WA Over 40's - 2009 Match ReportsWA vs NSW - Tuesday, September 29, 2009Having sat out the first day of competition and watched NSW produce an unconvincing performance against WA Country, hopes were high we could match it with the Waratahs.That proved to be the case but at crucial times we lapsed and they were good enough to capitalise. NSW had the first opportunity within a couple of minutes of the match starting, with a player left alone in front somehow missing an open goal. However, the Blues did not waste much time ruing their opportunity. A short corner was hit directly at goals and took a deflection, leaving WA’s defence little chance. The Blues dominated the early part of the match, stretching WA wide and laying off into space. New goalie Andrew Rahim made some crucial saves and showed good judgement in covering the circle to keep us in the game. Gradually the Black and Golds worked themselves into the match, with centre-half and vice-captain Michael Starling adjusting to the tempo and eliminating players before distributing effectively. WA was also pressing NSW in deep defence, not allowing easy outlet balls and creating uncertainty. The pressure started to tell, with new member John Cooke getting into the game at left inner and former Thundersticks player and WA captain Craig Emslie almost latching on to good chances, including one shot that was not far wide. At the end of the half Alan Dick combined well with Martin Turner, who managed to penetrate the circle but was unable to make a final pass or shot. Nevertheless, the team felt satisfied by their efforts and confident heading into the second half. That confidence seemed justified, as WA dominated large parts of the second half. Experienced A-grade player Ashley Evans asserted his authority in deep defence, clearing any NSW advances and passing crisply to reload attacks. With pressure mounting, player-coach Alan Dick, a renowned playmaker at right inner who was tightly marked throughout, managed to dispossess the NSW centre half at the half line before sending a pass across his body to the left side of the circle. As he thought, Emslie was on hand to pick up the radar-like hit, wrong-footing two defenders and leaving the goalie hopelessly out of position. Emslie’s experience allowed him to withhold his shot before calmly slotting into the left back board. At 1-1 WA looked like finishing off the job. Debutante Blake Mardon was making an impact at left wing and another newbie, Steven Metcalfe, prominent on the right. Forward thrusts were easily intercepted by an increasingly efficient defence, with Scott Macdonald getting plenty of the ball. There were several good chances in front of goals, Emslie denied an easy finish when the goalie made a fortuitous intercept of a Turner pass. But a momentary concentration breakdown led to the ball finding its way through the left defensive side and converted with about 10 minutes to go. A short corner play after the final siren failed to produce the equaliser and WA had to settle for the realisation they were more than competitive with teams likely to figure in the finals. Result: WA 1 – NSW 2 Goal scorer: Craig Emslie Best player as nominated by NSW: Michael Starling WA vs TAS - Thursday, October 1, 2009With Tasmania performing strongly in two matches before WA had even taken to the pitch, the team knew this was a crucial game in the quest for a semi-final spot. There was a quiet confidence in the unit, particularly as we were going into the game with a full 16-player contingent after the arrival of experienced campaigner Noel Morrison. Tasmania, by comparison, had just 12 players. However, slow starting and skill errors again made things difficult and put us on the back foot. Early on we conceded a stroke that was almost stopped by WA’s man of the match Andrew Rahim. Again, it took an opposition goal and some crucial saves from Rahim to get WA moving. The realisation that moving the ball around the field and pressing hard would tire a team with only one sub started to dawn. It was pressure on the Tasmanian defence that gave WA their first goal, Craig Emslie stealing from a defender before taking on the keeper and deftly slotting the ball under his legs. However another stroke from a penalty corner again coughed up the lead against the Apple Islers. We needed to start using our substitute advantage in the second half, with Tasmania sure to fatigue. Unfortunately, we gave up the ball far too often, with Tasmania only stopped from going 3-1 up early thanks to an astounding save from the line from Stefan Willett, who managed to force a ball over the top of the goals from a strong flick. Alan Dick started to get into the play, forcing the ball down the flanks from right inner and Blake Mardon got into the action on the right wing. A penalty corner conversion from Dick was disallowed. Dick’s deflection was deemed to be the first hit and went above the backboard, a highly technical decision. But too often Tasmania was allowed to rebound and a left-side break led to Tasmania gaining a two-goal advantage with about 15 minutes to play. Steven Metcalfe played on strongly from the left and cracked the ball into the circle, with Emslie somehow deflecting the ball over the keeper while facing back towards the circle with the ball behind him. However, that third goal never came and a chance to take points against one of the better teams in the competition went begging. Result: WA 2 – TAS 3 Goal scorers: Emslie 2 Best player as nominated by TAS: Andrew Rahim WA vs SA - Friday, October 2, 2009After two early losses, the team was desperate for maximum points from this encounter. Thankfully, some desperation was in evidence from the team from the get-go, a nice change from the sluggish starts of previous matches. There were some positional changes, with Starling moving to left inner from centre half, Willett taking charge in the centre, Glenn Strother going to right half and John Cooke to left wing. The first chance in front of goals fell to Turner, with the ball falling free at the top of the circle. He failed to adjust his shot, however, allowing a defender to clear. Ian Tubbs seemed to enjoy some game time on left half and his forward thrusts helped Turner make some amends shortly after from left wing, assisting Emslie from close range, who was never likely to miss with time in front of goals. Sensing the advantage, the ball started moving freely along the half line, with Michael Bilney and Srother getting involved and Willett showing his distribution skills. A break in to the circle from Stuart Campbell found Blake Mardon on the left, who slapped truly with the keeper out of position for his first goal in national vets competition. Coach Dick warned a 2-0 lead was dangerous at half-time, with an opposition goal likely to change the complexion of the game. So it proved, with yet another penalty stroke given up after a short corner, making for a nervous final 15 minutes. SA were now desperate for the equaliser, with Ash Evans and Scott Macdonald having to hold firm at the back. Turner had the best chance to seal the deal, deflecting from a Dick move down the right, but the ball stopped tantalisingly close to the goal line and was cleared. The team was elated to come through for the first win and something to build on for the remainder of the tournament. Rahim’s intensity in goals was again rewarded with recognition as best afield. While the goalie has been playing ‘Goose’ to suave, cocksure Scottish international Michael ‘Maverick’ Starling, the wingman now has two awards to Starling’s one. Is Goose turning the tables while Maverick plays the field? There is still a week to find out. Result: WA 2 – SA 1 Goal scorers: Emslie, Mardon Best player as nominated by SA: Andrew Rahim WA vs WAC - Sunday, October 4, 2009As the coach explained, for WA Country, this match was their grand final. Whatever their results elsewhere, to best the metro boys would make their trip and their hockey year.And after a 9-0 shellacking in Darwin, Country had a lot to prove. It never even looked close given the opportunities WA created in the first half. There were numerous chances and ever new ways of failing to get the ball between the posts. The team paid for its wastefulness when a fast break was converted and despite WA still having the better of Country, the rural boys held their advantage at half time. Typically, adversity gave WA some impetus. This was surely our best period of play for the tournament in the second half, with the ball seldom getting past our defensive 25 and lots of forward pressure applied. The pressure was converted on the scoreboard. Starling struck home with an unstoppable roofed drag flick from a short corner while Emslie clinically converted to get us in front. However, 2-1 is always an uncomfortable lead and so it proved, with defensive confusion leading to a short corner to Country with two minutes remaining, converted with a low flick. By salvaging a draw so close to full time, Country probably earned the bragging rights on this occasion. Next year’s encounter on Country’s home turf will be eagerly anticipated. Moreover, it made finals this year difficult for WA. The team needs wins against Victoria and Queensland, then other results to go their way for the Black and Golds to stay alive in Melbourne. Michael ‘Maverick’ Starling turned master again, balancing the score sheet against his wingman Andrew ‘Goose’ Rahim by taking out his second best player award. Can our Top Gun keep flying high or will he be shot down in flames? Result: WA 2 - WAC 2 Goal scorers: Starling, Emslie Best player as nominated by WAC: Michael Starling WA vs VIC - Monday, October 5, 2009Having drawn with WA Country, we needed points from this game to keep us in the hunt for a semi-final spot.Victoria play a fast, aggressive style, with players continually overlapping. We were caught out and conceded two goals in the first half. Our best chance was from our first short corner, with Starling attempting to replicate his ‘roofer’ in the previous game. This drag flick was only a few centimetres shorter but got tipped over the bar. Emslie was also denied from close range, the Victorian keeper producing a sharp hand save from Ems’ fast flick. The second half was played more evenly, the experienced Victorians knowing they needed only to keep us at bay to take the points. They got another goal and then played at a sustained tempo, with WA trying hard but not penetrating sufficiently to make a proper challenge. Late in the game Starling produced a classic drag hit to the right of the keeper from a short corner for Emslie to slot yet another goal, a fair reward for an honest effort from the WA boys. Glenn ‘Sloth’ Strother, seconded to the side while travelling around Australia, shook off the effects of living with four young daughters in a confined space to produce his best game in deep defence. Stefan Willett was rewarded for his consistency at centre half and around the ground with the best player award for the match. Result: WA 1 - VIC 3 Goal scorers: Emslie Best player as nominated by VIC: Stefan Willett WA vs QLD - Wednesday, October 7, 2009A terrible chill and freezing breeze enveloped the Footscray Hockey Club before our match, biting so hard we needed tetanus shots before we were allowed on the field.And the ill wind seemed to have its effect on the squad. By the end of the match there were no reserves available from our squad of 16. There were more pulls than The Quiet Man bar in Flemington on a Sunday night. Even those left standing had a good quota of injuries. Needless to say, it didn’t help us on the park. Queensland were vying for second spot and also had their share of injuries, with their whole first-choice midfield benched. But their organisation and cohesion was still a class above our own efforts. The usual suspects such as Emslie, Dick and man of the match ‘Maverick’ Starling stood up and took on the Maroons, while Stu Campbell toiled hard at inner in the second half despite getting injured and experiencing stomach cramps. Stef Willett was disappointed to have to leave the pitch in the first half after succumbing to his injuries and decided to do a quick experiment on the tensile strength of his stick on the concrete. The segment is soon to be screened on Mythbusters. Lots of chances were created and went begging. Perhaps the chances that haven’t fallen our way up till now will come together in our final, important match. It appears as though WA honour will need to be defended sooner rather than later, with a grading match between teams 5 and 6 giving us another game against WA Country on Friday. Result: WA 0 – QLD 3 Best player as nominated by QLD: Michael Starling Grading game (5th or 6th) WA vs WAC - Friday, October 9, 2009After a 2-2 result in the previous encounter with Country, this was shaping as an uncomfortable fixture.Played late on Friday, with mostly state pride at stake, as well as the pecking order between fifth and sixth spots on the table, the team that wanted it most was likely to come out on top. Fortunately we were the ones to play with some real spirit while Country were somewhat bruised and battered after giving their all for two weeks. We also played with a little of the fluidity that had not really been in evidence for much of the tournament. Goals followed, though what looked like being a flood did not really eventuate, with Country showing their own mettle by scoring a couple of goals to keep things interesting until the end. Goals to Turner, Campbell and Emslie were somewhat outshone by an absolute gem from Michael Bilney, whose one-time shot from the top of the circle lived up to his nickname Splinter by almost destroying the back board with the sweetness of the hit. It was a good way to end a somewhat frustrating tournament. Perhaps the way we finished points to what to expect when the tournament travels to WA Country in 2010. Congratulations to Michael Starling, chosen by his peers in the side as our best player. Not just a Maverick, the former Scottish international is a genuine ace. Many thanks and congratulations to coach Alan and wife and manager Paula Dick, who were both selected for Australian duties next year, Paula as assistant manager. Craig Emslie also gained selection for his outstanding form in front of goals. For both Alan and Craig it’s their second national call-up, Alan achieving the feat in successive years. The Trans Tasman Cup, a three-Test series against New Zealand, will be played in Newcastle, New South Wales in May. Congratulations also to Victoria, who beat New South Wales in the grand final to hold the national title in successive years. Thanks also to trainer Phil, who kept many bodies on the pitch that would have otherwise been consigned to long sessions in the ice bath. Fines master Scotty also deserves a special mention (of course). Most of all, thanks to everyone in the side for their efforts and companionship on a long fortnight away from loved ones. It was an excellent group that will form the nucleus for a strong showing in Bunbury next year. Result: WA 4 - WAC 2 (WA finished in fifth spot, WAC in sixth) Goal scorers: Turner, Campbell, Emslie, Bilney WA Player of the Tournament: Michael Starling Australian selection: Alan Dick, Craig Emslie, Paula Dick (assistant manager) |
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