H1 Match Report: Round 3 – Perth Thundersticks v NSW Pride

Perth Thundersticks celebrated a perfect Saturday in Sydney, with the Men claimed their first victory of the season with an impressive 3-1 upset over NSW Pride before the Women continued their undefeated run with a hard-fought 3-2 win.

Men

Perth Thundersticks Men produced a determined four-quarter performance to claim their first win of the season, overcoming NSW Pride 3-1 as a disciplined defensive effort and timely attacking strikes sealed an upset victory.

Perth Thundersticks made a bright start, creating an early circle entry as both sides traded possession in a fast-paced opening quarter.

The Thundersticks applied strong defensive pressure throughout, with goalkeeper Hunter Banyard called into action to produce a crucial save during a NSW Pride counter-attack.

NSW earned the first penalty corner opportunity of the contest but were unable to capitalise, pushing their effort wide.

After a period of end-to-end play, the breakthrough came for the Thundersticks through Daykin Stanger, who finished off the move to secure the field goal and, with the field conversion successfully added, hand Perth a valuable two-goal advantage.

NSW looked to respond before quarter time, but the Thundersticks continued to threaten at the other end, with Ethan Yem going close to extending the lead late in the term.

Perth ultimately headed into the first break in control, leading 2-0.

The Thundersticks came out strongly after quarter time, looking to press forward early as NSW Pride searched for a way back into the contest.

Stanger nearly added to Perth's advantage, flashing a shot across the face of goal, while the Thundersticks continued to threaten with a series of circle entries.

A penalty corner opportunity followed, but Perth was unable to capitalise as the shot drifted wide.

The contest remained evenly balanced through the middle stages of the quarter, with both sides trading possession.

NSW began to build momentum in attack and tested the Thundersticks defence repeatedly, but goalkeeper Banyard stood tall with several important saves.

The visitors eventually found a breakthrough from a penalty corner, with Blake Govers converting to reduce the deficit.

Perth responded in the best possible fashion, restoring its buffer almost immediately through Brodee Foster, who finished off a swift attacking move.

The Thundersticks were unable to add the conversion after Ash Thomas deflected the attempt, while a late penalty corner chance was also thwarted following a mistrap at the top of the circle.

Despite those missed opportunities, Perth held a commanding 3-1 lead heading into half time.

Perth Thundersticks looked to extend their advantage early in the third quarter, generating a pair of excellent opportunities through Johannes Grosse and James Collins, only for NSW goalkeeper Thomas to make crucial saves.

The Thundersticks continued to apply pressure in attack, while remaining alert defensively as NSW searched for a route back into the contest.

The quarter developed into an end-to-end battle, with both sides enjoying periods of possession and creating chances at either end.

NSW threatened on the counter-attack but could only send an effort across the face of goal under heavy pressure from the Perth defence.

The Thundersticks continued to create circle entries and looked dangerous whenever they pushed forward, but were unable to find the finishing touch.

NSW remained within striking distance throughout the term and nearly reduced the margin when Govers fired a close-range effort wide.

As the home side threw everything at Perth in search of another goal, the Thundersticks stood firm and continued to create opportunities on the counter-attack.

Neither side was able to add to the scoreboard, with Perth taking its 3-1 lead into the final break.

The final quarter was a tense affair, with the evenly contested midfield battle continuing as both sides traded possession in end-to-end action.

NSW Pride earned an early penalty corner opportunity, but the Thundersticks defence reacted superbly to shut down the variation and preserve their two-goal advantage.

With time winding down, neither side was able to gain complete control as the match continued to swing from end to end.

NSW threw everything forward in search of a late comeback and, in a bold move, withdrew goalkeeper Ash Thomas with three minutes remaining to add an extra field player.

Despite the relentless pressure, Perth's defensive unit remained composed, repeatedly turning away attacking threats and denying the visitors any clear opportunities.

The Thundersticks held firm through the closing stages to keep the scoreboard unchanged and secure a memorable 3-1 victory, claiming their first win of the season in upset fashion.

Match Details 
Perth Thundersticks 3 (Daykin Stanger 11’/12’, Brodee Foster 28’)
NSW Pride 1(Blake Govers 28’)
 
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, 23. Max Nelson, 24. Cam Geddes, 25. Ethan Yem, 26. James Collins, 27. Hunter Banyard (GK), 43. Harry Golding, 99. Max Venables (GK).
 
NSW Pride team: 5. Ash Thomas (GK), 7. Thomas David (GK), 8. Nathanel Stewart, 10. Kurt Lovett, 11. Dylan Downey, 12. Jared Findley, 13. Blake Govers, 14. Dylan Martin, 16. Brayden Sutherland, 19. Jack Hayes, 22. Ryan Simpson, 23. Ryan Woolnough, 24. Tim Schwieren, 25. Nathan Czinner, 33. Samuel Mudford, 36. Michael Taylor.

Women

The Perth Thundersticks Women held off a determined NSW Pride challenge to secure a 3-2 victory and remain undefeated to start the Hockey One season.

Perth Thundersticks weathered an early NSW Pride surge in the opening quarter, with goalkeeper Summer Greenway producing an important save from a penalty corner as the visitors looked to strike first.

Perth responded with attacking intent, creating two shots on goal of their own as the contest settled into an evenly matched battle, with both sides enjoying periods of possession and plenty of end-to-end play.

The breakthrough came late in the term when Sophie Nation delivered a superb pass through two NSW defenders to find Courtney Schonell in space.

Schonell made no mistake with the field goal before calmly converting her own effort to hand the Thundersticks a valuable two-goal advantage.

NSW searched for an immediate response before quarter time, but Perth's defence held firm to take a 2-0 lead into the first break.

Perth Thundersticks looked dangerous from the outset of the second quarter, pressing forward and generating a number of circle entries, although NSW Pride's defence stood firm under pressure.

The Thundersticks earned a penalty corner midway through the term, with Madi Ratcliffe's shot taking a deflection off Jocelyn Bartram to extend Perth's advantage.

NSW responded strongly and found a way back into the contest through Abby Wilson, who converted a penalty corner drag flick to reduce the margin.

The visitors continued to build momentum as both sides traded possession through an entertaining period of play, earning further penalty corner opportunities deep in attack.

Despite the pressure, Perth's defence held up well.

One NSW penalty corner effort was deflected over the crossbar, while goalkeeper Summer Greenway produced another crucial save to deny the visitors and preserve the lead.

The Thundersticks ultimately entered the main break with a hard-fought 2-1 advantage.

The third quarter developed into a hard-fought territorial battle, with both sides battling for control and finding it difficult to create clear scoring opportunities.

Perth Thundersticks continued to look dangerous when moving forward and earned a penalty corner with five minutes remaining in the term, only for NSW goalkeeper Jocelyn Bartram to make an important save.

The Thundersticks maintained the pressure and soon earned another penalty corner opportunity.

Bartram again denied Madi Ratcliffe's initial effort, but Perth was awarded a re-take and made the most of the second chance, with Ratcliffe firing home a drag flick to restore the home side's two-goal advantage.

NSW refused to go away and continued fighting to stay within touch, but Perth's defensive pressure kept the visitors at bay for much of the quarter.

A late NSW penalty corner saw the Thundersticks successfully shut down the initial variation, although the visitors earned a re-award and capitalised through Kendelle Tait on the second attempt.

Greenway applied enough pressure to deny the conversion, ensuring Perth carried a narrow 3-2 lead into the final break.

The final quarter remained a hard-fought territorial battle, with Perth Thundersticks earning an early penalty corner opportunity, only for the NSW Pride defence to run down the shot.

The visitors looked to respond quickly, but Bea Bell produced a smart defensive play in open space, applying enough pressure to force the ball out and relieve the danger.

Both sides continued to battle for ascendency as Caitlyn Templeman led a determined defensive effort, helping Perth withstand repeated NSW advances.

While the visitors searched for an equaliser, the Thundersticks continued to threaten at the other end and looked the more likely side to add to the scoreboard.

Despite the tense finish, Perth's defence stood strong through the closing stages to keep NSW at bay and preserve the one-goal advantage.

With scores unchanged in the final quarter, the Thundersticks secured a 3-2 victory to maintain their undefeated start to the season.

Match Details 
Perth Thundersticks 3 (Courtney Schonell 14’/14’, Madi Ratcliffe 42’)
NSW Pride 2 (Abby Wilson 21’, Kendelle Tait 45’)
 
Perth Thundersticks team: 1. Pippa Morgan, 2. Jolie Sertorio, 3. Neasa Flynn, 4. Madi Ratcliffe, 5. Courtney Schonell, 6. Sarah Byrnes, 10. Jesse Reid, 12. Liné Malan, 13. Caitlyn Templeman, 15. Bellé Ramshaw, 17. Annie Gibbs, 18. Sophie Nation, 19. Beatrice Bell, 27. Summer Greenway, 28. Georgia Wilson, 99. Emma Davison (Emergency GK).
 
NSW Pride team: 1. Lola Dorman, 2. Claudia Johnston, 5. Chelsea Holmes, 6. Jenna-Rae McIntyre, 8. Makayla Jones, 9. Amalia Patterson, 10. Laura Reid, 12. Lily Nelson, 13. Sarah Steinhardt (GK), 14. Emmalee Croker, 18. Bella Croker, 19. Jocelyn Bartram (GK), 20. Madii Smith, 23. Abby Wilson, 24. Mariah Williams (C), 27. Kendelle Tait.

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