H1 Match Report: Round 6 – Perth Thundersticks v Adelaide Fire

The Perth Thundersticks completed a clean sweep of Adelaide Fire, with the men producing a thrilling final-quarter comeback to secure a 5-3 victory before the women continued their strong form with a convincing 7-4 win to cap off a successful day for Perth.

Men

The Perth Thundersticks overcame a spirited challenge from Adelaide Fire, fighting back from a second-half deficit with a dominant final quarter to secure an exciting 5-3 victory and extend their winning momentum.

Perth Thundersticks struck first in a tight and hard-fought opening quarter, controlling periods of possession and applying sustained pressure before Ian Grobbelaar converted from a penalty corner.

Adelaide looked to respond through the midfield, but the Thundersticks' defence stood firm, helping Perth take a 1-0 lead into the first break.

Adelaide Fire worked their way back into the contest during a fiercely contested second quarter, with Hunter Banyard producing several key saves before Mika Bottger converted a penalty stroke to level the scores.

Both sides traded attacks in an end-to-end battle, but Perth Thundersticks regained the advantage late in the term when Ian Grobbelaar struck from a penalty corner for his second goal of the match, sending the Thundersticks into halftime with a 2-1 lead.

Adelaide Fire came out strongly after halftime and gradually turned the momentum in a hard-fought third quarter.

Both sides continued to battle fiercely through the midfield, with Perth Thundersticks responding to Adelaide's pressure through an energetic high press and creating chances of their own, only for Ash Bingle to make a series of important saves.

The breakthrough eventually came for Adelaide when Kyton Rayner found the back of the net before adding the conversion, giving Fire a 3-2 lead heading into the final break.

After pushing hard for an equaliser and being denied several times by goalkeeper Ash Bingle, the breakthrough came when Daykin Stanger scored from a penalty corner variation to level the contest.

Perth seized the momentum from there, with Mitch Pace finding the back of the net before converting his own goal to extend the lead.

Adelaide threw everything forward in the closing minutes, even withdrawing Bingle for an extra field player, but the Thundersticks' defence held firm to seal an impressive 5-3 win.

 
Match Details 
Perth Thundersticks 5 (Ian Grobbelaar 6’/28’, Daykin Stanger 53’, Mitch Pace 55’/55’)
Adelaide Fire 3 (Mika Bottger 21’, Kyton Rayner 44’/44’)
 
Perth Thundersticks team: 1. Sam Ashton, 5. Angus Adamson, 9. Johannes Grosse, 10. Max Freedman, 11. Tom Harvie, 13. Daykin Stanger, 16. Brodee Foster, 19. Ian Grobbelaar, 20. Mitch Pace, 22. Flynn Ogilvie, 24. Cam Geddes, 25. Ethan Yem, 26. James Collins (C), 27. Hunter Banyard (GK), 32. Matt Edwards (GK), 43. Harry Golding.
 
Adelaide Fire team: 3. Lucas Noel, 7. Mika Bottger, 8. Connor Richmond-Spouse, 9. Bryce Hammond, 11. Kyton Rayner, 12. Lachlan Arneil, 13. Rhun Williams, 15. Charlie Roberts, 16. Marc Bolto, 17. Aiden Cameron, 19. Fred Gray, 20. Ashley Bingle (GK), 23. Hassan Singh, 26. Jethro Eustace, 32. Seb Foster, 99. Travis King (GK).

Women

The Perth Thundersticks delivered another dominant performance against Adelaide Fire, building an early lead and withstanding a determined Fire fightback before pulling away in the second half to secure an entertaining 7-4 victory.

The Perth Thundersticks made a blistering start against Adelaide Fire, dominating possession and converting their chances to build an early three-goal advantage.

Madi Ratcliffe opened the scoring before adding the conversion to make it 2-0, while Courtney Schonell capitalised from a penalty corner as Perth controlled the contest.

Adelaide searched for a response, but the Thundersticks' pressure and ball control ensured they took a commanding 3-0 lead into quarter time.

Adelaide Fire found a way back into the contest during the second quarter, with Miki Spano scoring and converting to cut Perth Thundersticks' lead to a single goal.

The Thundersticks continued to create chances through Liné Malan, Madi Ratcliffe and Sarah Byrnes, while both sides traded possession in a competitive period of play.

Despite Adelaide's resurgence, Perth's defence held firm to maintain a narrow 3-2 advantage heading into halftime.

The Perth Thundersticks and Adelaide Fire continued to trade chances in a tightly contested third quarter, with both sides battling hard through the midfield.

Adelaide threatened repeatedly through penalty corners and circle entries, but Summer Greenway and the Thundersticks' defence stood tall under pressure.

Perth also looked dangerous going forward, with Madi Ratcliffe going close before eventually converting from a penalty corner late in the term, helping the Thundersticks extend their advantage to 4-2 at the final break.

Summer Greenway produced an important save to keep Fire at bay, while Lexie Pickering extended Perth's lead from a penalty corner and Annie Gibbs added a field goal before converting to put the result firmly in the Thundersticks' favour.

Adelaide continued to fight, pulling goalkeeper Amy Hammond for an extra field player and adding late goals through Iris Langejans and Maddy Naish, but Perth's defence stood tall to secure the win.

Match Details 
Perth Thundersticks 7 (Madi Ratcliffe 4’/4’/45’, Courtney Schonell 12’, Lexie Pickering 51’, Annie Gibbs 52’/52’)
Adelaide Fire 4 (Miki Spano 26’/26’, Iris Langejan 58’, Madison Naish 58’)
 
Perth Thundersticks team: 1. Pippa Morgan, 2. Jolie Sertorio, 3. Neasa Flynn, 4. Madi Ratcliffe, 5. Courtney Schonell, 6. Sarah Byrnes, 8. Jaeda Ritchie, 12. Liné Malan (C), 13. Caitlyn Templeman, 14. Saysha Pillay, 15. Bellé Ramshaw, 17. Annie Gibbs, 19. Beatrice Bell, 20. Madison Woods (GK), 26. Lexie Pickering, 27. Summer Greenway (GK).
 
Adelaide Fire team: 1. Georgina Dowd, 2. Ella Bruce, 3. Emma Kitto, 4. Chloe Holland, 6. Bree Pendrigh, 8. Miki Spano, 10. Zara Pelham, 12. Iris Langejans, 18. Katie Sharkey, 20. Cis van der Salm, 21. Amy Hammond (GK), 22. Eliza White, 23. Maddy Naish, 25. Anke Sanders, 29. Eliza Pannell, 99. Jemima Hoddinott (GK).

The Perth Thundersticks is proudly supported by Bravo Apples, ERM High Voltage Asset Specialists, Polytan, Hexa Commercial, Session Equity, and SRG Global.