O45 WA Masters Hockey Men's State Team

04/10/2023

Game 7 | WA v VIC | Match Review

Sunday 1st October 2023

- - GOLD MEDAL MATCH - -

In preparation for our Grand final appointment with Victoria, some players chose a morning walk at Cottesloe, others spending quite time with family and most definitely on the physio table. Regardless we all arrived at PHS ready to go for a 1:15pm start, knowing that we had unfinished business from 2022.

Matt Regan’s pre-match address as usual was precise, direct, and unapologetic.

After losing the coin toss we settled into the first quarter with the same forward line aggression that has served us so well for the past 8 days (six games)
The back line operating with complete confidence defied the first Victoria attempt forward before we rested at quarter time. The first quarter was tight and fast, with both teams feeling out each other’s defenses for any gaps (which were few and far between).

The midfield led by AK and Robbo started to control the midfield and wasn't long before some opportunities started to present. Seco failed to convert a super cross from Botty at the top of the circle and upon reflection had more time to challenge the keeper (but being a final every moment felt presurised). Pino and Flash were finding their groove running through midfield and looking dangerous. Our goalkeeper Jesse was excellent in the first half defiantly guarding his goal, with some clinical saves.

With the half-time score still 0-0, the positive game plan was reinforced by the Illustrious Coach Regan at the main break.
The start of the 3rd quarter was encouraging and our fitness, endurance, and speed began to have an effect on the game. WA began to move the ball quickly and some excellent team play saw repeated attacks pe*****te the circle, and although we were unable to secure an attacking corner (all game), AK and Woody both had a couple of excellent opportunities each to score. We had the VICs scrambling in defense.

The start of the final quarter began with a flurry of action from both teams trying to gain the lead.
With SOK taking over as goal Keeper for the second half, he had his defenders primed and dominating the defensive D. Victoria had repeated penalty corners, which were rebuffed stoically and after Dover cleanly ran down another Vic PC, and some great team play, saw Richie Gardiner have a flying shot on the counter-attack. Sadly the ball flew just high, which meant the score was still 0-0. With a penalty shootout looming the final few minutes were crazy, but off to a wobble off it was.

Final siren WA 0 - VIC 0

The wobble-offs result fell to the advantage of the VICs with WA never really looking threatening. Victoria scored 3 of their first 4 attempts and WA was only able to score 1, meaning for the sixth straight year Victoria won the Gold medal and got the chocolates again.

Review by Steve Sexton

- - - - -

Special note from the Captain:

A superhuman effort by everyone in the squad this year meant that even though we didn’t win the final I honestly feel that we had an amazing week. Special thanks to coach Matt Regan, manager AK, and the two game day support crew Clay Millar and Georgie Matthews for all your efforts.

See you next year

Cheers Seco

03/10/2023

2ND year in a row we take the SILVER (this time in penalties).

We'll get you next time Victoria... next time!!

30/09/2023

Game 6 | WA v SA | Match Review

Saturday 30th September 2023

With a shot at the gold medal match beckoning we came up against SA where a draw would be sufficient to go through to the big dance (24 hours away).

The pre-match briefing from coach Regan focussed on the processes that got us this far in the tournament undefeated. The bottom line was to maintain our momentum by pressing hard for the win.
Possession was shared between the teams during the first half as SA showed why they have proven themselves competitive throughout the tournament, led by an SA stalwart Ian Wishart, who organised his team well from Full Back.
It took until the closing minutes of the first quarter for WA to break the deadlock, thanks to a trademark backhand slider past the keeper by Richie Gardiner, finishing off the attacking foray down the left side.
Andrew ‘SOK’ Cathie denied SA an equaliser by smothering one shot and reacting to another awkward ball at hip height, deflecting it over the crossbar. These would prove to be SA’s best opportunities of the match, as WA arrested back the momentum late in the first half through a nice touch in goal from Chucky, benefiting from a baseline cross from Richie.

Whilst the score line at the Half break showed 2 nil in our favour, we knew there was room for improvement, particularly in the way we moved the ball in the forward half. This was put into action as it wasn’t long before Pino and Chucky tapped in consecutive goals within minutes of each other, both a result of great positioning around the goal mouth.

Having hit the post early in the 3rd quarter for what feels like the 17th time in 6 matches, Robbo skilled 2 defenders along the baseline and slotted home the goal in what must have been the tightest of angles, I guess this is much easier than hitting off the short corner from the top of the D. Robbos classy goal made it 5 nil at the 3 quarter break.

The heat took its toll in the 4th quarter with the game opening up. WA had several opportunities to extend the lead however it was Daniel ‘The Ice Man’ Woodward who eliminated the sweep defender and chipped the ball over the keeper's shoulder for a goal, making it 6 for WA for the game. Importantly it was also a very strong defensive effort from WA resulting in the first clean sheet of the tournament, with Dover, Reegs, Haydos, Postie (Not Matt Robbins, the other postie), and Benny Fraser proving to be a tough nut to crack.

It was evident post-match that the team has a steely resolve to win the gold, for some the motivation is redemption from the disappointment of last year, for others it’s to remain undefeated for the tournament. Whatever the motivation, it’s clear the VICs are in for a helluva fight, one all 18 of us are up for.

Man of the match as voted by SA – Matt Robbins.
Man of the match as voted by Coach Pegan – The GOAT Sexton.

The GOLD Medal match tomorrow starts at 1.15pm at Perth Hockey Stadium

Review by Brett Rowe

30/09/2023

Photos from today's game

30/09/2023

GOLD MEDAL match here we come.

Tomorrow at 1.15pm Perth Hockey Stadium (Curtin Uni)

30/09/2023

GAME 6 - Last round game - WIN!

29/09/2023

Game 5 | WA v NSW | Match Review

Tuesday 28th September 2023

WA started just as they had the previous game with an excellent opportunity to score a goal within the first 3 minutes. Sadly for this game, it didn't eventuate.

Different game, the same script, and continued pressure from the WA boys. This sustained pressure was tempered with control from the midfield which resulted in ongoing D pe*******on and resulting in a penalty corner halfway through the quarter, which just missed the outside corner of the left post.

It was then the NSW team that had the better of the play and found a firm footing inside the WA defensive circle, with a series of corners. Jesse Newman was steadfast in goals with repeated saves. It was a little unlucky that the first corner, following a solid save off Jesse's left kicker, was judged by the umpire to be a dangerous clearance (due to a raised ball in the 'D'). This resulted in a second corner. Once again Jesse made another quality save with this penalty corner, which was struck low and to the left which he deftly deflected with his glove to keep the score at nil all.

This galvanised the WA team into action, which resulted in the midfield wrestling back control with some excellent ball control and a series of quick passing. What followed was WA being awarded a penalty corner with 1 second left on the clock. The traditional corner hit directly at the goalie's pads, rebounded quick as a flash for another of Richard Gardiner's traditional backstick precision sweeps into the backboard. Western Australia one goal to the good heading into the quarter-time break.

The break was welcome due to the heat, but most especially the extreme humidity.

The second quarter saw the NSW men come out hard, with continual forcing attacking drives, one of which required another save on the spot from the WA goalkeeper Jesse, with the trustworthy and highly skilled Brett Rowe (Rowey) on hand to clean up the rebound shot off the goal line. The WA backline of Ben Millar, Mat Regan, Adam Pittaway, Hadyn 'Mr Reliable' Law and Steve 'The GOAT' Sexton then began to take control and provided continual quality ball to the midfield for the remainder of the game. This allowed the midfield to gain a level of dominance over the NSW team, and combined with the speed inherent in the WA forwards allowed Alan Kearnan (AK) pressing the NWS defensive circle with 2 free hits. Unfortunately not converted.

It then turned into a tennis match, with lots of back-and-forth play and also quite a bit of untidy turnovers from both teams. The heat and humidity were taking it's toll and the long break couldn't come quick enough. One particular quality piece of work was a chased down by Daniel Woodward (Woody) from a cross ball to keep pressure on the NSW defenders. Although there were no further scoring opportunities to be found, and the score remained at 1-0 at halftime.

Fortunately, the halftime break brought some cloud cover with it and on the return to the field, a small breeze had picked up to make conditions slightly better.

After some serious and stern words from our 'Illustrious Coach', the WA lads came out hard for the third quarter. On the 3-minute mark, the NSW defensive circle was again harassed with Chuck trying to take a shot but deciding to put it on a foot for an easy corner. The shot was stopped by the defender's foot to give WA a penalty stroke, which AK converted with the precision of a skilled surgeon.

6 minutes later another corner, this time Robbo slotted the ball perfectly into the same bottom corner where AK had dented it recently. WA now 3 nil up.

With 2 minutes left in the quarter, NSW was gifted a corner by the umpire who couldn’t recognise a clean tackle by Dover (Ben Millar). Jesse made a stick save but the rebound was knocked in for 3-1. WA responded immediately through Flash receiving the ball on top of the attacking 'D', turning blindside, and hitting a Tomma into the top of the net (and gracefully falling like a tree in the forest and stopping with a roll). WA four to NWS one. The end of the quarter found a bit more action in the NSW defensive circle, and WA achieved another penalty corner (once again in the dying seconds). Sadly the shot went wide.

WA was up and about for the last quarter. A cracking long ball from the WA defensive quarter (by Mat Regan) down the right sideline, and received by Richard Gardiner all the way down on the attacking baseline corner. Backstick trap, perfectly weighted backstick pass, onto the running backstick Botty (Ben Bott) who slotted it past the NSW goalkeeper's left foot for another goal. 5-1

Coming to the last half of the fourth quarter it looked as though NSW had run out of legs, but their resolve was strong and they kept fighting on. WA had another corner with no result. NSW came back for another umpire's corner. Dover cleared the shot, back to the injector to rebound which was saved by Jesse. WA attacked again through AK to Matt Read (Ready) who put the ball wide. With 3 minutes to go, Regs pulled rank and decided to move up to Centre forward and show the strikers how 'things were done'. This found all the WA lads trying to get him the ball. Unfortunately, the clock ran out, just as Reg's hit the top of the attacking circle with one player to beat (which we are all certain would have resulted in a goal, for sure).

Final Result: WA 5 v NSW 1

Both teams voted the fullback player of the match for NSW, and Steve Sexton (Secco) once again collected it for WA from the opposition, for the fourth consecutive game (almost like he is 'the GOAT'). The WA 'Illustrious' Coach judged the best player, with honorable mention to 'The GOAT'.

Review by Andrew Cathie (SOK)

29/09/2023

Game 6 - last round game tomorrow

28/09/2023

OUR ILLUSTRIOUS PLAYER / COACH

28/09/2023

Game 5 - NSW - WIN!!

27/09/2023

Todays game

27/09/2023