WA Over 55's - 2005 Match Reports

WA vs NSW2 - Tuesday 4th October

Result: WA 0 - NSW2 2

A cautious start for the ‘Silver Ducks’ and although it was a game lost there were some promising signs. 
Not the least was the fact that David ‘Tank’ Mellor was still uninjured after 2 minutes, which was not the case in 2004!! 
WA started strongly and there was a period of ‘end to end’ play. 
Alan ‘Wombat’ Stewart came close with a well executed hit from a short corner which missed the far post by a claimed ‘less than one inch’! 
The new formation in defence, consisting of twin centre halves, two half backs and a sweeper was at this stage working very well. 
Captain Len Blyth was directing traffic effectively as sweeper and the midfield was working hard, especially KY Lee as left centre midfield.  
However NSW2 secured a couple of short corners which tested the WA defence, which held firm. 
Dave ‘Chook’ Cowley made a couple of penetrating runs down the right using his speed to advantage and Steve ‘Rumpole’ Cole was unlucky not to connect. 
This was closely followed by a ‘faint’ followed by a deft pass from Dave ‘Tank’ Mellor to Stan ‘Hobbit’ Balding who was unable to capitalise. 
Unfortunately, with less then a minute to go NSW2 went ahead after a move down the centre resulted in a push past Colin ‘Tug’ Benporath’s left hand which was steered easily into the net by the right inner. 
So ended the first half.

This really was a story of two halves. WA lost their composure and were under pressure from the start of the second half. 
NSW2 began to dominate and shut down WA’s right hand penetration. 
This pressure culminated in their second goal after a short corner was pushed past a melee of players and ran into the net. 
This revitalised WA and they began to exert their influence and Simon ‘Lunger’ Williams came close from a cross from Dave ‘Tank’ Mellor and then Nigel ‘Gadget’ Thomas also shaved the post with a deflection inside the circle from a hard free hit from Bill ‘Flasher’ Price.

The final whistle brought an end to a very enjoyable game played in the best hockey tradition. 
Best Player as awarded by NSW was Simon ‘Lunger’ Williams. 
Best player as voted by the WA team was KY Lee, with Bill ‘Rufus’ Campbell and Captain Len Blyth as ‘honourable mentions’.

Defeated but not Down!

WA vs VIC - Wednesday 5th October

Result: WA 0 - VIC 3

After playing the previous day in cool, rainy conditions, the ‘Silver Ducks’ met Victoria in glorious Wollongong sunshine and a humid 30 degrees Centigrade. 

Victoria are the over 55’s Championship favourites and their line up is impressive, with no less than 13 of their 18 players having National experience. 

The game started as expected, at high tempo, and with plenty of running off the ball. 
Victoria settled early and were rewarded with their first goal after about 8 minutes from a short corner, with Colin ‘Tug’ Benporath blocking the first shot well, only to have the rebound picked up by the inside forward who flicked the ball into the net. 
There followed a period where neither side could dominate with turnovers being the main feature, and both sides not looking fluent or penetrating. 
Nevertheless the WA defence was tested on numerous occasions, requiring the sweeper Captain Len Blyth to make the final hard tackle to thwart the Victorian forwards. 
Just before half time Victoria gained their second goal after a strong run into the box on the right culminating in a hard shot just inside the right hand post; a well taken goal! 
Both teams welcomed the half time siren after working very hard in trying humid conditions.

The fast pace continued in the second half and WA were toiling hard and defending well, with Colin ‘Tug’ Benporath making several good saves. 
The midfield of KY Lee, Bruce Milne, Bill ‘Rufus’ Campbell, Dave ‘Tank’ Mellor and Stan ‘Hobbit’ Balding all played well and with determination, but forays into the circle were few and far between. 
WA’s captain Len Blyth was the first to be shown a green card for a deemed overhard tackle which cleaned up the ball and the player, closely followed by a green card for Dave ‘Chook’ Cowley for an overzealous attempt to steal the ball. 
Victoria scored their third and final goal with a well executed run down the left to the line and a deft push to the far post where the inside forward was waiting to slot the ball home.

The final whistle finished a hard fought and fast game with Victoria clearly the deserved winners but with the ‘Silver Ducks’ competitive and neither downtrodden nor downhearted. 
Captain Len Blyth swept the field by being voted best player by both the Victorians and his own team, with KY Lee, Colin ‘Tug’ Benporath and Nigel ‘Gadget’ Thomas getting ‘honourable mentions’.

“Tis better to have played and lost, than never to have played at all”

WA vs SA - Friday 7th October

Result: WA 1 - SA 4

The Silver Ducks suffered their third successive defeat at the hands of a spirited South Australian team. 
However the scoreline flatters the SA side as it was nil all at half time and WA led for most of the second half. 
WA felt they were in with a chance and started strongly with the midfield combining well. 
Nevertheless it was SA who secured two short corners and were denied only by good saves from Colin ‘Tug’ Benporath. 
Both sides tussled for midfield control, with Dale Thompson of SA showing excellent ball control and stickwork, but the WA forward line was beginning to combine well and secured a couple of short corners with one coming close to a goal as the SA full back deflected the shot past the right hand post. 
At the other end SA were denied when Bill ’Flasher’ Price stopped a shot on the line. 
The first half ended with both sides having created chances but without success. 
Both sides were grateful for the break in the humid conditions.

The second half started much the same as the first with both sides trying to gain control and make the breakthrough. 
It was WA that went ahead after Nigel ‘Gadget’ Thomas ran down the left past a couple of SA players and pushed the ball to Simon ‘Lunger’ Williams in the circle who passed across the ‘D’ to Alan ‘Wombat’ Stewart who had time to calmly push the ball into an empty net. 
This was WA’s first goal of the tournament! 
WA came very close to getting a second when a goal was disallowed for reasons which were not apparent.

Twenty minutes into the second half SA equalised after a run down the left resulted in a hard shot which rebounded off Colin ‘Tug’ Benporath’s pads and the SA forwards combined effectively to push the ball past an outstretched stick and into the goal. 
The score remained at one all until 12 minutes from the end when SA secured their second from a short corner after the ball was stopped at the top of the circle and fed to the right, where a hard shot into the right hand corner evaded the keeper. 
Five minutes later SA received a free hit on the right which was struck across the ‘D’ and from the melee which ensued SA scored their third goal from a shot on the right which evaded Dave ‘Spider’ Evans' valiant efforts to stop it. 
Two minutes later SA scored again when, following a turnover, three SA forwards combined well and interchanged passes to run the ball in on the right. 
WA did not lose heart and continued to work hard, right up to the final whistle. 

A hard fought game played in the best Masters tradition. 
Best player as voted by both SA and by his WA teammates was Alan ‘Wombat’ Stewart, with Stan ‘Hobbit’ Balding, KY Lee and Nigel ‘Gadget’ Thomas also gaining significant votes for playing well.

‘If at first you don’t succeed…………………’

WA vs QLD - Saturday 8th October

Result: WA 1 - QLD 3 

The ‘Silver Ducks’ fourth game of the tournament started with a disciplined run and stretching session, led as always by KY ‘Stretch’ Lee. 
Games between WA and Queensland are traditionally hard fought affairs and this one was no exception, with both teams tackling and running hard. 
WA’s defence held strong against a spirited Queensland attack and demonstrated their growing understanding with some magnificent tackles and clearances. 
WA also had their moments, with a long run by Dave ‘Chook’ Cowley along the right wing resulting in a good cross which was deflected wide. 
However it was Queensland who scored after about 20 minutes from a short corner which was struck wide of the left post to be steered in by the inside forward. 
Despite being a goal down WA remained competitive with the game going from end to end. 
Queensland scored their second from another short corner after the half time siren, with all the team on the ‘D’ and this time they moved the ball right and one of the crowd of players drove the ball into the gap behind ‘Tug’. 
A disappointing result for all of the ‘Silver Ducks’ efforts.

WA lifted in the first part of the second half with some good interchanges between the backs and good possession hockey. 
WA secured a couple of short corners and from the second Steven ‘Rumpole’ Cole hit the ball out to Len ‘Toro’ Blyth at the top of the circle, who pushed the ball left to Alan ‘Wombat’ Stewart whose hard shot deflected off the Goalies pads and Dave ‘Chook’ Cowley followed it into the goals just to make sure. 
The game was again fairly even with both sides trying to keep possession especially under the tiring humid conditions, but tired legs and minds were causing turnovers and with 13 minutes to go a turnover just outside the ‘D’ gave the Queensland attack their opportunity and they moved the ball quickly to the right and with Colin ‘Tug’ Benporath out of position, were able to push the ball easily into the goal. 

The game ended with Queensland deserved winners, and with the ‘Silver Ducks’ a more cohesive unit but with a need to focus on making sure passes are crisp and to the players stick, as Astroturf is an unforgiving surface.

Best Player as voted by Queensland was Alan ‘Wombat’ Stewart with a special mention of Dave ‘Spider’ Evans for his ‘sticking’ and ‘tackling’ ability. 
The WA team votes were well spread with all players receiving at least one vote and Best Player being Bruce Milne under the ‘share’ rule.

“Forth into the breach dear friends …………….. tomorrow is another day !!”

WA vs WA Country - Sunday 9th October

Result: WA 0 - WAC 4 

What can one say about a match between two West Australian sides; I guess we are guaranteed one WA winner (and one loser). The end result was the same scoreline as the previous year in Launceston; is this becoming a habit? 

After four games in five days both sides started tentatively and somewhat slowly, building up attacks and trying to control midfield. It was WA Country that converted effort into result when they scored their first mid way through the first half with a skilful diagonal run from left to right into the ‘D’ evading tackles, followed by a hard and accurate shot into the gap between keeper Colin ‘Tug’ Benporath’s pads and the right hand post. 
WA Metro continued to work hard and there were several notable attacks on goal that resulted in short corners which were not able to be converted. 
These were encouraging signs that WA had improved on their previous performances but were unable to translate this onto the scoresheet. 
So the score remained at 0 - 1 at the half time siren.

WA Country started the second half better and began to gain the upper hand such that after only six minutes they were rewarded with a goal from a quick breakaway after a WA short corner was repelled and the three upfield WA Country forwards exchanged short passes, and despite Len ‘Toro’ Blyth vainly trying to thwart the attack with both stick and head the forwards drew the keeper and the final pass allowed a shot from the right into a relatively open goal. 
WA Metro were not demoralized and continued to attack at every opportunity and even left half Dave ‘Spider’ Evans pressed into the circle and got in a shot.  
However WA Country did not relax and rely on their lead, and secured their third goal from a short corner, for which they are notorious and as Colin ‘Tug’ Benporath went down to block the shot, the ball was moved across the ‘D’ to the right and was flicked in, with Bill ‘Flasher’ Price only able to stop the ball behind the line. 
‘Jelly Legs’ were starting to reduce the game to a quick amble and the final goal came five minutes from time, when a midfield mistake and the resulting turnover gave a ‘two on one’ situation and Country’s ‘Ossie’ Osbourne was able to gratefully take a pass from the left and move unchallenged into the circle to slot the ball past the advancing keeper.

As with all of the previous games this one was played in good humour and the final siren was a welcome relief to some of the tired legs from three games in three days. 
The R&R day comes as a welcome relief to re charge the batteries and treat the ailing (and ageing) limbs.

Best player as voted by WA Country was Captain Len ‘Toro’ Blyth and fairest and best by the WA team was a close run affair with Bill ‘Flasher’ Price winning but with seven other players within two votes. 

WA vs NSW1 - Tuesday 11th October

Result: WA 0 - NSW1 9 

The ‘Silver Ducks’ suffered their worst defeat of the tournament at the hands of the favourites NSW 1.  
This was the first of two games on the sand turf and WA were without their Goalkeeper Colin ‘Tug’ Benporath who suffered a painful and debilitating knee injury which may well sideline him for the remainder of the games. 
A series of phone calls from Captain Len ‘Toro’ Blyth and Manager Dave ‘Tank’ Mellor secured the services of a Wollongong local Ian West, but unfortunately his career as an adopted West Australian was all too short lived. 
Within less than three minutes from the start Ian stretched for a save and badly tore his left hamstring. 
In great pain Ian was carried off and was unable to participate further.

With some reluctance Bill ‘Rufus’ Campbell donned the pads and body armour and even though the scoreline would suggest otherwise had a brilliant game as substitute Goalkeeper. 
As expected NSW fired up quickly and after 8 minutes scored their first from very close range with a push between the goalkeepers pads. 
NSW scored their second in quick succession with pressure on the right resulting in a hard shot which deflected from ‘Toro’s’ foot and into the gap between ‘Rufus’s’ body and the right hand post. 
WA’s confidence in their own game was clearly diminished and turnovers from all parts of the ground were occurring, and NSW capitalised and put three more goals past the ‘Silver Ducks’ before half time. 
The best of these was a classic, with NSW approaching the circle from their left, a quick push to the right inner who first timed the ball to the left directly to the centre forward who swept the ball past ‘Rufus’ who was unable to get across.

The second half started better for WA with the forwards getting into the circle and producing shots on goal. 
However, as the half progressed, NSW gradually regained their dominance and scored 4 goals, the last two in the last five minutes as WA players tired noticeably and injuries became more prominent. 
During the last 15 minutes of play 'Rufus’ showed his ability with some great reflex saves which even raised admiration from the NSW players. 
The final whistle ended the agony for the ‘Silver Ducks’ and clearly demonstrated why NSW are the tournament favourites.

Best Player as awarded by NSW was well deserved and was our substitute goalkeeper Bill ‘Rufus’ Campbell, who also swept the board as Best Player as voted by his WA teammates. 

‘The hockey ball has no memory………….treat each new game as the first !!’

WA vs ACT - Wednesday 12th October

Result: WA 0 - ACT 5 

In the second of two games on sand turf the ‘Silver Ducks’ lost their seventh game to an ACT side reinforced by the inclusion of five NSW players. 
Again WA remained competitive until the last 10 minutes when the ACT put 3 goals past us.

Bill ‘Rufus’ Campbell was again the rather reluctant replacement goalkeeper but rose to the occasion especially in telling players where they should be and what they should be doing. 
The first 15 minutes was a tight fought contest with both sides defending well. 
ACT broke the drought when they ran the ball down the centre with good close control and pushed the ball to the left for the inside forward to score with a good crisp shot. 

WA believed that we were still in the game and pressed to get an equaliser, only to be denied by the goalkeeper. 
The first half ended with a one goal margin with both sides welcoming the break. 
The second half started as the first had finished, with both sides attacking the ball and conversely generating turnovers, and it was ACT who were able to capitalise mid way through the second half when an attack down the left side led to a melee just outside the circle when a centre was deflected off a WA stick and the bouncing ball evaded the keeper and was eventually steered in at the far post by a running forward.

Ten minutes from the end ACT gained their third from a short corner, which was stopped on the top of the circle, moved right and a well placed shot into the gap beat both keeper and full back. 
The last goal, again from a short corner, this time moved left then swept to the spot where the centre forward drove the ball past the keeper. 
Seven games in nine days were taking their toll, with tired legs and niggling injuries reducing stamina and effectiveness. 
With one game to go and less than 15 hours between games the ‘Silver Ducks’ were looking the worse for wear. 

Best Player voted by ACT was Captain Len ‘Toro’ Blyth and Best Player voted by his WA team mates was fittingly Terry ‘Kermit’ Gaston.

Wooden Spoon Final: WA vs TAS - Thursday 13th October

Result: WA 2 - Tasmania 1 

With both teams having lost seven matches this was the ‘Wooden Spoon’ Grand Final!!! 
The ‘Silver Ducks’ were disadvantaged with having to play the last three games straight, the last two with only a 15 hour break. 
Tasmania, on the other hand had the benefit of a bye rest day before meeting WA. 
Nevertheless, there was a grim determination about the ‘Silver Ducks’ side, with both personal and State pride at stake.

Both sides started tentatively, possibly due to the early morning start. 
After 15 minutes WA had demonstrably more of the ball, but with nothing to show for it. 
It took until the 25th minute before a break on the right delivered the ball to Alan ‘Wombat’ Stewart who weaved his way into the circle, evaded the rushing keeper and calmly slotted the ball in from a narrow angle. 

Taking the lead motivated the ‘Silver Ducks’ and they found rejuvenated legs and controlled the rest of the first half, but without altering the scoreboard.

The second half saw Tasmania exert renewed pressure and they were rewarded after 12 minutes when the left inner ran into the circle, pulled the ball back and the resulting shot squeezed in at the near post. 
WA did not lose heart and with increased momentum found more time and space to move. Confidence returned and the ‘Silver Ducks’ began to show how they can play, and gradually took control. 
It took until 12 minutes from the end, when after a run down the right wing, Dave ‘Chook’ Cowley passed short to Alan ‘Wombat’ Stewart who under pressure from a defender in the circle passed back to Bill ‘Flasher’ Price who moved the ball left to Nigel ‘Gadget’ Thomas who was free in the circle, and Gadget controlled the ball and hit a hard rising shot into the top of the net past the keepers left hand. 
All 4 spectators erupted spontaneously and in unison !!!!

Again WA lifted and although there was a concern when Tasmania were awarded a short corner with 2 minutes to go, KY ‘Stretch’ Lee and Bill ‘Flasher’ Price successfully deflected the shot away and the threat was over.

The final whistle brought relief to the WA team and ended a memorable if not a classic match, played in the best spirit of the game.

Best Player as chosen by Tasmania was KY ‘Stretch’ Lee and best player as voted by his WA team-mates was Nigel ‘Gadget’ Thomas with Bill ‘Flasher’ Price and Dave ‘Tank’ Mellor getting special mention.

‘Good things come to those who wait…………’