The WA Thundersticks have recorded a win and a loss against arch rivals Queensland over the weekend in the first round of the 2009 Australian Hockey League.
WA – who are reigning champions – claimed the first match of the double header with a thrilling 3-2 win, with goals to Hearn, Pike and Dancer.
WA Coach Paul Gaudoin placed Bevan George in a right half position to great advantage and Fergus Kavanagh was an engine in the midfield.
The WA backs were kept busy with Liam de Young, Dean Butler and Matt Ghodes dominating the midfield. Stephen Lambert made some great saves and two desperate lunges at attacking strikers resulted in two penalty strokes in the first half to WA. The first was saved brilliantly and the second was converted by Greg Hearn.
Jason Wilson, De Young and particularly Michael Bates had strong solo runs and a Wilson run was only stopped by a desperate tackle by Bevan George that concedes a penalty. The penalty was once again saved by WAIS athlete Ross Meadows.
In the 29th minute Wilson brought the ball into the circle and a skirmish in front of goals allowed him to scoop over Meadows to even the score at half time.
The second half was as close as the first with WA having a slight upper hand to start.
After 15 minutes Liam De Young outstripped the WA backs and sets up a penalty however the penalty was batted away by Meadows.
In the 58th minute the Queensland defenders were watching the ball slowly move toward the back line when Sam Pike pounced on the ball and dived past the defender to scoop it into the net to give WA their second goal.
Two minutes later Michael Bates ran solo down the right into the circle. His cross eluded the WA defence and deflected high into the net to even the score.
Two minutes after this setback, WA struck the winner from a penalty corner as Brent Dancer helped the ball home via a defender’s stick.
Queensland gained revenge in the second match however, running out 5-3 victors in a high quality match at Perth’s International Hockey Stadium.
The first half was another close encounter and was too close to call until Liam De Young posted a penalty in the eleventh minute.
Both teams made the use of fast strikers and Greg Hearn and Andrew Smith for WA as well as Cale Kramer and Michael Bates were exciting to watch. Hearn had an early solo playtaking the ball through a series of Queensland forwards but his reverse in the circle was raised.
Liam de Young from Blades was also dangerous and his solo tomahawk soon after was well saved by goalie Ross Meadows.
WA’s Fergus Kavanagh worked overtime in the centre as did the composed Bevan George at full back.
The only score in the first half was a penalty variation that was dummied to the left and lifted off the pads of the motionless goalie. The ball lifted in the air and was batted home by de Young on the line.
The second half started in the same vein and Queensland were caught napping resulting in a penalty which was flicked in by Brent Dancer.
Queensland suddenly woke up and played dynamic hockey for the rest of the half scoring four goals in quick succession leaving WA floundering.
Every Blades player looked dangerous and their run away forwards were no match for WA’s defence. Goal two for Queensland was a WA defensive error stolen by Liam de Young.
The very next minute of play was another run down the left by Tim Bates who deftly slaped a reverse stick hit into the bottom right.
Goal four for theBlades was a drag flick conversion to Tim Bates. Goal five was set up by Wilson who ran like lightning down half the pitch and crossed to Jacob Burns.
The score line looked miserable for WA but they kept plugging away and got their composure back in the last ten minutes. Brent Dancer, after many forays through the midfield found a diving Sam Pike on the left post to give WA two goals.
Then WA’s Trent Mitton orchestrated a penalty with beautiful skills on the final whistle. Dancer once more effortlessly flicked the ballto make the final score 5-3 to Queensland.
