WA Over 65's - 2007 Match Reports

WA vs VIC - Tuesday, October 2, 2007

WA over 65 Team played its first game today against Victoria in warm and humid conditions at the Gold Coast No.1 ground. 

WA opened strongly with superior control and penetration, dominating the first three quarters. During the first quarter, a penalty corner shot was illegally stopped by a Victorian defender and the resultant penalty stroke was converted by Captain Peter Gason. 

Half time score WA 1, Victoria 0. 

In the third quarter during another penalty corner Max Stewart laid off a ball to Ian Lyons who scored WA’s second goal with a powerful shot. 

WA fell away in the final quarter despite our early domination and allowed Victoria to score from a penalty corner. During the final few minutes Victoria pressed strongly but were unable to score the equaliser. 

Several factors contributed to WA’s poorer performance in the last quarter, including; 
* tiredness after a long flight the previous day, 
* poor trapping and control, 
* misdirected passing, 
* out of character positional play. 

Nevertheless the 2-1 win was an excellent start to what promises to be a demanding carnival. 

Result: WA 2 - VIC 1

WA vs QLD - Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Western Australia played Queensland in hot and sultry conditions on No.2 ground at the State Hockey Centre in Brisbane. 

The surface of this ground was quite bumpy making trapping and other ball control skills difficult. 

In the first and fourth quarters Western Australia held a slight advantage while Queensland with three successive penalty corners had a slight ascendancy in the second quarter. The third quarter was evenly contested. 

Overall it was a game of attrition where the defenses of each side tended to dominate the other team’s attack. Both goalkeepers rarely touched the ball due largely to a series of missed opportunities by attackers from both sides. 

In summary; 

* skill levels were poor, 
* positional play was barely adequate, 
* the final result reflected a number of missed scoring opportunities.

Result: WA 0 - QLD 0

WA vs WAC1 - Friday, October 5, 2007

WA played WA Country No.1 [WAC1] at the Gold Coast No.2 ground today in slightly cooler conditions helped by an intermittent sea breeze. 

WA opened strongly displaying improved all round skills and with continual pressure enabling WA to control the mid field and attack down the flanks. 

WAC1 defended stoutly and were able to rebuff all attacks in the first half. 

WA maintained the pressure in the third quarter and was rewarded with two quick goals. The first was a penalty corner converted by Peter Gason, the second an opportunist goal on the post by Ash Foster. 

WA put another penalty corner shot into goal but it was disallowed, deemed by one umpire not to have rolled outside the circle before the shot was taken. 

WA maintained its ascendancy in the fourth quarter but was unable to add to the score line. 

It was a much improved performance by WA now aiming to build on this game as they head towards the “business” end of the tournament. 

Result: WA 2 - WAC1 0

WA vs ACT - Saturday, October 6, 2007

Western Australia [WA] played ACT today at 5.00PM at the Gold Coast No.1.ground – conditions were slightly cooler than previously experienced due to the later starting time and a sea breeze. However conditions were still very humid. 

Each team displayed a contrasting playing style; WA executed short passing whereas ACT adopted a hard running, long hitting [through pass] style that the WA defense did not handle particularly well. 

WA was the first team to score through a penalty corner shot by Peter Gason. 

In the final quarter ACT pressured the WA defense strongly and was rewarded with a field goal in the final minutes of the game. 

The match never rose to any great heights and a draw was a fitting result.

Result: WA 1 - ACT 1

WA vs WAC2 - Sunday, October 7, 2007

Western Australia [WA] played W.A.Country No.2 [WAC2] at 12.30PM at the State Hockey Centre No.1 ground in Brisbane. 

Conditions were hot & humid moderated slightly by an intermittent river breeze. 

WA scored first during the first quarter but WAC2 responded shortly after to equalize the score at the first break. 

WA were very lucky not to be down 1-2 as WAC@ also missed a “sitter” in front of goal. 

Some unequivocal advice by the WA coach to his team during the first quarter break galvanized the team and they scored three goals in the second quarter. 

WA maintained its concentration and dominance during the third and fourth quarters to score three more goals and run out easy winners.

Result: WA 7 - WAC2 1

WA vs NSW - Tuesday, October 9, 2007

This morning Western Australia [WA] played NSW at 8.00AM at the Gold coast No.2 ground. 

Conditions were overcast and cool but very humid causing players to perspire profusely. 

WA and NSW were the two top teams on the points table and as a result the match was hard fought with no quarter asked or given. WA controlled the mid field using their wings to good effect. 

WA scored first through a good shot from John Crute which passed the oncoming goalie and deflected off another defender into the goal. 

NSW scored an equalizer in the second quarter from an angled right side shot. 

During the second half WA continued their short passing game and continual pressure they exerted caused the NSW players to tire noticeably. 

Ash Foster scored WA’s second goal in typically opportunist fashion near the left post. 

WA was unlucky not to score a third goal when another shot by John Crute rolled across the front of goal.

Result: WA 2 - NSW 1

Semi-final - WA vs ??? - Friday, October 12, 2007

Match report pending.

Result: WA ? - ??? ?

Final - ??? vs ??? - Saturday, October 13, 2007

Match report pending.

Result: ??? ? - ??? ?