HOCKEY
LATROBE VALLEY
YALLOURN secured back-to -back Latrobe Valley Hockey Association men’s titles at the weekend with a 2-1 grand final victory over Churchill.
Churchill went into the match favourite after brushing Yallourn aside in the qualifying final, but the defending champion drew first blood through Tenille Tilgner on nine minutes.
The pace settled after a frenetic opening before Mark Phoenix scored a trademark equaliser for Churchill after 29 minutes.
Scores looked certain to be locked 1-1 at the break but some Chris Liddle magic 30 seconds prior to half-time gave Yallourn a 2-1 advantage.
The second half began in the same vein as the first.
Yallourn was busy in the attacking third and was unlucky not to add a third, before Churchill pushed back in search of a second.
A short corner two minutes from full-time caused Yallourn’s defence some nervous moments, and Matt Taylor’s resulting shot beat everything but the post before the ball was cleared.
Yallourn held on for a memorable victory and Oliver Pritchard was named player of the grand final.
Women
RIVALS Traralgon Yellow and Rovers Thunder faced off for glory in the women’s A grade.
Penny Kerr gave Rovers an early lead with a penalty stroke before Aoife Coughlan retaliated in the 32nd minute to even scores at 1-1 by half-time.
Traralgon’s Kim Tanti broke the deadlock after a tense 20 minutes of second half play, and added a second for good measure six minutes later to ensure a 3-1 victory.
Maeve Coughlan was named player of the match.
For full grand final results see page 4.
