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Northern Move
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 09:41

COURTESY MAITLAND MERCURY

The Maitland Rams are in the box seat to claim their first minor premiership after a dominant 3-0 win over Norths on Sunday.

The Rams (32) leapfrogged Norths (31) into top spot with two rounds remaining in the Hunter Coast Men’s Premier League.

The resounding victory was the Rams’ second over their rivals this season and the first time Norths had been held scoreless all year.

Coach Nathan Baker described the win as the Rams’ best of the year. "We changed our game plan a fair bit to play Norths,” he said. We boxed up the middle and forced their attack wide. If you let Norths attack you down the middle then they can really dominate. But we sent them wide and it really seemed to work, they couldn’t get through us.”

Rams right winger Matt Brown stayed in the running for the leading goal scorer award after he bagged the Rams’ first after 15 minutes.

Cayde Tasker, who Baker moved up from midfield to forward last week, doubled the Rams advantage five minutes before the break.

In the second stanza the Rams played a more defensive style and constantly repelled Norths attack.

But Tasker again found the back of the net on a Rams counter attack to round out the victory.

“We played very defensively the whole second half,” Baker said. “We just kept punching the ball out of our end and relieving the pressure and waiting for another wave of attack. The boys did really to withstand all that pressure and to their credit we managed to keep them scoreless.”

The Rams now face a reasonably simple run home as they host Gosford (eighth) and Wests (sixth) in the two rounds before the finals.

“It appears as if it is any easy run home if you look at the ladder,” Baker said. “But we’ve drawn against both those teams this year and we’ll need to take maximum points if we’re going to hold onto the minor premiership. Norths have a superior goal difference to us and I don’t think they’ll drop a point for the rest of the year. So we’ll just have to reproduce that performance (from Sunday) again in the last two games.”

Maitland host last-placed Gosford at Maitland Hockey Centre on Sunday at 3pm while Norths play seventh-placed Tigers.

In the final round of the regular season Maitland host Wests while Norths play fifth-placed University.

The top four has already been decided, with Souths and The Entrance the other two semi-finalists

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HCPHL Round 19
Friday, 20 August 2010 17:35

v  The round hits off with a 11:50am whistle down at Wyong. Gosford host the students in a clash that means little to both teams. Uni has beaten Gosford both games this season. Gosfords well known fall from those lofty heights in 2009 are well known, but it hasnt been all that bad. Reports from thier opponents in recent weeks suggest the sides youngsters are improving and the season of rebuilding will only set the team in good stead for the future. Meanwhile University mathematically have a shot at 4th spot still, but would need either Souths or The Entrance to lose thier last 3 remaining games. This is not likely, so with their season over it means they will be relaxed for this trip and should play some attractive hockey, the kind of stuff the crowds were wooed by in the early part of the season.

v Action at the NIHC hits off at midday when Tigers host The Entrance in what will be an entertaining fixture. Whilst The Entrance have collected maximum points in both encounters so far, the last outing was a narrow 2-1 victory and one of Tigers better performances this year. Tigers have a chance to move into 6th spot with a win but it wont be easy as The Entrance are drawn in a fight for 3rd with Souths and know a victory is crucial if they want to keep thier chances of a home semi-final alive. Both teams have similiar goal scoring records, but its in defence where this game will be won and lost, The Entrance having a far superior defensive record. It is also interesting to see if Tigers coach Evan Skliros takes the field again after a cameo appearance last week for his team.

Ray Winwood-Smith took time to comment on this weeks clash: "The game this week against Tigers as always is a hard and important game, as we continue to fine tune the key area's that we need to improve on coming the back-end of the year. Last weeks game wasn't all bad as the score line may have suggested, there was a lot of positives for the team that came from the game that we will continue to work on, the last month has been difficult as each week we have had at least 3 to 4 players out due to injuries, this hasn't allowed us to get our full team on the field for some time. This week will see the team back to near full strength with the return of Hugh Wicket and Craig Winwood-Smith, Brad Smith is still out and Andrew Wilcox is still not confirmed to play after a bad cut to his shin last week that required a number of stiches."

v At 1:30pm Souths and Wests get into the action. Souths will be itching to prove thier critics over the last few weeks have been in lahlah land but they will not be taking Wests lightly. While the Lions have had comfortable wins on the scoreboard against the Rosellas, both games have been very tight affairs in the opening half and if Wests can keep it together for the full 70 minutes could easily cause an upset here. However Souths are desperate to finish 3rd and avoid the roadtrip to Wyong in week 1 of the finals and will be giving it all in this game to remain in the hunt.

John Fernance as usual commented on Souths behalf: "Last week against Maitland, South’s put in a very spirited showing, considering we were without star players Simon Vimpani, Stuart Fletcher and Jaden Ekert. Although eventually going down 4-3, we were a little unlucky not to come away with at least a point. All in all coach Vimpani was relatively happy that the team is moving in the right direction approaching the finals series."

"This week see’s a very important matchup against West’s. West’s position on the ladder does not do them justice, and we will not be taking them lightly. A win is a must for South’s to ensure a spot in the Final Series, and also in the battle to wrap up a home Semi Final. Again this week, we will be without quite a few keys players through injury. Simon Vimpani, Stuart Fletcher, John Fernance and Jaden Ekert will all be on the sidelines nursing injuries leaving senior player’s Tristan Hunt, Ryan Coulin and Ben King to lead the team around the field this weekend. West’s have strength right across the park with Mark Ross, Mitchell McGlashan, John Mayers, Dean Farrow and Alex Sutherland providing the backbone for a team capable of causing major upsets. Nothing but a win will satisfy South’s in the run to the Finals, but it will not come easy, it will be a hard fought match."

v There is no doubt this weeks match of the round is Maitland v Norths. The blockbuster hits off at 3pm out at Maitland Park and promises to be a cracking game with the Minor Premiership on the line. The winner all but wraps up top spot and the home Semi Final. The teams have split thier games this year, both games being decided by the slimmest of margins. The Rams are already guaranteed to finish top 2 for the first time in thier clubs history in this competition but the talk around the Rams sheds is they want the minor Premiership. Norths are desperate to avoid the roadtrip to Maitland in week 1 and will no doubt be bouyed by the fact they defeated Maitland at Maitland in Round 3. This will be a cracker of a game and worth the drive up the New Enlgand Highway to spectate.

Coach Nathan Baker had this to say ahead of teh game: "This weeks match against Norths is one the boys have been looking forward to, it gives us a chance to test ourselves against the front runners and the added incentive of top spot being on the line will only add a bit more flavour to the match. We know that Norths will come out and try and steamroll us right from the start and we'll have to be on our game to avoid an early blowout. The Rams have a few injury concerns after last weeks very physical match against the Lions (which was played almost like a grand final in itself) but we will field a competitive team."

Silas Moss is always keen for a few words, and this week is no different: "It's not often you get to play in a big game before the finals, however playing up at Maitland this weekend is a huge challenge. They are the kings of set plays, and if you give the two Urquart boys space in general play, they will burn you and provide their strikers with great service. Their is no doubt in my mind that the key is to win the battle in the midfield. For our squad which is getting closer to full strength, we welcome back two of our best players for the season in Mitch Allen-Waters and Matty Dawson who missed last weeks win over The Entrance."

The area has been blessed with some cracking hockey games over the past few weeks and it bodes well for one of the closest and exciting finals series seen since the HCPHL inception. Get out and support your sport this weekend!

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Browns shot at the top
Thursday, 19 August 2010 12:58

COURTESY MAITLAND MERCURY

They were two of the sweetest goals Matthew Brown has ever scored in the Hunter Coast Men’s Premier League.

Not only did the double help the Maitland Rams to a 4-3 win against Souths on Sunday but it boosted the right winger to the top of the competition’s goal scorers list with three rounds to play.

In securing his 15th and 16th goals of the season, he overtook John Fernance, a Souths opponent from the weekend and a player with a stranglehold over the prize in recent years.

“I have gone ahead of John Fernance for the first time ever,” Brown said. “He has well and truly dominated the goal scoring in this competition for a long time. So it was good to even be close ... but to do it (move ahead) against the guy coming first was pretty good as well.”

The Bolwarra Heights man said he had been on the end of some quality passing on Sunday when he slotted his fifth double of the year, but admitted a shift along the front line of attack had helped his form this season.

“I have moved out of the middle for Bakes (player-coach Nathan Baker) and I have gone out a bit wider on the wing,” he said. “There is a bit more space out there to move around. We always try and rotate but I started out wide and we go from there, which has worked well so far this year.”

The 22-year-old, who has played Premier League for almost a decade, said 2010 was not his best individual year with the stick but collectively the boys in black and white were

having no trouble finding the back of the net.

“In terms of me, I don’t think this is my best year, because I remember scoring 21, or somewhere in the low 20’s one year,” Brown said. “But in terms of the number of goals the team has scored it would be right up there. We have been shooting quite well and it has been shared around a bit.”

Baker is in a three-way tie for fourth spot with 12 goals, while the Urquhart brothers, Peter and Ben, have scored 10 and eight goals respectively.

But it will be Brown who will be looking to keep his scoring streak going after slotting goals in his past six outings.

He will be looking to make it seven-in-a-row and wrap up the goal scoring title when the Rams take on league leaders Norths in a battle for the minor premiership at Maitland Hockey Centre at 3pm on Sunday.

“It would be a great game to do it,” he said. “We have never won a minor premiership and we have never won a major premiership. I don’t think we have ever finished higher than third because I don’t think we have been in a grand final. So a win this weekend would put us in a good spot with two games to go.”

The Rams (30) are one point behind Norths (31) on the competition ladder.

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ATTENTION: Uni Games - Perth
Wednesday, 18 August 2010 19:29
If anyone knows a female that plays hockey (grade/skill does not matter) and goes to Newcastle University and they would like to go away for a week in September for the Australian University games.

Can you please ask them to email me ASAP so i can get the coach to contact them about the trip. Newcastle Uni are after a couple more girls

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Cheers

Steve Mina

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HCPHL Round 18 Preview
Friday, 13 August 2010 11:10

v Down at Wyong, The Entrance will host competition front runners Norths at 11:50am. Its 4th v 1st, and the stakes are high to suggest this will be one of the seasons great games. In the 2 meetings this season, the results are split 1 win each. The Entrance accounted for Norths at Wyong 4-2 back in round 5, and then Norths got home in a 5-4 victory in Round 11.

The Entrance put an end to thier form slump with a convincing 3-0 victory over 5th placed University last week. The teams defence was solid, and thier midfield play was excellent. The team though still has someway to go before thier offense can claim to be one of the best in the competition, 47 goals for is the worst by some margin against the other top 4 sides. The team should be close to full strength and know a victory keeps thier shot at a home semi-final alive. No team news from down south this week.

Norths want to finish top and avoid the trip to Maitland in the Semi finals, and know a win here is crucial to keeping that goal. The team is on a 5 game winning streak and have been finding the back of the ent with ease during that period, including 9 against a resurgent University and 6 against Gosford. Their form suggests they are in better condition then last year and will be keen to keep that momentum going into the final few rounds. The side is without Jordan Willlott who is off on National Rep duty. no official team news as yet.

Predicting a very tense match and plenty of goals. A spectators dream. Dont be surprised if there is the odd card issued in this clash as well as both teams will be prepared to go that little bit extra for the points. Norths should get the points but only 1 goal will sperate the teams after 70 minutes.

v At 12:30 the NIHC comes alive with SUPER SUNDAY, 3 PHL matches all back to back on the East field. Its the start of a hockey lovers dream. First up is Tigers v University. Both teams are out of finals contention, but will want to finish the season strongly to build towards 2011. It was a 2-2 draw in round 5, buit University put the sword through Tigers in round 11 with a 6-1 victory

Tigers sit 6th, 4 points behind thier opponents. A win will see them close the gap and offer a realistic opportunity to finish 5th. The team will want to wipe the previous meeting away and prove that score was not a true reflection of the teams abilities. No team news so stay tuned.

The Students will be dissapointed with thier efforts last weekend and probably for thier whole season actually. They could of been a genuine title contender but the annual problem with player numbers during the middle of the season has again proved problematic for the team. Still, they have played some attractive hockey and if they can keep the core of the side together for 2011, they should be  amajor player next year. Again, no team news but expect a vocal crowd on hand to support the seapigs.

Predicting an open game with plenty of emphasis on goals. University to win this one me thinks in a high scoring affair.

v At 2pm Wests host Gosford in a battle of the cellar dwellars. A game that will have no bearing on the final makeup of the ladder, both teams will be keen to just get out there and work on some combinations, blood some youngsters and begin the building process for 2011. In the first game of the season the 2 teams ground out  a 1-1 draw, but then in round 11 Wests got the points with a convincing 4-1 victory down at Wyong. Nothing to report for either club, although Wests will welcome back Australian Country representative Mark Ross in goal.

This should be  a low key game, but exciting to watch as both teams can turn it on for patches during games. Think Wests might just get the reward in this game.

v The last game of the day sees the Match of the round from 3:30pm. Definately the pick of the games when defending premiers South Newcastle host wannabe champions Maitland Rams. The Rams have secured back to back wins over the Lions this year with thier last outing ending in a 8-4 drubbing. Dont expect this game to be like that!!!

The Lions will be set to begin thier traditional lift as the finals series aproaches, making them a very dangerous side to play against at this time of the year. Souths skipper John Fernance filed this report: "The last fortnight has been a trying time for Souths, with representative commitments and injuries taking its toll. An extremely disappointing loss to Tigers, was followed by a strong win against a weakened Gosford outfit. With only four rounds remaining we will be looking to improve dramatically for their run to the finals. Similarly to last year, the critics and opposition seem to have written Souths off, but the team has a quite self belief in their ability to defend their title."

"This week see Souths host a high flying Maitland side. Last time out against Maitland, Souths were given a hockey lesson in the second half, and that will be fresh in the minds of the player’s as they look to reverse the result this weekend. There will be added incentive for some player’s after fuel was added to the fire with some outlandish comments made by the Maitland Coaching staff to the Maitland Media after the last match. A South’s win would end Maitland’s tilt at a first ever Minor Premiership, and I am sure Souths would love to see what the Maitland Media would have to say about that!!"

"However, with Maitland already having sewn up a spot in Major Semi Final, Souths will most likely take the chance to rest players carrying niggling injuries to ensure they will be fully fit come finals time. Simon Vimpani, Stuart Fletcher, Jaden Ekert and Ben King all fall into this category but will be given until match day to decide whether they are able to take their places in the line-up.All in all - should be a cracking match with plenty of feeling!!"

The Rams know a victory could potentially see them take first spot on the ladder, and keep thier destiny in thier own hands when they tackle Norths at home next week. Coach Nathan Baker filed this report: "This weeks match against South's will be a true test of where we are at heading into the finals, we know that our last outing against the Lions was against a depleted line-up and that this game will be very different as they should be back to full strength. They will be confident of a good result after a thorough demolition of Gosford last week and we'll have to be at our best to get the points. We have a few niggling injuries that may see some key players having the week off."

Cant help but think a few mind games are being played here. If you only catch one game of hockey this weekend, then catch this one. Should be a screamer and hopefully a taste of what September will offer us. Reckon this game will end in a draw its that close.

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NDWHA Premier League Round 19 Preview
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 01:35

COURTESY OF STEVE MINA

Round – 19 Preview

Only two games remain as the season draws to an end. From talk around the traps its one season I think many Premier League players will want to forget with the amount of instability throughout the season.

Saturday 21 August 2010 – 12:30 Souths vs University; 1:45 Central vs Tigers; Regals Bye

Saturday 28 August 2010 – 12.30 University vs Central; 1:45 Tigers vs Regals: Souths Bye

At this point of the season it is still good to see two teams fighting it out for the Minor Premiership. Regals have the bye this week and currently hold down top spot. Tigers have the chance to close the gap. If Tigers beat central they will move within two points of top spot. Then in the final game Regals will only need the draw to clinch a tight Minor Premiership. So far this year the games have ended with Regals winning 4-1, 2-0 and a draw of 0-0. If Tigers win against Regals it will be the first time in over 4 years Regals have not taken the Minor premiership.

Central will have the chance to tie in equal second place if they beat Tigers and University. Then it will fall on goal difference.  Central sit on +5 and Tigers are on +12 Central will have to go on a scoring rampage to get Second place and gain that second chance advantage come Semi finals.

While it’s still all happening at the top the bottom 2 teams are still fighting till the end as well.

Souths take on University this week which could potentially determine 4th place. University need to win as Souths have the bye on the 28th. This is Souths last chance to gain three points where University have a second chance on the 28th against Central however this will not mean anything is the Souths get the points this weekend. So far Souths are up 2-1, 2-0 and University have won 2-1.

Current ladder Regals – 41; Tigers – 36; Central – 30; Souths – 10; University – 9.

 

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Newcastle Women’s Premier League Preview – Round 18
Friday, 13 August 2010 20:26

COURTESY OF STEVE MINA

Last week saw two major upsets for two of the leagues big names. Regals and Central. Both could only manage to take one point from their games against University and Souths, who sit a massive 20 and 21 point from the top three.

At 12:30pm Tigers take on University. Tigers need to be on the ball as University pulled off a great 2-2 draw against Regals.

Tigers have managed to get points from their last six games. With four wins and two draws. Tigers have won every encounter against the students and want to make sure they make it a clean sweep of 4 from 4. Tigers sit 5 points from Regals and hope to bridge the gap so they can look at getting a Minor Premiership that they have been looking for over several years.

University has not had the best season as they struggle to play a full 60mins. Most of their games have been very close with only 1 or 2 goals being the difference. University need to be Tigers this week and Souths next week if they want to make an appearance come Semi Finals. University just need to mark tight and take their chances in the circle.

At 1:45pm Souths will take on league leaders Regals. Both coming off 2-2 draws last week. However, this was only good result for Souths, not so good for Regals drew with bottom of the Table University.

Souths are having their best season ever with three wins and one draw. So far on record Souths have lost very game to Regals 3-1, 5-1, 5-1. This shows that Souths are capable to score but cannot continue it throughout the game. Souths need to go into this game focused. They had a great draw with Central and need to use that to their advantage. University are only one point behind and can’t afford to a loss.

Regals have not had a great three game run.  Two draws and a loss would not be sitting well with regals. They have the return of Jamie Hartley and Mel Greer so that might strengthen up their midfield. Regals must win the next two games to keep the Minor Premiership.

Central have the bye this week and their next two games are up against Tigers and University.

With two games remaining Regals, Tigers and Central have made the Semi’s. Whilst Souths and University will fight to the end for that fourth spot. Those top three teams must not take University and Souths lightly. As everyone saw last week they are capable of taking it to the big guns.

Stay true to yourself. Steve

 

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