Options: Echuca-Moama’s Nigel Berryman searches for a teammate. Photo: Rechelle Zammit
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Echuca-Moama’s quest for a premiership double fell short on Goulburn Valley Hockey Association grand final day.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Strikers Hockey Club retained its A-grade ascendancy stretching back to 2017 with a 5-2 win over the gallant River Rats to cap off an undefeated season, its fourth straight title.
Coming up against the might of the Strikers, Echuca-Moama president and A-grade player Adam Thompson said the Rats’ efforts to pull off an almighty upset were hindered with two early injuries.
Tussle: Echuca-Moama’s Adam Thompson battles with Strikers player Xavier McBain in the A-grade grand final. Photo: Rechelle Zammit
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
“One of the boys ruptured his Achilles in the warm-up, so we were down to 11,” Thompson said.
“Five minutes into the game, Tom Kerr had a shot on goal, fell over and busted his collarbone, so we were one down on the field.”
From that point, Strikers held a comfortable lead for much of the game through a Simon Cole brace and solid contributions from Sam Holland and James McBain.
Troy Kenny and Ryan More peeled back two late goals while Cameron Kenley, Regan More, and goalkeeper Wade Oliver were judged the best for the Rats.
“(Strikers) converted a few early goals and played better than us,” Thompson said.
“We were competitive, and we moved the ball pretty well when we had control.
“We were able to hit two late goals, and a 5-2 defeat under the circumstances wasn’t too bad.”
Loading up: Echuca-Moama’s Thomas Kerr fires a shot away in the A-grade grand final. Photo: Rechelle Zammit
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Best-on-turf honours went to Xavier McBain, a key figure in the Strikers’ fourth straight A-grade title.
In B-grade, the senior title game between Echuca-Moama and SYC went right down to the wire.
Iain Greig and Deep Jhajj capitalised on a slow-starting Rats with two goals, with SYC holding a 2-0 buffer heading into the final quarter.
Echuca-Moama struck back hard however, as Jason Hensley and Will Kerr levelled the scores and nearly reeled in a game-winning third goal.
Much like the A-grade semi-final the week before, the match ended in a 2-2 draw to force both sides into a nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out.
But it was SYC who held fast, converting three goals to one to lift the B-grade title for 2022.
For the Rats, it brings a close to a promising season that led them all the way to the final game of the season in under-17s, B-grade and A-grade.
“We made three grand finals through the 17s, B-grade and A-grade so that was positive,” Thompson said.
“We weren’t able to come away with a premiership but we were close in all three.”
15°C