Picture: THOMAS MILES
THE Lower South East Hockey Association kicked off its 2019 season on the weekend, with some changes to the format of games from previous years.
Matches are now played in 15-minute quarters, rather than in halves, with two minutes between quarters and a five-minute half-time break.
One of the most anticipated meetings on Saturday saw Tigers and West go head-to-head in the Division 1 men’s grand final rematch.
After taking out the 2018 premiership Tigers came into the match full of confidence, but the young side was up against a strong West outfit.
While Tigers eventually went on to claim a 3-1 victory, it was West which took the early lead, when Daniel Kestle latched onto a well-directed pass to put the ball into the back of the goal.
Things looked good for West from there, but it failed to capitalise on opportunities.
That saw Tigers take advantage and just before the first change a penalty corner was converted by Lochie Nisbet on a deflected shot to level the scores.
Midway through the second quarter West pushed forward and earned its first penalty corner.
Tigers not only successfully defended the corner, but surged forward on the counter attack and found Connor Bartlett in a one-on-one with the West keeper.
Bartlett calmly finished the play with a nice goal to take the lead.
Despite some earlier chances, it was not until the dying seconds of the game where Tigers was able to extend the lead through a converted penalty corner from Bartlett.
DIVISION 2 MEN
TIGERS 3 d REDBACKS 2
A CLOSE game was had when Tigers met Redbacks for a tight win for round one of the Division 2 hockey season.
Tigers started strongly with the ever-reliable Ben McCourt finding the goal within three minutes of the opening term.
That was followed shortly after by another score from striker Michael Carne to open up a two-goal lead for last year’s premiers.
From there the Redbacks’ defence dug in and worked overtime to constrain the scoring options of Tigers.
In the second quarter Tigers worked the first short corner, but were unable to convert and with four minutes left in the half Redback’s Nash Lobley scored to see a one-goal difference at the long break.
The third quarter was a stalemate, with the next goal not scored until the opening minute of the final quarter, as Tigers converted through Juke Rogers.
Tigers had a chance to put the game beyond doubt with a short corner soon after, but was unable to score.
Redbacks then scored through a short corner of its own to bring the margin back to one, but Tigers held a firm defence to come away with a 3-2 victory.
DIVISION 3 MEN
TIGERS 4 d CAVALIERS 0
CAVALIERS and Tigers Division 3 men had a reprieve on Saturday, as their grass encounter was rescheduled to the turf for a cool, but dry game.
In the end Tigers claimed a 4-0 win, with the side taking control of the midfield early.
An outstretched back stick from Craig Wooley saw the first goal on the board and Tigers built momentum from there.
Cavaliers’ keeper Anto Baseley and defender Jeremy Kekewick denied several shots on goal, but the pressure did not relent and Tigers scored its second goal.
Both teams made use of the new four-quarter format to rest players and regroup, resulting in a more intense game.
The younger Cavaliers side opened the second half with purpose, dominating the play around its attacking 25, but could not convert.
A pressure-relieving hit from Tigers defence found Blake McKee unmarked high in attack and he made short work of scoring goal three.
Again Tigers used this momentum to press the attack, but Cavaliers’ defence kept their opposition at bay.
Five minutes into the last quarter McKee was found loose in the circle again and scored the final goal for the match.
In the dying seconds of the game Cavaliers forced home an attacking move, catching Tigers on the hop.
A scrambled defence resulted in the team’s second short corner, but a shot after the final whistle was denied by Tigers’ defence.
