, but the game ended in Cavaliers’ favour.
Isabell Ladner was too quick for West to handle and Ella Simmonds also kept the opposition on its toes.
For West, Renae Cameron ran hard for the length of the game, while Sarah Jewell lit up at centre half-back and had her best game of the year.
Elle Gregory continued to show promise for West and added her name to the scoresheet in the narrow defeat.
Under 15 Boys
West 6 d Cavaliers 0
WEST lined up against an under-staffed Cavaliers team in the Under 15 boy’s competition on the weekend.
It was always going to be tough for Cavaliers to win and it was unable to do so, but made West fight for each of its six goals.
At half time West was 3-0 up, with the goals shared by Dylan McGregor, Tom Howard and Brad Hann.
The game opened up after the break, but Cavaliers’ defence led by Jessie Dowie and James Grant kept West forwards honest.
As Cavaliers tired, West added three more goals to run out 6-0 victors.
