LOWER South East hockey joined the trickle of Limestone Coast sports which have returned to play on the weekend, with the opening round of the 2020 season deemed a success.
Players chipped off some rust over three days of hockey action, which kicked off on Friday night.
All games were played at Blue Lake Sports Park and attracted good numbers of players and spectators, who were eager to return after a prolonged break forced by COVID-19.
“Everything went well – we had no issues and no complaints,” Lower South East Hockey Association president Lochie Nisbet said.
“It was the first week back and I’m pretty sure everyone was just keen to get out there.”
With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to ease in South Australia, attendance was high at the venue, with all patrons demonstrating good hygiene practices.
“There was plenty of people around and they were all following all the rules which were set in place,” Nisbet said.
Despite the general social distancing and hygiene protocols, Nisbet said game days will be minimally affected by the current restrictions.
“There are a few restrictions surrounding the canteen, but that is about it,” he said.
That allowed a sense of normality to return to Blue Lake Sports Park for a weekend.
DIVISION 1 MEN – TIGERS 3 d STRIKERS 2
DIVISION 1 men reigning premier Tigers managed to start its 2020 campaign with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Strikers on Saturday.
It was a competitive game with both sides pushing hard into attack and after a few early chances the play mostly consisted in the middle, with the scoreboard untouched at quarter time.
Tigers raised the tempo in the second quarter and with a good pass to Aaron Mengler down the line he converted a quick goal past the keeper to open the ledger.
Tigers kept pushing and found itself with several penalty opportunities, which were not converted.
That allowed Strikers to capitalise with a goal of its own when Mathew Boylan levelled the scores.
Strikers’ Dean McCarthy did well to cut off any attacks from Tigers, but eventually the 2019 champions broke through, with newcomer Aiden Thatcher scoring a second goal before half time.
Not out of the fight yet, Strikers found another equaliser in the third term to level the playing field heading into the final stanza.
The fourth quarter started with intensity and several attempts to enter the circle by Tigers’ Greg Doll were stopped by the strong Strikers defence.
However, eventually the speed and swift movements of Thatcher allowed him to set himself up to hit a back-stick goal with five minutes remaining and seal the victory.
Strikers persisted, but to no avail as Tigers held firm to claim the round one bragging rights.
DIVISION 1 WOMEN – WEST 7 d REDBACKS 0
WEST’S Division 1 women were out in full force in Friday night’s 2019 grand final rematch against Redbacks.
The game was played with the intensity of a final and both squads played strongly around the field.
However, it was West which took full advantage when attacking and as a result managed to break away to an eventual 7-0 win.
DIVISION 2 MEN – WEST 1 d REDBACKS 0
ONE of the biggest results of the opening round of Lower South East hockey on the weekend was a drought-breaking win by West’s Division 2 men.
The side defeated Redbacks 1-0 in an arm wrestle to record its first victory since the 2018 season.
West found itself in attack for most of the first quarter, but struggled to penetrate the strong Redbacks defence.
In his first game of Division 2 hockey, state under 13 player Ryhs Earl was thrust into centre half for West and relished the challenge against older opponents.
Redbacks Nash Lobley looked dangerous in attack, but struggled to get past West veteran Andrew Widdison.
By half time the scoreboard remained untouched, with no score in the third term either.
A key for West late in the game was the interchange which allowed it a rotation of players – a luxury not afforded to the undermanned Redbacks.
The younger legs of West’s Brad Hann and Earl became a difference in the final stanza and with five minute to play the side was awarded a short corner, which was converted to take the lead and break a long-standing drought.
DIVISION 2 WOMEN – WEST 2 d REDBACKS 1
REDBACKS hit the scoreboard early in its Division 2 women’s encounter with West and in the end that was the only impact it would have, suffering a 2-1 loss.
After the initial excitement, an even encounter followed, with the one-goal Redbacks lead standing at half time.
Early in the third quarter Redbacks was denied a certain goal when a short corner hit by Angela Kain was stopped on the line by young West player Tori Grosse.
Shortly after West found itself with its own opportunity to score when a ball heading for goals was stopped by the feet of a Redbacks defender, resulting in a penalty stroke.
Stephanie Ward stepped up and made no mistake for West to level the scores.
With around six minutes to go in the final quarter intensity started to build and West was awarded its first penalty corner for the match.
A hit towards goal bounced off the feet of the goalie and was slotted in by winger Lauren Smith from the right post to steal the lead.
In the dying minutes Redbacks pushed hard to equalise, but it was unsuccessful, with West running out the game to win 2-1.
UNDER 15 GIRLS – WEST 6 d REDBACKS 1
EXCITEMENT and nerves from both teams surrounded the Under 15 girls hockey match between West and Redbacks.
It took some time for players to settle, but when they did it was West which scored first off a short corner for its first of six goals.
Redbacks stood up to the challenge and was awarded a penalty stroke which levelled the scores at the end of the first half.
In the second half both teams were dominant, but it was West which took advantage to finish off the match at 6-1.
The support of the Under 12 girls helped both teams put a full team on the park.
UNDER 15 BOYS – WEST 8 d REDBACKS 1
THE opening game of the shortened 2020 hockey season was played on Friday night between the West and Redbacks Under 15 boys.
West brought the heat in the cool conditions to claim a seven-goal win with a roster which had changed significantly from the previous season due to top-age players moving up to seniors.
After a fairly even start, Redbacks had the first penalty corner, but was unable to convert.
West scored the first goal towards the end of the first quarter and despite the best efforts of the Redbacks defenders, another followed just before the first break.
Another two goals came for West before Redbacks could reply with Josh Milan scoring his team’s only goal for the match.
Redbacks forwards were regularly running the ball into their attacking circle and creating opportunities, but goals proved elusive.
West on the other hand went on to score four more for the game to claim a solid 8-1 win.
Will Cameron led the way with three goals, while Eric Delaland managed two.
UNDER 15 BOYS – TIGERS 2 d STRIKERS 1
THE Under 15 boys hockey game between Tigers and Strikers was a tight affair, with the former claiming the honours in a tough 2-1 result.
It was a free-flowing game with both sides running the length of the field in some good play, despite the rustiness brought on by the first game of the season.
Both teams had equal possession, but it was Strikers which scored first after a marking error in the Tigers’ defence which allowed Jack Sharman a chance score.
Strikers held that one-goal lead at half time, before Tigers found its rhythm in the second half.
Tigers linked up better, with improved tackling, passing and positioning and soon scored the equaliser off a run into the circle by Blake McKee, who then passed around the keeper to Ethan Carne to finish with a goal.
The good teamwork continued and a second goal soon followed with an identical play from the same two players.
The Tigers newcomers found their place and made several good tackles in defence to thwart a Strikers’ equaliser and Tigers held on for a 2-1 win.
UNDER 12 BOYS – STRIKERS 3 d TIGERS 1
WITH the first round of hockey coinciding with school holidays, both the Strikers and Tigers Under 12 boys teams were short on players for the first match of the season.
Tigers fielded eight players, while Strikers had the minimum number of seven.
However, all players were keen to have a game and it showed with the enthusiasm.
The game was even with Tigers’ Wil Fenwick scoring the first goal of the game.
Strikers worked hard to eventually score the equaliser before half time thanks to captain Harrison DeGaris.
The second half of the game played out much like the first.
DeGaris converted again to give Strikers the lead, while a final goal from Strikers’ Jack Justin wrapped up the game with a 3-1 result.
