WA Over 50/2 (Quokka's Doggies) 2006 Match ReportsClick here for HockeyNet resultsWA2 vs WAC - Tuesday, October 3, 2006The Doggies* had a great start on Day 1 of Tournament 2006. According to well placed observers their opening “Bye” was amongst the all-time best “Byes” in Tournament history ……. And team injuries were minimal – a couple of cases of minor sunburn and just one resulting coldsore (the team’s ‘No Kissing” rules are there for a reason).Day 2 saw the Doggies* crush W.A. Country 1 – Nil. To be fair the Country boys did appear a little fatigued despite their rotation policy during yesterday’s loss to N.S.W. - their defence took it in turns to retrieve the ball from the back of the net in that game but a 13 – Nil loss left the back line pretty exhausted. No matter, you can only beat the team the opposition puts on the park. Steve McEntee scored the winning goal and rocketed himself to the top of our goal scoring leader board. Steve is also the current leader of our “Duracraft Classic Goals Competition” – 1st Prize is yet to be announced and the actual prize will depend heavily on who the eventual winner is -–the final decision will rest with Steve. George Naylor was named our most valuable player for this game. His selection was warmly received by all team mates despite the discovery of numerous nomination slips and a photocopy machine in George’s sports bag – pure coincidence that George runs an after-hours secretarial service. Quokka and Greg Allen sat out this first game and I have included a player profile for Quokka and I may include a spectator profile for Greg on a later occasion. Result: WA2 1 - WAC 0
WA2 vs NSW1 - Thursday, October 5, 2006Let me preface this report with the age-old observation that “a good defence will keep you in a game but great forwards give you a chance to win it”!This was never going to be an easy one for the Doggies. The Blue boys from NSW have the ability to blow opposing teams off the park, and as we walked into the ground I heard someone in the NSW entourage say “Can I carry your Bag-Dad”? The War on Terror had finally come to Perth and the Taliban were wearing Blue. Quokka had used the SAS (Stubbies and Singlet) on Monday to reconnoitre and like all good Generals he had a plan. It’s a secret! Although the use of IED’s was predicted, by their very nature they are a very difficult weapon to mount an effective defence against (IED = Indiscriminate Effing Deflections ………used when in close proximity to goal). Half Time: 2 Nil down and playing ok in defence, but we’d squandered a few opportunities up front. We considered the use of a “Hit Squad” but no-one could remember any words that fitted the good tunes. Michael Waite excelled for us in goals – some amazing “saves”. It was later found that there was a loose piece of carpet just in front of goals and it was hard to tell whether they were “saving dives” or “saving trips”. No matter, Michael was selected by both sides as our most valuable player for the game. It was in the last 6 minutes that the game truly came alive. Enter Sean “Striker” Bartlett – the player formerly known as “Trapper”. Moved from defence into the left wing position but with a licence to thrill, “Striker” weaved his magic into the circle, drawing 3 defenders and an RPG launcher – he didn’t even have the ball. A series of feints created space and drew the goalkeeper off the line, then, just like the slow motion sequence in “Chariots of Fire” and as the time continuum seemed to stop, “Striker” demanded the ball from “Leaping Leo Welten”, and Welten it he did – straight at our hero. The whole world could see what was about to happen but they were all powerless to do anything to stop “Striker”. He first timed the ball from deep on the base line allowing just enough for the effect of the earth’s rotation to curl it around the near post and slam into the backboard. Joyous celebrations ensued and all those present were impressed by “Striker’s” amazing skills and humility. Championship programs have a page reserved for autographs (page 58) for occasions such as this. The Doggies were beaten but not disgraced, and look forward to the next entertaining installment in what is becoming a very enjoyable fortnight. Result: WA2 1 - NSW1 2 WA2 vs VIC - Friday, October 6, 2006The Doggies were very disappointed with their effort against the Vic’s – losing 2-1 after being 1 goal up for most of the game.Peter Komyshan scored for us, and Shane Knapp was named our best player. However outside of these two gentlemen it was generally a lamentable effort and there was very little to enthuse about. “Kommy” joins a three-way log-jam at the top of the goal scoring table, and “Striker” Bartlett learned what it’s like to be a “rooster” one day and a “feather duster” the next! Result: WA2 1 - VIC 2 WA2 vs QLD1 - Saturday, October 7, 2006Coming off a loss to Victoria, and up against the might of Queensland, expectations were low! But Quokka had a plan! It’s a secret! What a winner!History will show that when the Doggies were let off the chain, neither Queensland, nor the Ranger could stop them. Early goals put the “Banana Benders” under pressure. Queensland seemed to receive the better of some umpiring decisions but were unable to capitalise. Now being an umpire can be very difficult …. They are required to see things as either “black or white” and we all know that the game can throw up a number of “grey” situations. So let me completely disassociate the Doggies from the message inferred by a chant at a recent Perth Glory game which went: I think I’m blind I think I’m deaf I think I want to be a Ref. The fixture was played in great spirit by both sides, and from our perspective there were some superb field goals, and breathtaking saves in our defensive circle. The final score line of 5-1 was a fair reflection of the game and great credit to our goal scorers: Chris North (2), Peter Komyshan, Steve McEntee and Greg Cooper. Queensland saw our defence as the key to our success and awarded equal best players to George Naylor and Michael Waite. The Doggies saw it differently and voted Chris North as our best afield. Quokka loves it when a plan comes together, and we now move into Division 1. Woo Hoo! Trouble is, we didn’t actually plan on that outcome…. But hey! She’ll be right! Leave it to Quokka. The artistry of our forwards has sporned this little effort: So embarrassed were the stars over Perth They stopped Twinkling their lights above Earth ‘Cos they couldn’t match the show By Chris, Coops, Kommy and Steveo When we belted Queensland 5-1 on the turf. - not exactly Keats, but I like it. Result: WA2 5 - QLD1 1 WA2 vs TAS - Monday, October 9, 2006
This was our first game in the Division 1 finals fixtures.
We really didn’t play all that well for starters and were 1-nil down before being galvanized into action.
Tasmania voted Quokka our best player and Keith Gilbride was voted MVP by the Doggies … both being deserving recipients. This result leaves us in equal 5th position in the Division 1 series. Result: WA2 2 - TAS 2 The Goal Scoring Leader Board (so far):Steve McEntee 2 Peter Komyshan 2 Greg Cooper 2 Chris North 2 Sean Bartlett 1 Ian Arblaster 1 WA2 vs WA1 - Tuesday, October 10, 2006This WA Derby promised so much, but delivered so little (as far as we were concerned). Our 4-nil loss was probably a fair reflection of the nature of the contest, but was no indicator of our true potential.The final 10 minutes of the game saw us put great pressure on their defence and demonstrated a spirit of endeavour within the group that we had hoped to display for the full 70 minutes. The opposition chose George Naylor as our best player and Peter Komyshan was voted MVP by the Doggies. There was no change to the goal scoring leaderboard, - which is pretty bleedin’ obvious. However, it occurred to me that when we use the term “Derby” there is occasionally some confusion. Some see it in general terms as “a clash of local teams” while, to others the word can refer to a type of horse race…. And in this instance, if it had been a reference to a horse race it may have been interesting to speculate on the likely breeding of some of the team members. No doubt their parentage would mirror their characters and abilities. Just for interest sake, a possible “bloodstock” listing might read : QUOKKA: By the great sire General Custer, out of the mare Hopping Marsupial. KEITH GILBRIDE : By that beautifully natured stallion Pipe and Slippers, out of the scrapper Take No Prisoners. LEO WELTEN : By the pie-bald sire My Hairo, out of the beautifully conformed mare Great Assist. CHRIS NORTH : By old favourite – Smiling Assassin, out of the wayward mare Scattergun Girl. DAVE HERRINGTON : By Accidental Contact out of the Ref’s choice- Go Directly To Jail. PETER KONTOR : By Battery Operated out of Deaf as a Post. I could go on but…..amazingly we still have an opportunity to play in the semi-finals provided we beat NSW #2 in the next fixture. So in the interests of team unity …. Enough! Go the Doggies! Result: WA2 0 - WA1 4 WA2 vs NSW2 - Thursday, October 12, 2006We lost 4 – nil.We’re out. Not much point in elaborating! Bloody forwards! Bloody defence! Bloody refs! Bloody great tournament! Just a joy to be involved with the guys in the Doggies. …… Not to mention our manager – Lynda. So disappointing, so uplifting, so enjoyable. Thanks to all involved ……hope to see you next year! Cheers to all involved! Thank you! Result: WA2 0 - NSW2 4 |
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