2016 WA Masters Hockey Mens O55 Div2 State Team

Match Report - The Final (by Jon Dreja)

There's a song... “The Impression that I get”...and its by the Mighty Mighty Boss-tones...strange coincidence?

It goes...

“Have you ever felt the odds stacked up so high, you need a strength most don't possess?
Or has it ever come down to do or die? You've got to rise above the rest?”

MMBD 2016 Campaign has proved to be the most difficult on so far...

We have had our MMBD brothers smashed & bashed by sides who may have believed this would make the MMBD crash...but we didn't!
We had had our unfair share of injuries, not just a small tear here or an aching joint there, but serious injuries which by rights should have crippled the MMBD...but it didn't!
We played games and found ways to win, when we possibly shouldn't have...but we did!!
We withstood all that was put before us, we stood together side by side...but others couldn't!

Show me one MMBD brother who didn't give his all...but you cant!
Find an MMBD brother who at any stage relented...but you wont!

So the MMBD went to Adelaide to win GOLD...and we did!

Similar to the previous game, you could look for single incidents by individual players...but we wont!

This GOLD was a culmination of 6 previous tough games,a combination of blood spilled, bones broken, ligaments & muscles torn, and did the ever MMBD flinch? no we didn't!

So we won GOLD Vs our arch rivals NSW, the Powder Blues, who started the game thinking anything's possible.
By half time they were daring to dream, thinking a big upset was on the cards.
With 5 minutes to go they had taken the MMBD to a place no other side had managed to do.

But with 3 minutes left, they were beaten, they gave it a red hot go, but they were beaten.
Not by the MMBD players who were left still standing...but by all 16 brothers, who never ever gave up...


that's The impression that I get!!


MMBD rule!

PS...if we were to single out a game highlight...Tonks’ post goal celebration! As a well known commentator would say “SPECIAL”

In all our finery with added gold medal

In yet further breaking news.
Mitch Law voted MVP for our team.
Also leading goal scorer in this age division with 6 goals

Our gold medal win sadly tarnished by serious shoulder injury to Crowey

Breaking news MMBD thrashes NSW 1-0 to win gold. 4 consecutive gold medals for this team 👍🏿

With the qualifying games out of the way, the MMBD have gone through undefeated, but yet to deliver a complete game.
Coach Cams pre game brief was all about pride, honour, patience and control.

From the get - go, the boys were steely resolved to fulfil his demands.

It would be easy to pick individual moments by individual players in the game but that would do no justice.

It would be easy to highlight the hard gut running from Paskey, or the will power of Netts to run back and help cover...or the tirless work from Gav & Noose & TFD (Oostie), or the distribution of Cookie, not to mention the form finding Tonks. The almost scores from Spike...

It would be simple to suggest that a stand out performance from Crowie & Coach Cam and sheer desire to contribute from Dazza were the catalyst of this win...or the ROCK SOLID defence, the miserly midfield or the tireless forwards...but the reality is simply this...

MMBD are, above all else, a team of brothers who are prepared to do what is required to defend our PRIDE, HONOUR & MMBD BROTHERHOOD.

So, no stars this game just a star team effort.

In no particular order, GOOAALS to Coach Cam off a short corner set play...excellent, one to Tonks off a scramble, terrific. ..a team effort fpr Mitch's first GOOAAL, awesome and possibly the field GOOAAL of the tourney so far to Mitch with a runing shot off the top of the D...just magnificent.

So the 4 nil scoreline is fitting for the complete MMBD dominance.

Tonks gets the mug as best afield.

Downside, Elroy is out with a knee injury, we all hope its only a minor one, but we will miss his play.

And so the GF awaits the MMBD again, and again its the Powder Blues...bring it on I say, bring it on...

And for the superstitious...

Did you know that yesterday was our 6th game, played on the 6th of the month?
And that Elroy went off after twisting his knee at 2.33, (2×33= 66) the 18th minute (3×6=18) and he cameback on 6 miutes later only to collapse again?

And that he is in a room on the 6th floor, and that our injured JENNO is one of his roomies?
And that the two of them represent 2 thirds of the people staying in that room? That's 66%. ..

Does this all mean the MMBD will bang 6 GOOAALS past NSW tomorrow?

Gimme a HELL YEA...

MMBD rule

News flash
4 nil win over the Vics puts us into the grand final vs NSW on Saturday
Match Report to follow

Match Report - Game 5 vs NSW (by Jon Dreja)

And so the MMBD gather again at the Pines to see what the Powder Blues are made of.

Both so far unbetean, this was a game to determine who is the king pin...the numero uno, the top of the wozza...who would claim the bragging rights as the best team qualfying,

And...it wasn't NSW...Ha!!

Pre game they back slapped each other, chest bumped each other, pumped each other up in an attempt to intimidate the MMBD.

We hardly took any notice.

They came out hard and fast and determined. They applied early pressure an fot the first 20 minutes they threw their best at the MMBD.

ROCK SOLID defence absorbed it all, and then MMBD started to take control.

The Flying Dutchman was again at his best stifleing the left and even when the rotation started, Noose held firm.

Midfield dominance with Cookie and Paskey and hard working & tireless running from the ever present Mitch and Elroy, gave the Powder Blues no breathing space.

Half time comes and the score is nil all but it seems that MMBD have control.

Second half starts and MMBD pick up where we left off.

A long corner variation taken by Paskey is executed as per Coach Cams instructions...a slide sideways, deflection into the D and Tonks is there to swat it in.

GOOAAL! The MMBD are away again.

Sensing the game was slipping away, the Powder Blues try to rally.
All to no avail.

New boy Crowie runs amok, he leaves the NSW boys stranded, resembling blue training cones.

Not content with holding the left side down, the Flying Dutchman moves to the right to relive Captain Rusty...and dominates there as well.

By this time, Coach Cam has made piercing sprints up and down the pitch...was he looking to redeem himself for his goal indescrection the previous days?

By now the NSW boys were all and sunder.

Pressure in the D gives the MMBD a short corner...

Variation number 14/ b has Mitch inject shortside at snail pace.
The ball finally reaches Crowie who returns a perfect ball to him.

Everpresent Mitch slots the ball. .GOOAAL !!

Thats 2 to SFA...

The MMBD, apply a press, they shut the game down, they kill off any hopes that the Powder Blues had...

The game ends an MMBD have gone through undefeated..again.

No surprise that Oostie..TFD wins the man of the match and mitch wins the mug award on countback. Yay finally someone can skull the contents...Sorry Gav..cordial doesnt count.

Now its finals time and the VICS are on the agenda, a Grand Final berth awaits

Are we ready...?
Are we good enough?
Are we wanting GOLD?

GIMME A HELL YEA

MMBD rule!

Oostie MVP as voted by NSW !!

Match Report - Game 4 vs ACT ( by Jon Dreja)

So the MMBD machine rolls on.
After the close encounter of the Toad kind the day before, the MMBD was determined to up the ante.

The ACT were just as determined, motivated by the loss of a dear friend, they were fired up.

They were also encouraged by the recent apparent unusual form of the MMBD.

The game was low key but the MMBD were focused on possession, on patience and playing solid hockey.

That was achieved, and the defence was ROCK SOLID again, the midfield was miserly and controlled the game, the forwards were hard working and provided quality leading and applied pressure on a reslient ACT defence lead by a stodgey keeper who earned his soup bones for tea.

A first half GOOAAL came after a great build up starting with the Flying Dutchman, Oostie, who intercepted a loose ball, sqeezed it through the midfield, where new boy Crowie weaved some magic and slammed home a GOOAAL that was too quick for the keeper to close his legs...

1 to nitz at half time..,

The second stanza was as tough as the first. The MMBD were working the ball around with confidence.
Ever-ready Gav started to create drive on the left side, Captain Rusty was surging up and down the right side overlapping and providing quality crosess.

Spike the knife had more leads than a Mrs Maple murder mystery...

Coach Cam, made up for his previous days indescrection (well almost) making piercing runs though the middle. His efforts would ultimately be rewarded with the Man of the Match award.

The game was heading for a casual ending, but new boy Crowie had other plans...those that know the Crow, know full well that he is the last minute game specialist.

So with 52 seconds left, he intercepts a wayward ACT pass in the midfield, the ACT backed off...thinking the MMBD would be content to wind the clock.

They backed off...big, big mistake...

New boy Crowie looks back at the clock...waits for the perfect moment and unleashes a scud from 30 meters finding the ever present Mitch, lunging and slipping the ball in for GOOAAL number 2.

The last seconds tick by...and the game ends.

Respect to ACT...its the closest they have come to the MMBD for years.

The mug of the day went Everready Gav, who skulls it contents with gusto...even though the content was cordial...the sugar rush had him immediately talking at Mach 3 speed...poor Deb, she will have to put up with him in fast forward mode for a few hours.

So the MMBD remains unbeaten and is now only 21 bottles of quality red wine away from facing arch rivals... the Powder Blues...NSW..

Are we keen?

Gimme a "Hell yea"

MMBD Rules !

Team rule was to travel to Adelaide in the grape shirts and trilby's and produce evidence ......