Hockey WA - Over 40's Div 2 Hockey Team

WA Over 40's Div 2 - 2006 Match Reports

WA vs VIC Country - Monday, October 2, 2006

With weeks of torturous training behind them, the 40s Div 2 Black Ducks ventured into the unknown in their first pool match against Vics Country Bushrangers. With the exception of Brett Waters, the WA side was all playing in their first Vets Championship.

The pre-match tactics were laid out on the whiteboard by the Chief Black Duck (aka Geoff Ranford) – all the black ducklings nodding their heads in agreement at his masterly tactical scribbling (some might say dribbling...).

The fist 15 minutes of the game saw the WA side apply a lot of pressure on the Vic’s and on more than one occasion, some slick passing resulted in the ball being driven down the right side of the pitch through Roger Treharne at right half and Mannie De Souza on the wing. The Vic’s defense were holding firm and although WA were getting the ball into some dangerous positions, the final pass on most occasions was letting them down.

However, persistence paid dividends deep into the first half when Damian Della pounced on a poor clearance from the Vic defense following a short corner and the ball was scrambled into the net for a deserved 1-0 lead for the WA side at half time.

The second half began with the Vic’s applying more pressure on WA with only a fine save by WA goalkeeper, Grant Hymus maintaining his side’s slender margin. WA started to rotate their bench and a freshly reintroduced Della appeared in the right place following another short corner breakdown to scoop the ball into the Vic’s net for a 2-0 lead for WA.

The Vic’s upped the ante after conceding their second goal and started to string together some nice passes through their midfield but rarely troubled a steadfast WA defense.

Result: WA 2 – Victoria Country 0

Goal scorers: Damian Della (2)
Man of the Match: Stuart Campbell
‘Dummy Spit’ Award: Mannie De Souza

WA vs QLD Sharks - Tuesday, October 3, 2006

With their confidence running high after a win in their previous game, the WA side went into this match against Queensland Sharks knowing that failure to capitalize on opportunities could prove costly.
WA started well with both inners, ‘Apples’ and Walter Monteiro showing some nice touches in the early stages of the match.
Queensland looked dangerous when they moved the ball quickly and WA was fortunate that the Queensland forwards were not more accurate around goal. With a number of short corners being conceded, it was only a matter of time before Queensland made one count and a nice strike left goalkeeper Grant Hymus no chance. Queensland 1 – WA 0.

A tactical move to push Brett Waters into attack paid dividends when he showed some deft skills to beat a defender and the Queensland goalkeeper to score a well deserved goal and pull the WA side level shortly before half time.
Half time Queensland 1 – WA 1.

The second half saw WA starting to apply more pressure on the Queensland defence with a number of nice moves resulting in short corners to WA. Unfortunately, WA was not able to capitalize on the numerous short corner opportunities.
A defensive error presented the Queenslanders with a short corner that they made WA pay for with another goal and although WA had a number of opportunities to level the score, including a ball that was arguably stopped on the goal line by a Queensland foot late in the match, they were unable to score again, resulting in a win for Queensland.

Result: Queensland Sharks 2 – WA 1

Goalscorers: Brett Waters (1)
Man of the Match: Stuart Campbell
‘Dummy Spit’ Award: Geoff Ranford

WA vs NSW Waratahs (1) - Friday, October 6, 2006

WA entered this match looking for a result against a NSW side that had comfortably beaten Vic Country in their previous match 9 – 0. It was clear that the WA side needed to be on their toes in defense and look to capitalize on any opportunities presented up front.

The match started evenly poised with both sides having opportunities to take the lead within the first 20 minutes – the best chance for WA falling to ‘Apples’ who showed a clean pair of heels from just inside the NSW 25 yard line, beating 2 players and unleashing a shot that went just wide of the far post. Martin Campbell, in his first game for WA showed how dangerous he can be when allowed to run at the defense at pace.

However, just past the 20 minute mark NSW repeated a move that they had made a number of times, moving the ball to the left side of the field and then quickly back to the right side where they found their right winger in space – the ball was moved quickly into the WA “D” where it struck a defenders foot, resulting in a penalty corner to NSW. A goal resulted and NSW were 1 – 0 up. From the resulting restart, it appeared that the WA side were stung by going a goal down and NSW seemed to pick the pace up and within 5 minutes, they were 2 – 0 up, the goal again coming from a short corner. WA goal keeper, Grant Hymus pulled off a number of great reflex saves to keep the score within WA’s reach. Graham “Ha lly” Hall was also prominent at Centre Half, cutting out a number of NSW attacks just outside the “D and setting up a number of WA’s attacking moves. Half-time score 2 – 0.

The second half began with NSW looking likely to add to their 2 goals and goalkeeper Hymus was called upon on more than one occasion to deny the NSW attackers more goals. With the pressure being absorbed, the WA side began to find some space and at one point, right winger, Martin Campbell took off from deep inside his own half – running down the right touch line like a steam train at full flight. Unfortunately, his cross was not met by any of the WA attackers and a golden chance went begging.

With about 7 minutes remaining, WA finally broke the goal drought with a goal by Stuart Campbell, running at the NSW defense at pace and drawing the keeper to his right for a nicely taken reverse stick sweep into the NSW net. With a sniff of an opportunity to level the match, the WA side pressed for another goal but NSW controlled the last few minutes to hold onto their advantage.

Result: WA 1 – NSW Waratahs 2

Goalscorers: Stuart Campbell (1)
Man of the Match: Grant Hymus
‘Dummy Spit’ Award: Stuart Campbell

WA vs TAS - Saturday, October 7, 2006

Needing at least a draw to guarantee qualification in the top 3 for the next phase of the competition, WA entered this match against Tasmania wary that their opponents had managed to score goals in their previous matches, even though they hadn’t won yet.

The pre-match talk was again around taking opportunities to score goals when they were presented and as early as the 10 minute mark of the match, WA had already had 2 shots at goal saved by the Tasmanian goalkeeper and a short corner strike driven past the goal post. It seemed only a matter of time before WA scored, but some good defending and poor final passing by WA around the Tasmanian “D” kept the match scoreless until the 20th minute when Roger Treharne flicked a penalty corner shot goalwards and it caught an advancing defenders stick and looped over the Tasmanian goalkeeper into the back of the net. WA 1 – Tasmania 0.

The second half began like the first half had ended with some lacklustre passing and basic errors being committed by both sides – the rare times that WA managed to string together more than 4 passes, were more often than not let down by either failing to trap the ball properly, or giving the ball away to the Tasmanians. The one player who stood out for WA in terms of consistency, determination and skill was right inner, ‘Apples’.

The only notable highlight of the second half was a well struck goal into the roof of the net by Brett Waters, following some nice build up play down the right side involving Treharne, ‘Apples’ and Martin Campbell.

Although WA got the result they were after, the performance was generally well below par and all players will be keen to step up a notch for the next phase of the competition.

Result: WA 2 – Tasmania 0

Goalscorers: Roger Treharne (1), Brett Waters (1)
Man of the Match: ‘Apples’
‘Dummy Spit’ Award: Roger Treharne

WA vs QLD1 - Monday, October 9, 2006

In their first match in the next phase of the competition, WA was keen to get off to a good start against a Queensland side that had finished top of their pool. However, the match got off to the worst possible start for WA, going a goal down within 3 minutes. Worse was to come with further goals in the 7th and 12th minutes, leaving WA with a huge hill to climb to overcome a Queensland outfit that finished clinically inside the “D”. Queensland 3 – WA 0.

A shell shocked WA side made some substitutions and managed to claw their way back into the match through tighter marking and commitment to the cause – Brad Bocking was a standout and even though he drew the ire of the Umpires on more than one occasion for his tackling, his commitment seemed to spark the other WA players into life and all of a sudden, it was Queensland who were on the back foot.

WA were spending more time in and around the Queensland “D” and it was really only a matter of time before persistence paid with a goal from a well constructed penalty corner – Brett Waters completing the move to pull the score line back to 3 – 1.

Within 5 minutes, WA were within a goal of Queensland after Geoff Ranford struck a beautiful long pass through to Martin Campbell on the right wing and he waved his one arm magic past 2 Queensland players, crossing to a prowling Brett Waters in the “D” and his first time sweep shot found the back of the Queensland net.

Buoyed by their renaissance, WA pressed for the equalizer and came within a whisker of achieving it late in the half when a Waters shot was struck wide of the goal. WA went into the half time break, a respectful goal down following a disastrous start.

The second half began with both sides pressing for a goal, with WA goalkeeper Grant Hymus being called upon a couple of times to keep his side in the contest through some good reaction saves. Graham Hall was also having a very solid game in defense for WA, stopping countless Queensland attacks through well timed tackles outside the “D”.

An error by WA mid-way through the second half handed Queensland a gift goal to restore their two goal margin and this seemed to take the wind out of WA who were making basic errors and resorting to the long pass which invariably was not reaching its intended target. This played into the hands of the Queensland side who having regained their composure following their last goal, seemed to step up a gear – in contrast, WA looked tired and it came as no surprise when Queensland extended their lead late in the half.

Although disappointed to lose by 3 goals in the end, the WA side took heart from knowing that no one threw the towel in when the match was seemingly beyond reach after the first 10 minutes – give yourselves a pat on the back for sheer guts and commitment lads.

Result: WA 2 – Queensland 5

Goal scorers: Brett Waters (2)
Man of the Match: Graham Hall
‘Dummy Spit’ Award: Zac Dalnish

WA vs xxx - xxxday, October nn, 2006

Match report pending.

Result: WA n - xxx n

Final - WA vs xxx - xxxday, October nn, 2006

Match report pending.

Result: WA n - xxx n

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