The visiting Goulburn and Albury teams met stubborn and resolute defence from their respective hosts in both the men’s and women’s Capital League 1 matches on Saturday.
The men’s competition also saw defeats for the visitors with Central maintaining their undefeated run after 6 rounds with a solid, if somewhat languid 3-1 win over Goulburn who are still missing key players through injury. St Pats also flew the flag for the locals earning a tough 4-1 win over a willing Albury Spitfires outfit in a fiery and at times spiteful affair.
In the women’s games, Central continued their extraordinary run with a 7-0 win over Goulburn while St Pats were equally ruthless running away with 6-0 victory against a valiant young Albury team.
Results of Men’s CL1 matches played on Saturday:
Results of Women’s CL1 matches played on Saturday:
Central v Goulburn – Men
Central had to work hard against a gallant Goulburn team. The visitors lost the Staines brothers to the state championships while Todd and Kurt Devlin and Glenn Turner remain on the injured list.
Glenn Turner – out with a shoulder injury
The visitors started with more purpose however and with less than a minute on the clock Todd Unicomb put them ahead with a neat goal after some slick Goulburn passing. Central was guilty of poor passing and lethargy in the opening minutes and it was only a brilliant sole run from the tireless Dan Hotchkis who scored with a marvellous back stick into the top of the net that brought his team to life. His brother Matt followed up in the 24th minute when he received a pass at the top of the circle, flamboyantly finessed the ball and smashed an unstoppable back stick past the reliable Shaun Anable in goal. Not to be outdone by his co-captain, Andrew Tomadini converted a penalty corner just before the break with an equally well-taken flick high to Anable’s left.
Central led 3-1 at the break and this proved to be the final score with the second half providing chances at both ends but the teams failing to make an impression on the scoreboard. Goulburn were resolute in defence led by Scott Grant, Dean Robertson and goalkeeper Shaun Anable but unable to finish off their forays into attack. They left the game feeling that they still have an opportunity to have an impact on this CL1, but will need a full complement of players to be competitive. Central’s Coach Phil Jorgensen was pleased with the result although “not happy with their first five minutes!” He was happy that his team showed equanimity under pressure and controlled the game by maintaining possession and dictating the tempo of the game.
St Pats v Albury – Men
Ryan Whittle opened the scoring for St Pats when he picked up a loose ball from a penalty corner rebound in the 12th minute and a few minutes later Shane Martin penalised a mistake in the visitors’ defence to give the host team a 2-0 lead. Both teams attacked strongly with Jack Wallace prominent for the green and whites and Luc Hinton and Jeremy Payne leading forays for the visitors. Their endeavour was rewarded when Brenton Newnham picked up a rebound from a penalty corner to make the score 2-1 at the break. The second period started with both teams enjoying chances and goalkeepers Malcolm Beer and Scott Anderson called on to make splendid saves.
With his team under-manned due to the absence of players at state championships, Spitfires coach Matt Smart took the field but even his contribution was to no avail. Josh Chivers gave St Pats a 3-1 lead in the 50th minute with a neat tomahawk and Dom McFarlane followed up with yet another penalty corner rebound to make an emphatic final score line of 4-1. St Pats had to work hard for this victory and tempers became frayed as both teams pushed for ascendancy. Pete Simojoki and St Pats Coach Pat Keir tried to provide calm and purpose in midfield and their contribution was a telling factor in determining the outcome of a tough encounter.
Central v Goulburn – Women
In the first women’s game, Central maintained their brutal efficiency in attack when they beat an understrength Goulburn 7-0 in the early game after leading 4-0 at the break. Central established dominance in the very first minute with Tonina Staunton, Rebecca Snezkoff and Trina Dooley combining brilliantly in attack and Tina Taseska dominating the midfield. Her tussle with Marlie Gulson was intriguing to watch with Gulson time and again setting up opportunities for her forwards only to lose possession at critical moments. Taseska was tireless, creative and able to relieve pressure on her defence by clever passes to her rampaging forwards who kept pressure on the Goulburn defence. This was a solid and impressive performance from the joint ladder leaders. Central coach Robert Apps praised the work rate of his charges after the game and was pleased that after their first three games, they have not conceded any goals while scoring 29! Goal scorers for Central were Tonina Staunton (3), Rebecca Snezkoff (2), Bella Apps (1) and Sophie Rodda (1).
St Pats v Albury – Women
Without their experienced captain-coach Nan Latta who is participating in the Trans-Tasman Challenge being held in Melbourne, Albury were no match for their ACT hosts St Pats who ran out 6-0 winners after leading 5-0 at half time. Despite the best efforts of Kate Mason and stand-in captain Sarah Knight in midfield and defence, the visitors squandered possession and it was no surprise when Millie Monfries opened the scoring and minutes later, when she combined well with Mikayla Evans, her pass set up Evans to give St Pats control of the game. Midway through the half, Emma Lomas added to Albury’s misery when she thundered a goal past Samantha Campbell from the top of the circle.
As half-time approached Campbell was in trouble with the umpires when she was judged to have made a rash tackle in the circle, received a temporary suspension and St Pats awarded a penalty stroke. Chloe Jones bravely assumed goal tendering duties but her best effort could not stop Evans’ deft conversion of the stroke. St Pats took advantage of the disruption in Albury’s defence and went straight into attack and Monfries found herself in space and duly converted. Shortly after the break, Evans was in again when she bumped a neat shot past Campbell. Rachel Brady for St Pats and Albury’s Grace Ronnfeldt were excellent in defence urging their teams forward but with the result no longer in doubt, the game petered out to give the locals a solid and commendable victory.
For future Capital League hockey games check the Canberra Sports Events Calendar.
