Thundersticks Too Good for Plucky NT Outfit
The Western Australian Thundersticks were made to work hard for their double header success over the Northern Territory Stingers this weekend, after 3-2 and 3-0 wins kept WA on track to win back to back AHL titles.
In a game that many had expected to be a precession in Darwin, WA instead found themselves in a scrap as an injury ravaged NT side came out looking for scalps.
The first half, enlivened by a raucous home crowd proved a tight contest, WA snaring the lead in the 23rd minute through a goal to WAIS athlete Greg Hearn, before NT countered with an equalizer to Adrian Lockley after 32 minutes.
WA needed a spark in the second half and it came through WAIS athlete Jonathon Charlesworth who restored WA’s lead with a field goal on 42 minutes. Any thoughts that WA would run away with the match were stalled on 51 minutes after Travis Carroll produced a stunning tomahawk strike from a seemingly impossible angle to level the scoreboard.
With the crowd in frenzy and the players full of confidence, it seemed NT could provide a real shock, until Greg Hearn capitalized on a penalty corner to complete his brace and a 3-2 score line for the Thundersticks.
WA Coach Paul Gaudoin said “It was a tight game that went right wire. We expected a competitive match coming up here and that’s what we got. The Stingers keeper was outstanding. We are looking forward to a good game tomorrow.”
Whilst Gaudoin paid credit to the NT side, WA were well short of their best and they looked to rectify that matter in game two on Sunday. WA produced a far more controlled performance and found goals through WAIS athlete Greg Hearn on six and 19 minutes, with a third added by fellow WAIS product Craig Boyne on 41 minutes.
The second half was interrupted when the impressive NT goal keeper Leon Hayward was accidentally struck by a stick.
Overall WA Coach Paul Gaudion was pleased with the win despite a slow second half performance from his team.
“We improved from yesterday, with our skills showing through. We were happy with the first half, and had an interesting second half with the injury break,” he said.
