DIVISION 1 MEN – TIGERS 4 d STRIKERS 1
LADDER leaders Tigers dominated from the first whistle in its round eight Lower South East Hockey Association clash with Strikers at Blue Lake Sports Park on Saturday.
Tigers enjoyed a lightning start with three goals before quarter time to assert its authority on the contest.
Brady Cooper scored the first off a deflection, while striker Aaron Mengler found his way past the goalkeeper shortly after.
The crushing opening term was signed off in style by a well executed short corner variation from Ben Weir as the siren sounded.
A blow out appeared on the cards, but the slow starting Strikers outfit stepped up to create an even second quarter.
Strikers nearly scored after a defensive lapse in the backline saw Toby Maddern narrowly miss a goal right on the brink of half time.
It was Caleb Lindsay who eventually found a way to open the Strikers’ account, when he put the finishing touches on a neat Dale Tucker tap over the Tigers goalie midway through the third quarter.
The scoreboard remained at 3-1 at the final break with Strikers managing to fightback into the contest.
Determined to avoid an upset defeat, Tigers came out with renewed urgency in the final term, piling a large amount of pressure on Strikers goalie Mason Hill, who managed to be up to the task.
With just one minute to go in the match, Lochie Nisbet converted a Tigers penalty stroke to ice the contest.
Tigers won comfortably 4-1, but Strikers did well to make a competitive contest after a poor start.
DIVISION 2 MEN – TIGERS 3 d RAMS 2
THE Tigers Division 2 side travelled to Naracoorte for what proved to be a close contest on the Rams’ new home turf.
Naracoorte took advantage of an under-strength Tigers outfit to earn an early lead thanks to a penalty corner.
Tigers also received a few penalty corners of their own from the hard work of midfielders Ben McCourt and Connor Grant, but failed to score.
After a couple of chances, McCourt placed his strike perfectly in the back of the net to level the scores.
McCourt was on fire as he blasted another goal through the goalkeeper’s pads to take the lead just minutes later.
The Rams fought back in the second half and put the Tigers defence of Greg Cooper and Tim Boxall under enormous pressure, but they were held strong by goalkeeper Matt Hinton with some nice saves.
After absorbing this pressure, Tigers created some strong counterattacks and were unlucky to have a penalty corner hit by Cooper disallowed.
But it did not take long for Mick Carne to pick up a loose ball in the circle and hit it past the keeper to extend the lead.
Rams responded quickly with another goal, but could not find the equaliser, which saw Tigers take the points in a hard-fought battle.
DIVISION 3 MEN – TIGERS 2 d REDBACKS 1
DAMP conditions greeted the Division 3 players for the Tigers and Redbacks contest, where both sides enjoyed the unexpected shift from grass to turf.
The first quarter was an even affair, with Redbacks’ accurate passing game matched by the Tigers defence.
Tigers increased the intensity with the game’s first penalty corner early in the second term, but Evan McKee failed to convert.
Redbacks quickly capitalised through a Steven Vause pass into the circle, which registered the opening goal.
Tigers returned to the field after half time with increased pressure, not allowing Redbacks to gain any momentum.
Blake McKee out-played the defenders with a swift pass which found Matthew Hinton, who hit the first Tigers goal.
Tigers continued its momentum to earn a second penalty corner, but the Redback defenders cleared the ball out comfortably.
In the closing stages of the third quarter, Blake Mckee repeated his masterful efforts and assisted Hinton with a second goal to hit the lead.
On the hunt for an equaliser, Redbacks appeared re-energised for the last quarter and gained much of the midfield play, but the Tigers’ defence calmly repelled the any attacking moves.
Tigers remained composed to ice the game and win 2-1.
UNDER 15 BOYS – TIGERS 5 d REDBACKS 0
TIGERS controlled the play in the first half of its clash with Redbacks, but were unable to find a way past the goalkeeper who made some impressive saves.
The breakthrough did not come until late in the first half when a pass from Blake McKee to Ethan Carne found the back of the goal.
This seemed to settle the Tigers’ players who took the ascendancy with four unanswered goals.
A highlight was a great penalty corner strike from Carne, which just went inside the goals.
Blake McKee, Tom Howard, James Braun and Shaunn Robinson moved the ball swiftly into the forward line for Tigers.
Despite the tireless efforts by James Grant and Nash Lobley, Redbacks had no answer for Tigers, with he final score 5-0.
UNDER 12 BOYS – TIGERS 3 d REDBACKS 0
AFTER both Tigers and Redbacks enjoyed strong starts to the season, the pair’s opening fixture was expected to be a tough battle.
The game started evenly with both sides having their fair share of attack.
Redbacks defenders Fletcher Barry and Bailey Bennett held strong, while the midfield battle of Tigers duo Pattrick Robinson and Wil Fenwick against the Redbacks pair of Blake Vause and Tristan Miller was a great duel.
The first move on the scoreboard was not until late in the first half when Robinson made a nice run and found Ethan Carne who tapped the ball in the goals to open Tigers’ account.
Tigers took control of the match in the second half as Josh Heinicke and Ryan lock repelled any Redbacks attack.
Robinson scored a goal to his name after he converted a penalty corner to extend the lead.
Tigers were now surged with confidence as Carne found the back of the net to make it a three-nil win.
DIVISION 1 WOMEN – TIGERS (1) 5 d NARACOORTE (2) 0
TIGERS came out firing in its round eight Lower South East Hockey Association clash with Naracoorte last weekend.
A number of early Tigers’ penalty corners confirmed the side were desperate to rebound from a disappointing loss to Redbacks last week.
Naracoorte stood tall in defence until Kaitlyn Nisbet cracked a bullet past the defence to break the deadlock.
Dana Jones then finished off a good passage of attacking play to extend the lead by the first break.
Olivia Turner dominated the midfield all game and scored in the second quarter and it appeared the flood gates might open.
Through Angela McLean and Celia Scott, Naracoorte dug in and held Tigers scoreless in the third quarter to remain a slight hope.
But Tigers returned to its scoring ways in the final term as Cody Hood and Brooke Marcus made it a five-nil rout.
Mclean and Nisbet were named best for their respective sides.
DIVISION 2 WOMEN – TIGERS 2 d REDBACKS 0
A STRONG start saw the Tigers Division 2 side enjoy the majority of possession in their clash with Redbacks.
After numerous unsuccessful forward presses, Tigers were eventually rewarded when Mandy Bartholomew broke the deadlock after a deflection into the corner went past the outstretched keeper.
Little could separate the sides as both teams tried hard to manufacture scoring opportunities.
In goals Neave Delaney and Rachel Larsen both made some impressive saves saves backed up by Jennifer Saffin and Amber Kidman maintained the difference to just one goal.
Mandy Bartholomew persisted in attack for Tigers and the hard work paid off when Shelley Carne found the back of the net to extent the advantage.
Tigers won 2-0 as Emma Ryan, Jayde Hinton and Bartholomew were named best for the victors, while Delaney, Saffin and Kidman received the honours for Redbacks.
DIVISION 3 WOMEN – TIGERS 6 d REDBACKS 0
TIGERS took advantage of a undermanned Redbacks line up to score a big win in Division 3.
Tigers dominated the opening stages with two goals in the first five minutes to Anita Hateley and Julie beck.
The Redbacks defence was tested all day, but were able to get some runs into the forward line without any inroads on the scoreboard.
A goal to Scarlett Creek extended the lead heading into the main break, while the Redbacks attempted to push forward afterwards.
Tigers developing prospect Abbey Hood was awarded with a penalty stroke, which she converted, while her side created other opportunities, but were held out by the tireless Redbacks goalie.
Both teams played produced effective passing, but Tigers managed to add another two goals in the final quarter.
One each to Amanda Winkley and Beck saw the final margin climb to six goals.
Best players for Tigers were Hope Hinton, Hood and Creek, while Kayla Branstone, Amy Widdicombe and Laura Vause performed for Redbacks.
UNDER 12’s GIRLS – TIGERS 1 d/w REDBACKS 1
IT was a close fight between Tigers and Redbacks for Under 12 honours on Saturday morning.
Tigers strode out to an early first half lead thanks to an excellent goal from Claire Doll.
The rest of the half was tightly fought out in the mid field as both teams struggled to create any scoring chances.
Redbacks found it hard to get past half back Clare Hopgood, but a Tigers defensive lapse was pounced on by Eliza Beck to tie the scores.
After this goal Tigers kicked into gear with the likes of Tayla Gaut, Cameryn Bartholomew and Hopgood creating chances.
But in the end the score remained at 1-1 after a hard fought match.
Sophia Cornish, Kayla Branstone and Jorja Beck were best on for Redbacks, while Hopgood, Doll and Bartholomew impressed for Tigers.
