WA Over 60's - 2012 Match Reports
26 September
We all gathered at Perth Airport bright and early for our big trip east, turned out to be a very long day finally arriving at Mantra on The Park late in the day. We all gathered at around 7pm, went walking up Lygon Street to find a place to eat, found a lovely Italian restaurant had a great meal together. A little later the 40’s and 45’s arrived so the restaurant did real well out of WA.
27 September
Up early and some went walking, very brave and came back with fresh vegies from the markets. Drivers had to go to Hertz to collect our Kia Carnivals for the team. Once organized had the team meeting then off to the stadium to train at midday. Afternoon off, all ladies did some shopping for supplies for their rooms. Majority gathered later and had Thai for dinner while others did their own thing.
WA vs NSW - Friday, September 28, 2012
Competition starts today our first game against NSW at 10 am.
Went to the turf early to watch a bit of the 40’s and our opposition.
All quite nervous naturally, thunder and lightning during the first game so that was held up for about 20 minutes.
A rather wet morning but hockey is a winter sport.
The game started on time NSW won the toss to have the ball.
Dotty intercepted the pass going to their wing, Legs called for it to go down the line, Dotty obliged and Legs took the ball into the circle to win a short corner.
All this in about 50 seconds, gathered at the top, Legs was supposed to hit out to Macca for a shot, only the ball went to Avis, controlled held long enough and passed to Macca who put the ball straight inside the right post. Scored within the first minute yahoo.
Rest of that half we played really well and had the better of NSW just couldn’t get another corner or goal.
Score was 1 all at half time. Second half more of the same some really good passages of play.
At the 8 minute mark tragedy struck and we lost Loz to a hamstring injury, a little later we lost Vicki when she was struck on the ankle bone and could hardly walk let alone run. So with a couple off it changed our game a little bit.
It was a good game played in good spirits. Unfortunately for us NSW scored in the last 2 minutes rather controversially. So it was WA 1 - NSW 2 a disappointing loss.
Result: WA 1 - NSW 2
WA vs XXX - Saturday, September 29, 2012
Result: WA n - XXX n
WA vs VIC - Sunday, September 30, 2012
Today is a morning game at 10.15 am this is the last of our morning games and we hope to change our luck with a win.
Once again we had a hard fought battle on our hands, we had a game plan that should give us success. WA had about 80% of the play and scored first again of a short corner. Unusual corner as ball inserted to Macca who had a shot, ball went between the legs of Vic defence to go sideways popping out for Pat Halden to slot it in. Half time and we are 1 nil up.
Second half was more of the same with some really good hockey being played by both teams. Vic scored off at short corner at the 42 minute mark to be 1 all. Then further play and we had a couple of short corners without success. Vic scored once again but this time a field goal at the 47 minute mark. The game continued much the same but we couldn’t get that damn ball in the net.
We are missing our two runners Jane and Lorraine and it is starting to show as we have two less subs than all the other teams. WA 1 – Vic 2, at least we are the most consistent team.
Result: WA 1 - VIC 2
Goal scorers: Pat Halden
Rest Day - Monday, October 1, 2012
Yeah rest day, about time for all of us. Some went their own way and just had a great day. Some went to watch the early games to support our youngsters in their games. Some did some shopping but overall we all had some well earned rest.
Monday night all 6 WA teams went to the pub Cooper’s Inn and had dinner together. It is the one time all teams get together to have some fun. Naturally the 60’s did their usual, a skit to entertain all. Was well received and some fun was had by all. The title this year was Little Red Rocking Hood. Nancy was Red Rocking Hood, Legs the Big Bad Wolf, Avis as Granny, KK Chief of Police, Pat B, Pat H, Hoody, Tapps, Shirley, Dotty were Police and the dancing girls were Macca, Karen Adams, Lorraine and Ev, last we had Sam (Carol) as props e.g. police siren etc
An enjoyable evening was had by all and very pleased this tradition of all teams gathering will continue for years to come.
WA vs NSW - Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Round two starts today as there are only 4 teams in the over 60’s. Afternoon game this time at 13.45 pm. Another tough battle it turned out to be. Having gone down 2-1 the first time we were working hard to make sure that would not be the case today. Once again it was an even battle with both teams very determined to gain a valuable win. WA scored their first field goal in sensational style. Ball was in the right hand corner and was passed into the circle for Avis to sort of trap and put the ball up over the head of the goalie into the net. Not sure Avis knows how she did it but looked spectacular and we will definitely take those, that was at the 11 minute mark of the first half. Unfortunately NSW scored a field goal at the 16 minute mark as well. Half time 1 all
Second half started with more of the same type of play, both teams doing really well. WA starting to put it together and the defence working hard to keep NSW out but they scored another field goal at the 43 minute mark, bummer down our usual 2 -1. We focused really hard and played some good solid hockey and at the 64 minute mark we got a short corner. Legs inserted to Sam who put it right to Macca who sort of muffed the hit but eventually got back to Legs who put it away. Score 2 all and that was the final score. At last we had a point and not a loss.
Result: WA 2 - NSW 2
WA vs QLD - Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Well the 60’s started the day with a breakfast for all the states to get together as we all have afternoon games. Breakfast was at the Sanctuary Golf Course at Point Cook. Q are staying out there and did the organizing of the morning. Lovely spot to have breaky. A great opportunity to mix and get to know players form all states. NSW team members told Tapps our coach that we are the hardest team to play which to us is a real compliment. Great morning was had even though it seemed to be a fair distance to go for our breakfast.
The game though was at 3.30 pm so had time to wind down after breaky. The game was more of the same as Q tend to play a system and can be quite hard to conquer. We had a plan, at least Tapps had a plan, decided to go for broke and we would do a full field press for the first 11 minutes. Not sure we all got it but it did seem to work quite well. Pretty even game over all and both teams playing well. We managed to stay with Q and get on top of their system ok. Only had a couple of corners today but no goals scored. As we are two players short we are holding up really well and managed another draw today.
Result: WA 0 - QLD 0
WA vs VIC - Thursday, October 4, 2012
Not a good game for us today, our worst game as Vic game out firing after being beaten by NSW the day before 4-0.
It was a very hot day with a the temperature being around 30 degrees. Not real good for us at this time as our legs were starting to slow down.
Every team is allowed one bad game and this was ours. WA 0 – Vic 3
Result: WA 0 - VIC 3
Rest Day - Friday, October 5, 2012
As we didn’t finish first or second we had the day off. The grand final between NSW & Vic was played on Friday with NSW being victorious 2 – 0.
All of WA 60’s spent the day shopping and floating on the river, visiting friends and generally just relaxing, preparing for the 8 am game on Saturday.
Playoff for 3rd place: WA vs QLD - Saturday, October 6, 2012
Up early for third against fourth this morning. Got to the turf on time for a change and ready to go. We once again tried our full field press, which did seem to confuse the opposition and occasionally us.
It was a really hard fought game which was played in great spirit. WA did seem to have the best part of the game in hand, with quite a few penalty corners. We actually scored a field goal in the first half. A quick pass was sent out left to Pat Halden who passed the ball quickly into the circle to be put into the net by Legs. This was at the 16 minute mark. Unfortunately at the 30 minute mark QLD scored off a penalty corner to be 1 all at half time.
Second half we had at least 90% of the play but didn’t put the ball in the back of the net. Had lots of penalty corners which didn’t seem to work today when in fact they had been working all tournament.
The final few seconds of the game was very controversial. In deep defence and Q tried real hard to put the ball in the circle, we managed to keep it out. A ball went to the right side of the circle, the siren went and the umpire called a 16 yard hit. Q played on as the ball went into the goal and Q were declared the winners, much to our disgust as the umpire had not actually blown the whistle on the siren. So another rotten last second loss.
Overall the 60’s tournament was a very close one between all states, not much goal difference in any of the games. Our Coach Lyn Tapper did a fantastic job and the team definitely enjoyed their time in Melbourne. Pat Booth the Manager was also very much appreciated by all.
Hope to see you all next year in Adelaide. Cheers
Result: WA 1 - QLD 2
Goal scorers: Legs