H1 Match Report: Perth Thundersticks Crowned 2025 Women’s Hockey One League Champions

The Perth Thundersticks women are back-to-back champions after a thrilling 4-2 victory over Hockey Club Melbourne in the 2025 Women's Hockey One League Grand Final. 

The Perth Thundersticks have claimed back-to-back Women’s Hockey One League titles, overcoming Hockey Club Melbourne 4-2 in a pulsating grand final showdown. 

The match began with a hot start and early back-and-forth action, as both sides traded possession and turned the ball over. The Thundersticks applied late pressure in the first quarter, dominating play in their attacking half, but neither team could break the deadlock, leaving the score at 0-0 at the first break. 

Perth continued to assert attacking control in the second quarter, creating opportunities but initially struggling to convert.  

That changed when captain Liné Malan found Madi Ratcliffe at the top of the circle, sending a rocket toward goal that Ratcliffe expertly finished to give the Thundersticks a 1-0 lead. Ratcliffe then added the conversion underneath the keeper to extend the lead to 2-0. 

Hockey Club Melbourne responded immediately, with a scoring chance saved by Zoe Newman, continuing her stellar form from the semi-final.  

Despite late pressure from Melbourne in the second quarter, Perth’s defence held firm, taking a 2-0 lead into halftime. 

The third quarter saw the Thundersticks dominate possession, earning multiple penalty corners early on, though they were unable to extend the lead past Melbourne’s resilient defence.  

Melbourne’s Bek Greiner created a significant scoring opportunity, but a perfect block by Karri Somerville kept the Thundersticks in front.  

In the final minute of the third term, a penalty corner opportunity for Perth narrowly missed through Ratcliffe, leaving the score at 2-0 heading into the final quarter. 

A drama-filled final term saw Melbourne claw back with five minutes remaining, as Ash Utri found the net to level the match 2-2 after a scramble in the circle.  

With just over two minutes remaining, Sarah Byrnes made a phenomenal run down the left side, and the ball eventually found Thundersticks captain Liné Malan, who scored and converted, putting Perth ahead 3-2. A final conversion added to the tally, giving Perth a 4-2 victory as they successfully defended their title. 

The Thundersticks held firm in the closing moments, denying Melbourne a last-minute penalty corner and celebrating back-to-back championship glory. 

Match Details  
Perth Thundersticks 4 – Madi Ratcliffe (4’/4’), Line Malan (58’/58’) 
HC Melbourne 2 – Aisling Utri (55’/55’) 
 
Perth Thundersticks team: 2. Jolie Sertorio, 3. Neasa Flynn, 4. Madi Ratcliffe, 5. Courtney Schonell, 6. Sarah Byrnes, 10. Jesse Reid, 11. Rachel Frusher, 12. Liné Malan (C), 14. Saysha Pillay, 15. Belle Ramshaw, 17. Annie Gibbs, 18. Kaitlin Nobbs, 20. Karri Somerville, 22. Zoe Newman (GK), 26. Lexie Pickering, 28. Georgia Wilson, 29. Camila Vaughan (GK) 
 
Hockey Club Melbourne team: 1. Sophie Taylor (C), 2. Aisling Utri, 4. Rosie Hope, 5. Kristina Bates, 6. Olivia Colasurdo, 7. Ciara Utri, 8. Hannah Cotter, 10. Emily Hamilton-Smith, 13. Beck Greiner, 15. Olivia Downes, 16. Bridget Laurance (GK), 17. Zara Geddis, 20. Zali Ward, 21. Emma Leighton (GK), 22. Charlotte Hodgson, 25. Hannah Gravenall, 27. Trinity Woodward 

The Perth Thundersticks is proudly supported by Bravo Apples, ERM High Voltage Asset Specialists, Polytan, Session Equity, and Project Innovations.  

The Perth Thundersticks Women’s program is also proudly supported by the WA State Government.