HOCKEY
VIC LEAGUE 1
THE Gippsland Bulls tackled top of the table Casey in their biggest Vic League one grudge match to date at the weekend, but failed to cause an upset in an exciting contest.
A rapid start to the match saw the ball fly from end to end as neither team managed to force the ball past their opposing defence.
It was only an errant turnover from Casey that saw the Bulls punish.
Jacob Bush found himself on the spot by himself and clinically slid the ball past the keeper to make it 1-0.
A swift reply within minutes saw Casey equalise and moments later take the lead as the momentum shifted.
It took some brilliance around the circle late in the half by Jono Anderson to level scores, after he weaved in and blasted a ball into the corner to make it 2-2 at half-time.
With the sun out too Casey turned up the heat in the second half.
Placing huge amounts of pressure on the Bulls’ defence, some individual brilliance saw Casey score twice and take the game away from Gippsland.
Pushing hard late in the game, the Bulls were able to secure a number of short corners, which came to no avail against the Casey defence.
After a solid start against the number one side, the Bulls fell away in the second half, the end result 5-2, leaving them in fifth on the ladder.
If passions were high in the firsts they were through the roof in reserves.
With regular occurrences of physical contact the younger Bulls side was able to stand up in a dominant performance.
Goals to Jake Clem, Luke Hall, Chris McGrath and Paul Ellis saw a great spread of contributors in a 4-0 victory.
Keeper Florian Weiherer-Kellermeier was impassable in goals in an outstanding performance.
Mens Vic League 1: Casey d Bulls 5-2
Reserves Casey lt Bulls 0-4
Under 14 girls: Bulls d Waverly 4-1
Under 14 boys: Mornington d Bulls 4-2
Under 16 mixed: Geelong d Bulls 6-2
Masters 35+ Southern Knights d Bulls 3-0
Masters 45+ Bulls lt Camberwell 1-2
