Reds respond with strong victory over top-end Hale

Geraldton locals were treated to a bumper double-header of Premier League action, with the Reds and Hale men’s and women’s sides hitting the field at the Geraldton Hockey Association with the Hale women’s and Reds men’s sides going out as victors.

The women’s Hale victory sees the side sit in first place on the standings after a dominant 6-0 victory over Reds who are yet to score points in 2022 – six individual goal scorers for Hale showcased their attacking prowess.

Reds returned to their 2021 Grand Final berth form with a strong 5-1 victory over a Hale side that has been challenging towards the top end this year.

Hale’s Liam Flynn opened the scoring for the match in the 12^th minute, but Reds responded with five unanswered goals, with Kookaburras’ Blake Govers starring with two goals.

Star Kookaburra and Reds leader Aran Zalewski said it was a much-needed result for his side, with a win over the top-end Hale team a driven response from Reds after a disappointing start this season.

“It was a fiery match – we were lucky to be able to string a few goals together and that gave us the confidence to secure the victory,” Zaleski said.

“We have had a couple of disappointing results which was a bit of a wake-up call for the boys - it’s probably bought us together a bit and galvanised the group.

“Now we need to ride off the back of this and put a string of good performances together – we want to be challenging towards the top end again this season.”

In other fixtures, the women’s WASPs side suffered a 4-1 defeat to UWA, with Courtney Schonell scoring two for UWA to lead the side to victory.

The men’s WASPs secured their first victory in 2022 defeating Fremantle Cockburn 3-2.

Fremantle Cockburn scored the first two of the match, with Jack Welch and 300-gamer James McPherson finding goal in the first quarter.

Kookaburra Tim Brand took control of the match, scoring the next two in the 16^th and 41^st minutes and was awarded a penalty stroke in the 57^th minute to snatch the late winner for WASPs.

The men’s Westside Wolves and Whitford sides competed in a scintillating 5-4 victory to Wolves.

Whitford’s Nathan Ephraums opened the scoring for the match in the fourth minute but Wolves responded with four unanswered goals to take the lead to 4-1.

The sides then went goal for goal with Whitford pushing late with two goals but just fell short of drawing level.

The men’s YMCC side suffered their first loss of the season, going down to UWA 6-0.

In a dominant performance, UWA had six individual goals scorers, with Flynn Ogilvie, Cam Geddes, Tom Wickham, Jacob Evans, Lachlan Busiko and Chris Bausor all finding goal in the strong outing for the side.

Old Guildfordians Mundaring suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to Victoria Park.

Ben Taylor and Tim Bates opened the scoring for Victoria Park in the second and 30^th minutes respectively, but Old Guildfordians replied with two of their own in the 34^th and 38^th minutes to Johnathon Bretherton and Sebsatian Chandraratna.

Victoria Park’s William Battistessa secured the victory for his side with a goal in the 46^th minute.

In a crucial double-header between the men's and women's Curtin University and Melville sides, Curtin ran away with two victories in strong performances for the club.

In a shock win in the men's match, Curtin University, who were yet to win a match thus far in 2022, knocked off the reigning premiers and first-placed Melville in a 2-1 victory.

Curtin University scored the first two goals of the match late in the piece, with Rhys Angwin finding goal in quick succession in the 43rd and 44th minutes of the match.

Melville responded with a goal of their own in the 50th minute through Samuel Geers, but Curtin held on the claim a historic victory for the side.

Curtin University, bolstered by their Hockeyroos inclusions, claimed a 3-0 victory over Melville in a strong outing for the side - Greta Hayes, Kirstie Denning and Kaitlin Nobbs all scored in a strong performance for Curtin.

FULL RESULTS

Men’s Westside Wolves 5 defeat Whitford 4

Goals:

Wolves – Patrick Andrew (5’) (14’), Daniel Beale (17’), Tom Harvie (22’), Jake Harvie (34’)

Whitford – Nathan Ephraums (4’), Josh McRae (32’) (45’), Duncan Christie (40’)

Women’s Reds 0 defeated by Hale 6

Goals:

Hale – Michaela Spano (9’), Emily Chalker (10’), Ciara Faichney (14’), Fiona Cock (14’), Tyler Pedley (41’), Edwina Bone (48’)

Men’s YMCC 0 defeated by UWA 6

Goals:

UWA – Flynn Ogilvie (26’), Cam Geddes (28’), Tom Wickham (29’), Jacob Evans (46’), Lachlan Busiko (49’), Chris Bausor (51’)

Men’s WASPs 3 defeat Fremantle Cockburn 2

Goals:

WASPs – Tim Brand (16’) (21’) (57’)

Fremantle Cockburn – Jack Welch (10’), James McPherson (14’)

Men’s Old Guildfordians Mundaring 2 defeated by Victoria Park 3

Goals:

OGMHC – Johnathon Bretherton (34’), Sebastian Chandraratna (38’)

Vic Park – Ben Taylor (2’), Tim Bates (30’), William Battistessa (46’)

Men’s Reds 5 defeat Hale 1

Goals:

Reds – Brodee Foster (20’), Blake Govers (25’) (45’), Aaron Kleinschmidt (52’), Jack Hayes (54’)

Hale – Liam Flynn (12’)

Women’s WASPs 1 defeated by UWA 4

Goals:

WASPs – Kalindi Commerford (43’)

UWA – Shayni Nelson (9’), Courtney Schonell (18’) (28’), Jessica Butterworth (56’)

Women's Curtin University 3 defeat Melville 0

Goals:

Curtin - Greta Hayes (38'), Kirstie Denning (45'), Kaitlin Nobbs (49')

Men's Curtin University 2 defeat Melville 1

Goals:

Curtin - Rhys Angwin (43') (44')

Melville - Samuel Geers (50')