Hockey WA - Over 65's (2) Hockey Team

WA Over 65's (2) - 2006 Match Reports

WA2 vs WA1 - Wednesday, October 4, 2006

Today was the start for the elite group - 0/65 playing their rounds of hockey.

It was a bit early to start at 8 O'clock for some of us, but the warm sun and the well drenched field was an invitation for a good game of hockey.
We had a inspiring and regimented talk from our captain Peter in the dressing room prior to the start of the game:
”I expect every player to do his job well. ENJOY your game" he did say.
Brian our tactician gave us the last minute “DO’s and DON’Ts. All this soaked in well in our heads and legs.

At the stroke of 8.00am the game started with us taking the initiative, and had ball mostly in their half.
Our players were all over attacking and tackling on the spot, there was couple times we were in the striking circle and in one of the melee’s Ian almost got one through the goalkeepers pads. The first session was ours.

The second session was even with both sides raiding each others halves, but all their efforts were thwarted by our able full backs, and our half backs cut clean their wingers.
A special mention should be made of Barry our goalkeeper. Everyone will agree he is a “ROCK OF GIBRALTAR”.

The third session saw us once again attacking their citadel, and mid way through this session in one such melee the ball was passed to Ashley who was on the top of the striking circle on the left side. Bang went the ball, powerfully and neatly into their goal. Our joy knew no bounds. One up!

The fourth session saw them come at us with all vigour and resolute minds to make good the initiative they had lost.
I don’t know for what reasons we stopped attacking and were more on the defence. Of course we did have our share of sporadic attacks but proved unfruitful.
On the final hooter we had won and for once our legs didn’t seem weary, all because our victory was sweet.

Sorry guys I could not get anyone to take a few snaps of our game and that of after the game which I took, did not mature. I do not know the reasons; sometimes even good things do not work.

Result: WA2 1 - WA1 0

WA2 vs NSW - Thursday, October 5, 2006

I intended to write this report last night but could not compose myself after such delight and exuberance. We had won the day against a fancied opposition.

Our game was scheduled for 3.30pm on PHS2. The sun was bright, the temperate not bad - a little humid and the ground quite drenched. As usual we had our warm up at the side lines and our prior match pep talk. This time around our captain Peter encouraged us to go “FORWARD” with another win and set up a target of 4-0 scoreline. Brian this time around didn’t say much, as he is a man of few words but his silence sent many messages to have and hold.

The first session saw us playing right to left of the ground, and right from the word go we moved into their half very strongly, taking them by surprise with speed, ball control and bouts of passing between the forwards and half line. This was a sign of good things to come. In fact we missed a couple of opportunities to take the advantage to get ahead. “OH ! NO!“ was the whisper from the gallery. Was it going to be a day of missed goals for us? I would not dare say that. Mid way through this session once again in one of the melee’s just like the yesterday’s match the white ball was at Ashley's stick and on the left side of the striking circle. Bang went the ball, powerfully and neatly into the goal. The goal board sounded loud, announcing more goals to come. A couple of minutes later and once again we pressed hard and the ball attack was on the left side Graham making inroads into the circle ,he was blocked and ball was pushed to go over the back line, though not very effectively. Ashley was there holding the stick with one hand ,stretching and preventing the ball from going out, moving along the back line towards the goal, trying to get the control of himself, and hitting the ball from almost zero angle. It’s a “GOAL”. Unbelievable !. Many of you who have not seen Ash playing before may be apt to say “it’s a fluke”. Let me assure you, its not, he has done it many times before.

The second session saw them coming at us, much more determined to do well and made several inroads into our circle and forced a couple of short corners but to no avail, the ”ROCK” took it all in his stride. The balance of play was even. I must mention this time around the limelight was on our full backs and half backs. Jim, Roger, Les and Ken cutting the wingers and full backs Brian, David, and Nicholas and Peter thwarting their insides.

The third and fourth session had a similar pattern of play, evenly balanced between the two sides ,attack and defence rose to the occasion. Mid way in the third session their attack was furious so much so their full backs were high up, we managed to clear the ball to the centre of the field where Ashley was lurking around, trapped the ball, Off he was, but blocked ,which was not that clear, Trevor went to Ash’s support and managed to get hold of the ball and push ahead. Ashley then sprinted with ball well in control towards the goal, drawing out the goalie to the top of the circle, side stepping him to his to his right and the once again “BANG”! “GOAL” Superb effort. “ HATRICK” The first of the carnival.

We were still in search of the fourth goal. The target eluded us. This time around after a bout passing between the forwards it was Ian who drew the goalie to one side and tried to scoop the ball over as the goalie was grounded. The ball hit the cross bar and went over. Our target of four goals eluded us. Never mind guys, we did our best.

This time I managed to get one Ashok Raman playing goalie for Victoria 0/60 to take a few snaps.
I must mention that I am meeting Ashok Raman after a lapse of 48 years. We were colleagues in school. “HOCKEY CARNIVALS” are meant for renewal of friendships.

Result: WA2 3 - NSW 0

WA2 vs VIC - Saturday, October 7, 2006

When one is in the team playing the game, with two well earned victories, it’s sitting on the top of the world then it becomes difficult to write a report when we lose the next one. We had a formidable side in Victoria., their margin of victory 2-1 In such situations one is apt to find excuses for your own game rather than appreciate the opponent. I’ll avoid the excuses.

To day we had # 3 game after a day off, at the Duracraft Melville turf grounds after a day off. The time 8 O’clock As usual it was bright and sunny, the ground inviting for a game of hockey. We had prior pep talk and this time Peter said “Its good to get another game in our belt”.

The first session did start very brightly for us, straight way we were in their circle and Ian almost got a goal. Things looked easy for us as we made several inroad into their half but to no avail. They stood this onslaught.

The second and the third session we saw some sort of urgency in their efforts. they moved like a team, plenty of short passes, good trapping and marking. The first came off a short corner, Barry did stop it and the ball was rolling out, Henry of Vic. at the goal post made no mistake. The second goal came late in the third session, the ball was sent screeching from the right side across the goal mouth but clipping many sticks, hereby taking quiet a high course Ron of Vic. just struck the ball with a back hand and the ball was in the net.

The fourth session saw them playing negatively, tiring it was for both teams, Ken of our team chased a stray ball all the way to the back line but was thwarted and the ball sent over the line. Short corner it was. One single chance to get a goal. It was aborted. Try hard we did all the time. In the dying seconds Les standing near the circle received a pass from the right side, dodged a defender and slotted the ball home.

Its not that we were totally out played, we had our chances. Their eager attitude to win had won the day.

Bad luck guys ,it was not ours to taste a win today. Tomorrow we play our country side WAC. All the best ! Keep smiling.

Editor note: The score for this game on Hockeynet as of 11:30am Sunday 8/10 is recorded as 1-0 to Vic.

Result: WA2 1 - VIC 2

WA2 (Metros) vs WA Country - Sunday, October 8, 2006

I was up early this morning without any kind of uneasiness as to what was in store for us today in our 4th match of the veterans championship. The WAC team, our opponents whose strength, weakness and style of play is well known. We often play together. Fred Strother, a stalwart hockey player on their side could not participate due to some family function. His presence may have been a thorn to our fortunes.

There were a lot of country folk and families around today as many country teams were scheduled to play. A perfect “CARNIVAL ATOMSPHERE” prevailed , with fun and frolicking in the sun.

Our game was at 11 o’clock at PHS # 1 and prior game advice this time was to get a very early goal as this match was vital to our place in the championship. We had to account for this match.

The first session saw them playing our game plan to get an early goal. How did they get a sniff of that? For the first few minutes they were all over us, also in the circle and even were able to force a short corner. Up came the “Gentle Giant” Eric Mccauley reputed for his fearsome hits in taking short corners. My heart was in my mouth. But for luck and some reason, Eric was not able to convert. He did have several of them in the whole tenure of the game but to no fruitful result. After this lapse of time we were out of our shell, and began to dominate the proceedings. Most of the time we were in their half, missed a couple of opportunities to convert the effort to get the goal.

The second and third session saw us all over their half, gaining two short corners, but our specialist Brian could not convert. There was a chance for me to get one in, but there was some confusion and a ball was passed to one of the Country players by our team. The culprit being the white shirts both sides wore with so little differences. WAC boys were a tough nut to crack and do not give in easily. Garry Zeck was present all over the field in attacking, defending and supporting his colleagues, while Eric and Bob Dare holding the fort.

In the fourth session we had to break the stalemate but whatever extra effort we put in resulted negatively. In the last six minutes we managed to get a short corner. Everybody was nervous, to do the right thing ,we in converting and they in defending their goal, with the result we got three more chances for the short corners. The clock was ticking away. Four minutes to go. Brian made no mistake this time. Bang went the ball into the goal. One up! Our cup of joy was full to the brim, and what disappointment it had been to WAC. It was matter of survival for them to remain contestants for the championship. We wish them all the luck in their last endeavour giving them a slim chance to be in the last four.

See you on Tuesday the 10th Ocotober at PHS for the fifth and final game against Queensland. And the game of probabilities will be over then.

Result: WA2 1 - WAC 0

WA2 vs QLD - Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Many of us turned up early to witness preceding matches before ours which was scheduled at PHS # 1 6.30 pm mainly to see the fortunes of the other teams. This would decide the final placing on the table. Our WA # 1 sadly went down to NSW 2-0 ,and Victoria beat our WAC 3-1, therefore we had to overcome Queensland to get to the top of the ladder. What anxiety ?

Peter’s prior match message was a stern one “ BE FIRM TO GET A WIN. I want every body to do his best today" as it was now an opportunity to prove that we are no pushovers.

Brian strongly advocated to stick to the basics of hockey and nothing more. Play the game!

At the whistle our forwards gave the Qld defence no time to settle down. The attacks were swift and came in waves. After only a couple of minutes Trevor sent the ball into the circle from the right side line. A scramble it was, Graham got hold of and pushed into the goal. ONE UP BOY! The raids continued and it was sheer luck that helped QLD in not conceding any more goals.

In the second session also this pattern of play continued in our favour. Adolph got a couple of hits across into the circle from the right wing. In one such skirmish in the circle Ken got quite a hard hit towards goal. Blocked ! Graham pounced on the rebound and made no mistake and sent the ball into the goal. TWO UP BOY !

After the longer breather Qld came back with some resolve to do better. Better they did. Their marking improved, more effort was put in and covering the spaces became obvious. We had to fall back. But on two occasions the ball was cleared hard and true, to Les and Adolph standing up quite high, we made a dash for the circle, their last defence man managed to avert the danger.

The last quarter session saw us once again create some stability, it was a mid field affair. Towards the end we had two short corners, but to no avail, even a hit off a rebound by Bob was brilliantly stopped by their goalkeeper. We were jubilant with this victory.

Now for some statistical figures.
WA2 (Metros) 12 points; VIC 10 points; WA1 9 points; NSW 9 points

Now we move on to the semi-final and then on to the Grand-final on Saturday. Best of luck to all the teams!!

Result: WA2 2 - QLD 0

Semi-final - WA2 vs NSW - Thursday, October 12, 2006

While I was beginning to compose our last match report I was hesitant but tempted to write the match heading as between the 0/65 and the 0/55. We were truly beaten by a side which had risen from the ashes, and were on a mission to defeat.

The morning of the match was quite chill, the sun playing hid and seek. Peter our captain this time told us that this was a day of reckoning and we had to do our best.

The game started at a furious space ,we were over whelmed and engulfed on all sides. There was no answer for this and in a few minutes there was a goal. NSW used their wingers to the maximum proving to be vital and beneficial. Covering spaces and restricting our flow of play was their game plan, and they stood up to this task very well.

The second session was also the same game song, and saw them get another goal and things began to appear that all is lost.

The third and fourth session saw some parity in the game and we made a couple of raids into their circle even our full back Brian moved up to get the game going our way. In the last few minutes we had four short corners but to no avail. The day was lost, we had waken up to late to our cause. Better luck next time. Congratulation NSW.

Where do we go from here friends ?
Well as for me, I go back to play hockey for the Blue’s against the White’s, Green’s, Red’s, Gold teams on a Wednesday afternoon. It’s a day for the Veterans.. OH Yeah !! I forgot to mention that there were some guys from these teams in the WA # 2 METRO’S.

Result: WA2 0 - NSW 2

Editor's comment: It has been an absolute delight to receive these candid reports from Mr Adolphus Abraham and I congratulate him on the diligence and promotion of the fun side of veterans hockey. Well done Adolph!

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