WA Over 55's - 2008 Match Reports

WA vs VIC - Monday, July 7, 2008

On day 1 of the Australian Veterans Hockey Championships in Darwin, WA Grey Ducks (aka the WA Over 55's) started the tournament with game 1 against bitter rivals Victoria. 
The game started in quite humid conditions with the Victorians taking it up to the WA side. They held the ball in the attacking half for much of the first ten minutes, keeping the WA team under some pressure. 
However, once the WA side settled and began moving the ball around with confidence, they started to gain the ascendancy and began to pepper the Victorian goal. 
The crowd and players went up as one when they thought the ball had entered the goal but it turned out to be one of the two "posters" in a torrid 15 minutes of play. 
The work was finally rewarded when Dennis Baker latched on to a rebound and flicked it over the prone goalkeeper. 
The score at 1-0 remained this way until half time even though the Ducks continued to apply pressure. 

The second half saw a confident WA unit continue to apply pressure on the Victorian team. Good midfield control through Ray Norton, Dudley Evans and John Chapman allowed free-running Tom Long plenty of opportunity up front. Rudi Keswick also created problems for the Vics with his holding skills in and around the circle area. 
After many build-ups in the second half, Maurice Giles slammed the ball into the back of the net for WA's second goal (you don't have to hit it hard Maurie, just accurately). 
WA's dominance was vindicated when "Harps" indicated at the end of the game that he had only had one touch and that was early in the game. 

After last year, the Victorians, particularly David Peebles, must be hating us, as he took a solid blow to the family jewels which put him out of action for a while. This author can not understand how Gilly could have been fined for that... 
A great start to the tournament boys. 

At the post-match drinks, Rudi Keswick was given best player by our opposition while Dudley Evans was voted best player by his peers.

Result: WA 2 - VIC 0

WA vs WAC - Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Game 2 of the tournament saw the Grey Ducks take on WA Country, a team we knew would be competitive and out to thwart our game plan. They possessed a number of effective players who we knew would be the key to their success unless we could out-think them. 
The game commenced with the Ducks holding a lot of possession and putting pressure on the WA Country defence. However, it was difficult to penetrate the Country wall and it was not until we gained our first penalty corner that we were able to take the lead with a well struck shot from Maurie Giles. 
The Grey Ducks continued to apply pressure, mainly down our right side and in particular through John Chapman at right half who always appeared to have an eternity of space. 
This continual pressure, as well as the effective pressing the Grey Ducks established, meant that Country could not get a ball out of their defensive half. 
It was only a matter of time before more goals followed with another to Maurie Giles, two to Tom Long one of which was an excellent diving deflection and a great pick up goal off a penalty corner to Rudi Keswick. 

At the post-game drinks the opposition named Tom Long as their best player while John Chapman gained his players votes for an outstanding performance.

Result: WA 5 - WAC 0

WA vs NT - Thursday, July 10, 2008

The Grey Ducks took on an undermanned NT side in game 3 of the tournament. 
A well planned strategy by Coach Robbie Lawson, had Maurie Giles slam in the first two penalty corners, one within the first couple of minutes into the game. This set the tone and confidence for the match and WA continued to press and hold the ball for long periods in the game. 
NT had problems moving the ball out of defence, and when they did get it out, NT were easily repelled by the WA defence with goalie John Harper only getting one or two touches for the game. 
The Grey Ducks moved the ball around very effectively from side to side, back to front and made many cicle penetrations. Quite a number of these circle penetrations resulted in penalty corners and if it had not been for the outstanding play from the NT goalkeepers (a different one in each half), the score could have easily reached double figures. 

As it was, the score finished at 7-0 with extra goals to Les Hayter (the Ferret) who found himself in front of goals in the right spot at the right time to score two, one to Rudi Keswick, one to Tom Long and another to Mal Skinner (aka Moses). The Tom Long in particular cam from a brilliantly executed penalty corner. 

At the team drinks following the match, Maurie Giles was voted best player by the NT team and Ray Norton was voted best by his peers.

Result: WA 7 - NT 0

WA vs TAS - Saturday, July 12, 2008

The Grey Ducks continued on their winning way today with a comprehensive 9-1 victory over Tasmania. Although lots of goals were scored, Coach Rob Lawson was not happy with the 3-1 score at half-time. Tasmania is the only side to have scored a goal against us to this point in the tournament. 

In the second half the Ducks came out with more purpose and moved the ball quickly from player to player and to all parts of the field. They were rewarded with six goals for their persistence. Funnily enough three of the nine goals came from penalty strokes and up until this game we had not seen a penalty stroke given. 

In total today two goals were scored by Maurie Giles and Rob Lawson while Ferret, Butch, Bakes, Rudi and Ray contributed one each. 

Although many chances were created in the game, the Tasmanian goalie did a great job in keeping out many shots, moving to all parts of the circle to do so. He was an easy winner of our best player award. 
Ray Norton received the best player award from the opposition while Maurie Giles received the votes of his peers.

Result: WA 9 - TAS 1

WA vs QLD - Sunday, July 13, 2008

The Grey Ducks produced another outstanding performance in game 5 when they defeated Queensland 4-0. In previous years this game was one in which few goals were scored and it was always a close encounter. 

With a niggling injury keeping Butch Worth off the field, Ian Pestana stepped into the fullback role with aplomb and turned in his best game of the tournament. 
This was recognised not only by his peers at the end of the game but also by the opposition who gave him the best player award. 
Pesty, with regular fullback Geoff Hudson and goalkeeper John Harper repelled many Queensland attacks and fed the ball to our waiting forwards. 
Dennis Baker opened the scoring for the Grey Ducks when he converted a penalty corner in the 20th minute of the first half. Queensland fought back immediately to gain a penalty corner, but fine running from Ray Norton saw the ball deflected away for a long corner. Minutes later, Maurie Giles converted a penalty corner for WA to take the lead to 2-0 into half time. 

The first half of the second half was an even slog with WA creating most of the chances. However, it was not until the 26th minute that Maurie Giles claimed his second goal from a well taken strike in the circle. 
Maurice finished the game with a hat-trick when after a fine buildup down the right hand side saw the ball go to Ray Norton who found Maurie in the circle to finish with a clinical goal. 

A fine 4-0 win to WA.

Result: WA 4 - QLD 0

WA vs ACT - Monday, July 14, 2008

In a game that would determine who would finish on top of the pool by goal difference, the Grey Ducks faced a team from ACT that had been ravaged by injury. The Ducks had to go out physically and mentally prepared to have a good win. 

The game started poorly for WA and there were many mistakes in the first few minutes. This was compounded by the similar colours of both teams. 
Many passes went straight to the opposition. This was not lack of skill, just a quick decision made on colour. 

However, the drought was broken in the 5th minute when Maurie Giles and Dennis Baker combined well for Maurie to score. A fine steal by Tom Long in the midfield had lead to this development. 

WA goalie John Harper was called upon to make a good save in one of the few penalty corners that ACT gained. 
WA started to string their passes together and were rewarded when Maurie Giles scored his second goal in the 17th minute. He made it three before half-time when a neat overhead pass from Mal Skinner found Rudi Keswick who then passed into Maurie to score. 

After half-time the Ducks continued to apply pressure and were rewarded in the 5th minute when a precisely taken penalty corner allowed Tom Long to deflect the ball into the net. Tom followed this up again shortly after with a well constructed field goal. 

In the 23rd minute another well constructed penalty corner saw John Chapman flick the ball high into the net. A well deserved goal as normally the umpires take his goals away... 

The Ducks finished the game with another goal to Tom Long in the 27th minute. This had developed through a great build-up between Rudi and Moses. 

A fine 7-0 win to the Ducks to put them on top of the pool. 

Result: WA 7 - ACT 0

WA vs NSW - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The Grey Ducks winning streak came to a crashing halt today when they were soundly beaten by a strong NSW lineup. 

NSW maintained their unbeaten record at this carnival to top the pool and advance as number 1 into the semi-finals. 

WA started strongly and held much of the early play. However, NSW were able to score on a counter attack that split the WA defence open. 

The score at half-time was 1-0. 

This galvanised the WA team to push more forward as they had to either win or draw to remain on top of the pool. Unfortunately by doing so they exposed themselves at the back and allowed NSW to use the ball long to their hard-running forwards. 
Their persistence resulted in another goal so they now led WA 2-0. 

The Ducks continued to fight back and brought their score back to 2-1 when Maurie Giles continued his goal scoring spree to slot a goal and put WA back into the picture. 

However, through some creative steals and pressure through the midfield, NSW got on top of the WA team to score another three goals in the last 15 minutes to totally seal the issue. 

The Ducks were obviously disappointed with the result but hoped that this was their one bad game for the tournament. Having finished in second place, WA will now play the VICs in the semi-final. They would like to win this game for probably another crack at NSW in the grand final. 

In the post-game drinks, Maurie Giles was named best player by the opposition while Butch Worth, playing his first game after missing two games with injury, gained the votes of his peers.

Result: WA 1 – NSW 5

SemiFinal WA vs VIC - Friday, July 18, 2008

The Ducks went into this game confident of a win, particularly on hearing the news that David Peebles was out injured. 
WA started well and created a number of early chances. A well weighted through ball from Butch Worth found Tom Long in the circle and he succeeded in gaining a penalty corner. From this, Rudi Keswick scored to give WA an early lead. 

WA goalie John Harper was called on to make a couple of crucial saves when errant back passes were picked off by the opposition to almost give them a free shot at goal. Luckily, none of them was successful. 

The Ducks continued to attack, using width effectively. They were further rewarded when overlapping right half John Chapman moved the ball into the circle to have Maurie Giles tap in the goal. 
Half time score 2-0. 

In the second half, the game continued with WA holding the ball once again. However, a tiredness crept in, players began to make some basic skill errors and this let Victoria back into the game. Their midfield started to gain control and they were rewarded for their efforts when they crashed a ball across the circle to see the left wing hit the ball home. 

The Vics continued to press for the equaliser, but WA were able to hold firm and take the game 2-1. 

WA will now play NSW in the final. The Ducks will need to be on their mettle to defeat NSW who gave them a 5-1 drubbing in the round game.

Result: WA 2 – VIC 1

Final - WA vs NSW - Saturday, July 19, 2008

This game was our tounament goal. To come away and play in the final. We achieved this and as per the last few years the final was versus our old nemesis NSW. They had beaten us comfortably in the round game but we were still of the opinion that they were beatable, and we had done it before. 

The first half was a tough battle with both sides attempting to hold the ball for long periods of possession while attempting to break through their opponents defence. 
NSW achieved this when they broke down through the right hand side and an accurate shot was fired over the shoulder of the WA keeper John Harper. 
Score at half-time 1-0. 

The second half was a torrid affair with both sides, tired and sore after a long tournament, tried to gain ascendancy. Obviously it was now a game that would reward the team making fewer errors and making most use of their chances. 
NSW turned out to be the team to do this as they slammed in three well-taken penalty corners in the second half. 

WA continued to press and made the score a little more respectable when Dennis Baker was able to slot home a shot after a good buildup through the left hand side. 

NSW ended up deserving winners with a score of 4-1. 

Congratulations to Tom Long and Rudi Keswick who were selected in the Australia O/55 team. John Harper also deserved accolades for a good tournament when he was selected as Goalkeeper for the Australian O/60's team.

Result: WA 1 - NSW 4