H1 Match Report: Round 3 – Perth Thundersticks v Adelaide Fire

It was a tale of two hard-fought contests for the Perth Thundersticks, with the Men’s team celebrating their first win of the 2025 season, while the Women’s side fell short in a spirited battle against Adelaide Fire.

Women

Despite a strong start, the Perth Thundersticks Women’s team remain on the hunt for a win after Adelaide Fire pulled off a comeback to claim a 4–2 victory.

The match was at first delayed by 90 minutes due to thunder and lightning, but a break in the weather allowed play to begin just an hour after the originally scheduled start time.

The opening quarter was tightly contested, with both sides trading attacking opportunities.

The Thundersticks made an early charge, while Adelaide responded with pressure and a penalty corner that went wide.

Courtney Schonell and Madi Ratcliffe combined well for a circle entry, but the Fire defence, led by Aleisha Power, held firm.

Saysha Pillay had two close chances, but it was Lexie Pickering who found the net for the Thundersticks, though Power denied the conversion.

Adelaide quickly replied through Georgina Dowd, but goalkeeper Zoe Newman prevented the conversion, ending the quarter level at 1–1.

In the second term, Jolie Sertorio created chances in the circle as the Thundersticks worked well around the Fire defence.

Courtney Schonell broke through with a goal under heavy pressure from Hattie Shand, though the conversion was denied due to obstruction.

Adelaide tried to respond, but the Thundersticks maintained momentum and took a 2–1 lead into half-time.

Adelaide came out firing in the third quarter, pushing for a comeback.

Jesse Reid and Rachel Frusher cleared under pressure, and the Thundersticks responded with attacking intent.

Adelaide levelled the score through a clever penalty corner variation finished by Lucy Sharman, but the conversion was denied due to a back-of-stick shot.

Momentum shifted as Dowd capitalised on an error to score a field goal and convert, securing her second hat-trick in as many weeks. Adelaide led 4–2 at the final change.

In the final quarter, the Thundersticks continued to fight, earning an early penalty corner, but Adelaide’s defence held strong.

The Fire surged forward, forcing multiple saves from Newman, including a blocked penalty corner.

The Thundersticks pressed hard but struggled under Adelaide’s pressure as the match grew increasingly physical.

Despite late efforts to claw back, Adelaide held firm to seal the win.

 
Match Details 
Perth Thundersticks 2 (Pickering 11', Schonell 22')
Adelaide Fire 4 (Dowd 12'/42'/42', Sharman 37')
 
Perth Thundersticks team: 2. Jolie Sertorio, 4. Madi Ratcliffe, 5. Courtney Schonell, 6. Sarah Byrnes, 10. Jesse Reid, 11. Rachel Frusher, 12. Liné Malan (C), 14. Saysha Pillay, 15. Bellé Ramshaw, 17. Annie Gibbs, 18. Kaitlin Nobbs, 20. Karri Somerville, 22. Zoe Newman (GK), 24. Britney DeSilva, 26. Lexie Pickering.
 
Adelaide Fire team: 1. Georgina Dowd, 2. Breana Catley, 3. Emma Kitto, 4. Chloe Holland, 8. Miki Spano, 10. Britt Wang, 12. Greta Hayes, 13. Hattie Shand, 15. Jet Mallinson, 17. Lucy Sharman, 18. Katie Sharkey, 19. Aleisha Power (GK), 23. Margot Van Geffen, 27. Laura Barden
 

Men

The Perth Thundersticks Men’s team bounced back from their Round 2 defeat in emphatic fashion, securing their first win of the 2025 season with a commanding 4–1 victory over Adelaide Fire.

The Thundersticks made an explosive start, earning a penalty corner just 32 seconds in after a drop zone infringement, with Ian Grobbelaar scoring on debut with a powerful drag flick.

Adelaide responded quickly in a fast-paced, end-to-end contest, earning a penalty corner that was deflected away by the Thundersticks defence.

Luke Anderson added a field goal, though Adelaide goalkeeper Leon Hayward denied the conversion.

Despite further penalty corner chances, the Thundersticks held a 2–0 lead at quarter time.

The second quarter saw the Thundersticks continue with intent, while Adelaide missed an early opportunity.

As the contest settled into a stalemate, the Thundersticks mounted defensive pressure and earned multiple penalty corners—including a sequence of four attempts—but couldn’t convert.

Adelaide pushed for circle entries, but the Thundersticks’ defence held firm to maintain their 2–0 lead at half-time.

Adelaide came out strong in the third quarter, but the Thundersticks maintained control.

A powerful run from James Collins set up Brodee Foster for a field goal, which he converted with authority to extend the lead.

The Thundersticks continued pressing, while Adelaide responded with mounting pressure.

Goalkeeper Christian Starkie made a crucial save off a Fire penalty corner, and although Landon Morley scored a late field goal, Starkie denied the conversion to keep the Thundersticks ahead 4–1 at the final change.

The final quarter saw the match settle into another stalemate, with plenty of end-to-end action.

The Thundersticks held firm defensively, managing the pressure and maintaining control to seal a well-earned 4–1 win.

 
Match Details 
Perth Thundersticks 4 (Grobbelaar 1', Anderson 10', Foster 35'/35')
Adelaide Fire 1 (Morley 45')
 
Perth Thundersticks team: 1. Sam Ashton, 2. Luke Anderson, 4. Jake Harvie (C), 7. Zach Rakkas, 9. Pat Andrew, 10. Max Freedman, 11. Tom Harvie (VC), 14. Chaz Davies, 15. Liam Flynn, 16. Brodee Foster, 18. Christian Starkie (GK), 19. Ian Grobbelaar, 20. James Cunningham, 23. Jeremy Mayne, 26. James Collins (VC). 
 
Adelaide Fire team: 1. Lucas Toonen, 5. Trent Symss, 6. Calvin Farmilo, 9. Bryce Hammond, 11. Hugh Snowden, 12. Mitchell Dell, 13. Rhun Williams, 14. James Mitton, 16. Tylo Remke, 19. Seb Foster, 21. Jethro Eustice, 23. Hassan Singh, 25. Landon Morley, 34. Jaykay Young, 42. Leon Hayward (GK).

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.