2017 WA Masters Hockey Men O40 State Team

Masters State OFT M-F EOI Form 2018.doc

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Men's O40 Match Summary

WA Masters Men’s 040's Match Report

Semi Final – 30 Sep 2017

WA 1 Vs QLD 4

The earlier than usual start deprived the team of their ritual pool and spa recovery session ( really it was an excuse to get semi naked together and splash )
The weather was exceptionally cold with snow down to 300m overnight which made way for a brassy cold morning. The view of Kunanyi/Mt Wellington from the fields confirmed the snowy prediction. The Antarctic wind had the bureau saying 10.5C but feels like 1.5C - still think it was colder. Even a number of the locals were complaining about how cold it was.
Safe to say the warm up was less enjoyable than usual with a few jarred hands during sticks.

Queensland started with the ball and the game immediately took on a speedy pace - both teams showing no signs of this being the 6th game in eight days, or maybe we were all just trying to outrun the cold. A number of pe*******ons in both circles had defences scrambling, Stricko, Goat and Jonesy denying the Qld strikers and Jesse “House of Pain” Newman organising his boys well and making some solid saves. A dubious yellow card to Dover in the middle of the quarter placed extra pressure on the tired, old, alcohol filtering systems better known as Team Awesome. Searching runs from Rich, Axel and Ray were unsuccessful but it only seemed a matter of time until at least one team opened their account. The score at quarter time 0-0.

The second quarter started much like the first, both teams trying to dominate the midfield to no avail until the 24th minute when Qld worked the ball through their left and a bouncing cross found a striker at the top of the circle. A well placed tomma put them 1-0 up. This inspired the WA boys to push harder still and 3 minutes later were rewarded with a PC. Axel put the rebound away to make it one-a-piece. The Qld team responded by pressing hard against our 16’s and an intercept led to a melee in front of goal requiring a number of huge saves from Jesse but his bravery came at a cost. An opposition striker fell on his outstretched leg - for those that don’t know Jesse, he is hard, (so hard that he played for the rest of the quarter and had it strapped during half time to continue to play the 3rd quarter - turns out it it was his mcl). Five minutes from the half the maroon bananas mirrored their first goal but from the right side and at the half it was 2-1 Qld.

Physio Phil spent the half strapping Jesse’s knee while AK and Flash kept the calm, positive comments flowing emphasising the need to keep up the work rate, find the midfield more often and mix it up with some overheads.

The third quarter opened with a storm of overheads with Sweet Chilli, Stewie, Ho***rs and Muscles pulling everything down within sticks reach while doing a great job at keeping their strikers wide. Flash, AK and Nath maintained their huge workload and were stretching the Qld defence with some brilliant linking with our other lines. A quick turnover in midfield gave Queensland another shot on goal unfortunately beating Jesses outstretched leg. Sadly this spelled the end for Jesse, his knee was blown despite his Bruce Reid like strapping effort. Mad dog Jonesy stepped up as kicking fullback ( or King Fullback as I prefer to call them), and the rest of the team stepped up with even more running and doing our best to clog up the middle of the field. End of the quarter the scores were 3-1 in Qld’s favour.

The final quarter saw everyone on the field laying it all on the line. Gut busting running, diving and sliding, clutch tackles around the circle, intercepts, we tried it all but we were running on empty. Qld made only a couple of entries into our D and without a keeper all they needed was a good shot on goal which they did only once with 6 minutes left on the clock. It was an almighty effort from all but alas in wasn’t to be. Final score a 4-1 loss. Tomorrow was another day and another chance for a medal, this time against our first round opponents, Tasmania.

WA Masters Men’s 040's Match Report

Game 5 – 28 Sep 2017
WA 1 Vs QLD 4

After much soul searching following a disappointing loss to the Vics, WA came out fired up for our last group match with QLD. Both WA and QLD shivered through their respective warms up with the temperature gauge showing 11 degrees, and the howling wind dropping the temperature at least 5 degrees more.

The start of the game was delayed with the non arrival of umpires so we froze for a few more minutes whilst some were located. Finally the game started and it was QLD who jumped out of the blocks the quickest. There was good ball movement at the back but transfers into the midfield where being hampered by a very physical QLD counter. Rowey (aka Shooter McGavin) was tripled teamed at some stages and the guns were failing to come out of the holster. The rest of the midfield were also under immense pressure and in the 14th minute the midfield and defence cracked and QLD scored a classy field goal.

1-0 down going into quarter time, our inspirational coach gave the right message and WA came out firing in the second quarter. Possession was maintained and we put together our best quarter of hockey. The possession hockey paid off and just prior to half time we were rewarded with a classy field goal started by AK and finished off finely by Ray and Rich. 1-1 at half time. Game on!

Some say the third quarter is the premiership quarter. Well,it wasn't for WA tonight. QLD were the better team after half time and we were again under immense pressure. In the 43rd minute QLD sprung a surprise at a penalty corner by distributing from the left. Well, it worked. 2-1 QLD.

The next 6 minutes were fairly even until Jonesey tried his best to earn a yellow card by slide tackling in our defensive D. To the surprise of 22 players, no card was awarded but a penalty stroke was. 3-1 QLD going into three quarter time. Right after the start of the fourth quarter QLD slotted a deflection field goal. 4-1 and game over. The only other highlight of the fourth quarter was again Jonesey deliberately trying to earn a yellow by bullying a QLD striker inside our defensive 25 and falling on top of him. No card but a short corner which was well defended.

A well earned rest day on Friday, and we face QLD again in the first semi final. The mood is positive and we know we can deliver. Go WA and the tigers for Saturday.

Congrats to Flash for being awarded the MOM.

WA Masters Men’s 040's Match Report

Game 4 – 27 Sep 2017
WA 1 Vs VIC 6

With 1st on the ladder playing 2nd in the pool stage, this match gave us the opportunity to test ourselves against the pacesetters in the o40 Division 1 competition, Victoria. A test we ultimately failed.
The Vics controlled the play from the outset and were rewarded with a well worked field goal in the 6th minute.Finding ourselves down a goal in this competition wasn’t unusual for WA, the feeling early was that we could fight our way back into the game. This theory was challenged only 5 minutes later when Victoria turned in another field goal.
Spirits were lifted after the quarter time siren when Richie deflected a tidy short corner variation into the net, 2-1 down at the break. AK issued a challenge to the team to respond,however the team wasn’t able to consistently apply pressure to the Victorian ball carriers who successfully setup yet another field goal in the 22nd minute.
Half time gave us the opportunity to reset yet Victoria still picked us apart transitioning from their defence into attack. Their superior work rate was rewarded with a short corner in the 40th minute. Watching previous Victoria matches we noted they had a drag flicking weapon, despite this knowledge our defence was rendered helpless as the flicker dutifully placed the ball at speed into the top right corner.
If WA heads didn’t drop now, they certainly did 5 minutes later as a Victorian striker ghosted behind our defenders to turn in a well-executed deflection following a free hit outside the 25 line. WA 5 – 1 down.
The heat came out of the game in the 4th Quarter as the Victorians started thinking about managing their team ahead of the finals. This allowed us to work on rebooting the style of play that had been successful for us in previous matches. This earned several short corners and field scoring opportunities which we were unable to convert. Victoria still managed to ice the game with another goal following a scramble in our defensive D.
Plenty to think about for the WA side if we wish to reverse the result come the pointy end of the tournament. Spirits remain high and we are keen to show our resilience come game time versus QLD tomorrow, a game that will decide who finishes 2nd on the ladder going into the semis.
Congratulations to Jonesy, voted best player by the opposition. Special mention to Stricko who only found out hours earlier that he had rebroken his thumb in 2 places, yet still played out the match under significant duress.
Go WA.

Author Brett Rowe

WA Masters Men’s 040's Match Report

Game 3 – 25 Sep 2017 8:30PM – WA Vs ACT : 2-2 Draw

While the remainder of the Masters teams enjoyed the hospitality at the "Welcome to Hobart" tournament event back in town, WA 40's faced ACT in an 8:30pm timeslot in near freezing temperatures. As the seats in the stands had frozen over, the audience for the match was limited to the late-shift barman inside by the heater.

ACT had to this point in the tournament not earned a point and were facing a WA team at the top of the leaderboard but showed their intentions early in a strong display of defensive hockey in a scoreless 1st quarter. The play was similarly tight in the second quarter as neither team could generate genuine scoring opportunities despite Rich G taking a number of speedy runs down the left side into the forward 25. WA were clearly dominant with ball movement but at the 25min mark against the run of play ACT were awarded a short corner, and took the lead with a controversial goal awarded off a raised hit.

In quick response WA scored a leveller through some exceptional link up work through the forward line giving Ray his third goal for the tournament.

Ben Millar was dominant in the mid field and shut down some dangerous forward movements from the ACT midfielders. Jeff Ferguson put another dent in the backboard at the 52 minute mark giving WA a 2-1 lead and line of sight to victory.

The final quarter was another tight battleground and after a scurry in the defensive circle ACT managed to land an unlikely leveller where the score would stand 2-2 until full time.

In difficult conditions it was disappointing to come away with just a draw and a couple of injuries but the WA boys remain undefeated to this stage of the tournament and have shifted attention to the next fixtures against the dangerous Vic and Qld teams.

Players player was awarded by the ACT group to Richard Gardiner for his continuous and potent pe*******on into the forward line.

WA Masters Men’s 040's Match Report

Game 2 – 24 Sep 2017 5:30PM – WA Vs NSW : 2-1 WIN

After a tight first game against Tas and a few tired bodies, the following morning's preparations for the next match against NSW resembled a very amateur retirement home water aerobics & stretching session led by GK Jess in the hotel pool. The pool was subsequently closed for its own recovery.

Later at the stadium a tight battle ensued as the WA 40's came up against a hungry NSW outfit. The opening stanza was a close affair with WA dominant across the field particularly with Heaters and Glen dominating down the right side. We were unlucky to enter the short break down 0-1 after NSW managed to slot a single breakaway opportunity.

The pressure cooker intensified in the second and third quarters with no score to either team in a very tight battle. NSW rebutted numerous WA advances with overhead after overhead flying out to Phil at LH from their tired defence which were brought down safely and injected back towards our circle but unfortunately without impacting the scoresheet.

The 4th quarter saw the game open up significantly as WA started to run over the top of our opponents. Scores were levelled at 1-1 after AK slotted a field goal from the top of the circle with around 8mins to play. NSW responded strongly with attacking play and a shot from the top which GK Jess just managed to get an outstretched pad to, deflecting a certain goal. This was seemingly the last gasp from NSW as WA resumed dominant ball movement and with 90 seconds left on the clock Ray managed a run along the baseline ultimately lifting the ball into the net over a diving keeper to take WA to a 2-1 lead at the buzzer.

Another resiliant and gritty display from the WA 40's to come back from behind and run out the game on to.

Players player as voted by NSW went to Jess for his game changing save deep in the fourth.