RAMS has claimed the minor premiership of the 2023 Glenelg Region Hockey Association division one men’s competition, with a 5-1 victory over Jakabytes in the final regular season round at Brian Roberts Field on Sunday.
Going into the last round of fixtures, Rams was tied with Bulls on seven wins and a draw from the first 12 rounds, and on form it appeared whichever team had the better goal difference would claim the top spot.
Knowing this, Rams attacked all game long with players moving the ball forward at every opportunity, as the Rams turned its form against Jakabytes around after recording a draw and a loss from the two previous games these teams have played.
Alistair Lewis added another two goals to his season tally, to stay atop the goal scorer list with 17, while Doug Cameron, Sam Ness and Tim Currie also put the ball in the back of the net for Rams, with Keith Northcott the only Jakabyte able to reply in kind.
COULDABEENS and Demons were both unable to reach the top four and their game was mainly for pride going into the off season, as Couldabeens posted an emphatic 7-1 victory.
Playing in the opening time slot, Couldabeens produced attacking hockey to dominate the wooden spooners from the opening push back, while also denying Demons the opportunity to reply with strong defence.
Lachlan McArthur had a field day in front of goal, putting the ball in the back of the net four times to climb to equal second on the goal scorers list for the competition, while Edmond Lyon (two) and Samuel Winter Cooke (one) also added to the Couldabeens tally.
In reply, only Daniel Showler was able to add his name to the score sheet for the Demons as the season ended for both teams.
COLLEGE and Bulls faced off in the final game of the evening with both teams desperate for victory to try an improve its standing on the premiership ladder.
Bulls shared the ladder lead before the game started, and needed to only win to claim top spot, while College could have claimed third spot if it had won this game by four or more goals.
Neither of these outcomes came to be, as the teams played an enthralling draw, 2-2, which left each side in the same position it started the game.
Henry Dorahy and Ciaran Nelson netted for College, while Bulls needed Gordon Last and Tom Schofield to reply, as College posted what amounted an upset against Bulls, who had comfortably won both the previous encounters between the teams.
Week one of finals will see Rams and Bulls battle it out at College for a spot in the grand final, while Jakabytes and College meet in the elimination final at Brian Roberts Field.
Women’s Division One
COLLEGE took no pity on a struggling third placed Dunkeld Red as it swept the opposition from the field, 8-0 to wrap up the top spot on the division one women’s premiership ladder.
To be fair to the Dunkeld Hockey club, it did divide its player pool into three teams so that a division one competition could be staged this season, whereas College only had the one team.
Emma Robertson netted a hat-trick of goals with Daisy Henry (two), Sophie Merrin and Georgie Broeren also scoring for College.
DUNKELD Blue will meet College in the qualifying final next week after finishing second on the ladder with a 2-0 victory against sister team Dunkeld White as Nyla Coneheady scored for Blue.
