WA Over 40's - 2014 Match Reports

WA vs NSW - Saturday, October 4, 2014

The game commenced at a fast pace and it was apparent early on that WA had the upper hand. A series of good plays and disciplined transfer saw WA retain a lot of the possession early on, creating a number of goal scoring opportunities. 

A lapse in the structure half way through the first half gave NSW their first strike at our goal. It looked like NSW was going to open the scoring against the run of play, but a breath-taking stick save on the goal line by Tim Ashford denied them the honour. 3 minutes later Murray McIntyre scored a brilliant open field goal, trapping a searing pass from David Perry that pierced the NSW midfield, dribbling to the left base line and slipping it neatly past Jason Billsborough in goals. This reinforced the team’s confidence and two more quick goals by Craig Emslie and Chris Rouke followed in the 26th and 28th minutes respectively. 

Despite NSW looking defeated at this point, Adrian Jones managed to score 3 minutes before the end of the first half. Not to be outdone, Mike Illingworth slotted his first goal in the roof of the NSW net, just 30 seconds before half time. 
Half time score 4-1 to WA. 

The second half opened with two more field goals from WA in the 41st and 43rd minutes, giving Murray McIntyre and Craig Emslie their second goals and taking the score to 6-1. NSW appeared to drop their heads after the great solo run from Richard Gardiner down the left wing and lay-off to Ems. Down but not out, Dean Tyler from NSW responded, scoring in the 46th minute with a well controlled finish past Cameron Robinson in goals. 

The game degenerated a little from this point on and the umpires started to wield their authority. Stewart McDonald picked up a green card and a penalty stroke was awarded to WA in 51st minute after a blistering ‘toma’ from Murray McIntyre was stopped by a NSW player on the line. Iain Kirkaldy converted the stroke. 3 minutes later David Dart from NSW converted a penalty stroke taking the score 7-3. NSW had clearly shown their resolve in the second half, giving WA a little more to think about. 

Man-of-the-Match for NSW was Scott Hamilton, Man-of-the-match for WA was Murray McIntyre. 

Result: WA 7 – NSW 3 

WA vs TAS - Monday, October 6, 2014

Game two for WA was against the old adversary TAS. It was evident from early on that the Tasmanians would sit back in a half court press and try to absorb the pressure.  
The first quarter was dominated by a wave of attacks from WA, each time being frustrated by the resistant TAS defence and brilliance of goalkeeper Peter Gaggin. 
In the 19th minute Murray McIntyre finally put WA ahead with a scorching cover drive into the roof of the net during a penalty corner play. 
WA had control and possession for most of the half but couldn't convert numerous opportunities.  
A penalty stroke was awarded to WA in the 30th minute and captain Allan Colthart converted to take the score to 2-0. 

Half time score 2-0 to WA. 

The second half saw both teams creating opportunities and it was only in the 55th minute, Damian Smith scored a field goal for Tasmania.  
Memories of the game in Sydney in 2013 came back where WA let go a 4-0 lead at half time to end in a 4-4 draw. However, it was not to be, in the 60th minute Dave Hurst drove home a well struck shot through the legs of Peter Gaggin for WA’s 3rd goal. The goal came from a structured passage of play that started in WA’s left defence, moved to the right attack and finally transferred back to the left Top D. A dummy slip from Iain Kirkaldy left Hurst with enough time to compose the shot.  

Result: WA 3 – TAS 1 

Goal scorers: McIntyre, Colthart, Hurst 

Man-of-the-Match for Tasmania was goalkeeper Peter Gaggin.  
Man-of-the-Match for WA was Nigel Land. 

WA vs WAC - Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Game 3 for WA 40’s was against the country boys (WAC). In true home-town spirit the game started with a line up on the centre line and a shake of the hands.  
WAC came out hard from the first whistle and marked up tightly on WA’s attack forwards and inners.  
WAC had their first real chance to take the lead in the 12th minute but failed to convert.  
In the 19th minute Mike Illingworth touched in a goal over the line after a weaving run and strike by Murray McIntyre was deflected by goalkeeper Adrian Gould.  
A minute later, Murray McIntyre was back to his best weaving in and out of the defence to claim his own field goal in the 20th minute. 
Despite the persistent pressure from WA, WAC continued to stick to a game plan and retained a tight structure, with Shane Jamieson having great impact in the half line with some excellent tackles.  
In the 30th minute goalkeeper Adrian Gould ended Craig Emslie’s solo run in the D resulting in a penalty stroke which was expertly converted by Craig, taking the score to 3-0.  
2 minutes later, WA captain Allan Colthart scored from a short corner with a drag flick.  
Half time score, 4-0 to WA 

WA continued to apply pressure in the second half retaining possession and transferring the ball from wing to wing resulting in a number of goal scoring opportunities.  
Craig Emslie bagged his second goal in the 48th minute with a typical Ems trademark goal mouth diving deflection on the end of a slip from Murray McIntyre.  
Not to be outdone, Murray scored his second goal in the 70th minute with a well-directed hit from left of the castle after WA had been awarded another short corner.  

Two green cards were issued during the game to Allan Colthart (WA) and Matt Milner (WAC) respectively.  
Final score 6-0 to WA. 
Man-of-the-Match for WA, Patrick Knott. Man-of-the-Match for WAC, Shane Jamieson. 

WA vs QLD - Thursday, October 9, 2014

WA’s 4th Game was against Queensland, traditionally always a hard game for both sides and this was no different despite the end scoreline. 
Qld came out hard from the start pressing deep into WA’s defence and putting the midfield and defence under pressure right from the first whistle.  
A number of opportunities were created from both teams in the first Quarter.  
Qld goalkeeper Peter Keeble denying Dave Hurst on two occasions from well-struck strikes and WA’s Damon Diletti likewise making it difficult for the Qld forwards.  
Grant Smith was brilliant as usual, showing his turn of speed and creative play for Qld.  

The scoring opened in the 18th minute when Murray McIntyre slotted a push under the pads of goalkeeper Peter Keeble to put WA in front.  
Half time score was 1-0 to WA. 
Murray then bagged his second 4 minutes into the second half.  
WA started to retain possession of the ball but a turnover in the 13th minute allowed Qld to score through Glen Debule. 

19 minutes into the 2nd half WA got their 3rd goal from a carefully placed slip pass from Stuart McDonald to Craig Emslie.  
In the 59th minute, Paul Armitage started a passage of play from WA’s defensive circle which saw WA make 6 precise passes and McIntyre claimed his hatrick.  

A tough game for both sides and the final score was 4-1 to WA.  

Man-of-the-Match for WA was Stuart McDonald 
Man-of-the-Match for Qld was David Cole.

Semi-Final - WA vs QLD - Friday, October 10, 2014

WA finished 1st after the round games, unbeaten with 20 goals for and 4 against. The semifinal was against Qld who finished 4th on the log.  
WA only needed a draw to go through to the Grand Final, Qld had to win the match to proceed. 
The match was always going to be tough given the history between the two sides. The first half saw WA and Qld battling for possession. Qld had changed their game plan from previous encounters, sitting back in a half court press for most of the time and turning on a press much less frequently than usual.  
Both teams created numerous opportunities and until the 32nd minute you really couldn’t pick a clear winner.  
Craig Emslie broke the ice with a typical EM’s finish to a goal mouth opportunity.  
Some relief for the local boys, half time score 1-0 to WA. 

The 2nd half started with even more intensity and Qld were awarded a penalty corner in the 13th minute.  
A hard struck hit from the top of the D into goalkeeper Cameron Robinson was converted by Chris Forte; Qld were on the board, 1-1.  
3 minutes later, after a penalty corner was awarded to WA, Qld defended with ease and hit back with a fast break-away. Grant Smith completed a brilliant one-handed diving field goal which lobbed the sliding Cameron Robinson to find the back of an empty net.  

Qld were ahead 2-1.  
WA now saw the prospect of not making the Grand Final and Qld’s defence remained solid. The game had really changed hands now and WA had to work really hard to get it back.  
With 15 minutes to go, WA levelled the match at 2-2 after Craig Emslie bagged his second goal of the match.  

Four minutes later, Murray McIntyre converted a goal mouth scramble to take WA into a 3-2 lead.  
What a roller-coaster of a match.  
Things were looking up again and there was 10 minutes of play left. WA were awarded a penalty corner in the 62nd minute which Qld defended and made another fast break.  
Once again, Qld managed to turn the table and Chris Thomas scored for Qld’s 3rd goal, 3-3.  

The last 5 minutes were playing out like a Stephen King novel, it could go either way.  
Both teams found themselves creating last minute opportunities and in the dying moments of the game, Qld really came close to taking the match, with Dion Phillips narrowly missing a lifted deflection which would have ended the battle.  

What a crowd pleaser, the game ended at 3-3 and WA taking the final spot in the Grand Final to play NSW. 

Result: WA 3 - QLD 3

Final WA vs NSW - Saturday, October 11, 2014

The final championship game against NSW started slowly for WA. A customary 19th minute goal did not come until the 33rd minute when a diving Craig Emslie opened the scoring with a brilliantly executed one handed lunge to beat the NSW goalkeeper.  

Half time score 1-0 to WA. With all going to plan, WA started the second half with more confidence. A penalty corner awarded in the ninth minute saw a well-directed hit from Murray McIntyre at the top of the ‘D’ to the outstretching stick of Craig Emslie. 2-0 WA. 
Not less than 5 minutes later, Dave Hurst intercepted a loose ball on the half way line and drove home the 3rd goal for WA through the legs of the indecisive NSW goalkeeper. 
The smell of victory once again filled the air.  
A token goal for NSW from David Dart in the 57th minute was countered in the 63rd minute by a weaving run through several NSW defenders and a mind-blowing strike from Iain Kirkaldy to claim WA’s fourth goal.  
WA sealed the match in the 67th minute with a 3rd field goal from Craig Emslie, a hatrick for the grand final.  

Final Score 5-1 to WA. 

Congratulations to the following players for their selection to represent Australia teams in 2015: 
David Perry, Brian Siva and Murray McIntyre (40’s) 
Allan Colthart, Craig Emslie (45’s).