The Latrobe Valley Hockey Association has kicked off its season with under 17s games played on Friday night in perfect conditions.
A strong Sale Sharks team defeated a resilient Churchill team 5-1 in the season opener, while the other match featured the combined Traralgon East Gippsland team who went down 3-1 to Rovers Lightning.
Juniors in under sevens, under 10s and under 13s got their season underway on Saturday with a come-and-try day attracting lots of excited fresh faces.
The senior women didn’t fare as well as the under 17s and were at the mercy of the weather in freezing rain and howling winds.
A re-energised Churchill side took full advantage of an undermanned Moe in a dominant performance to record a 3-0 win.
Traralgon overcame another undermanned side in Rovers to storm to a 9-0 win, with Jo Wade scoring four goals and Lachlan Thompson three.
Round one results:
Under 17s
Sale Sharks def Churchill, 5-1: Goal scorers – Sharks – Noah 1, Brianna Marshall 1, Tom Wrigglesworth 1, Ben Burrows 2. Churchill – Zafar Ihraam 1. Best on ground: Sale Sharks – Ben Burrows 3, Thomas Wrigglesworth 2, Brianna Marshall 1. Churchill – Ihraam Zafar 3, Evan Hill 2, Jared Bates 1.
Rovers Lightning def Traralgon East Gippsland, 3-1: Goal scorers Rovers Lightning – Ihraam Zafar 2, Tahlia Hill 1. Traralgon East Gippsland – Lachlan Thompson 1. Best on ground Rovers Lightning – Hannah Lawrence 3, Sam Pollerd 2, Aria Ranui 1. Traralgon EG – Lachlan Thompson 3, Nick Broad 2, Keira O’Neill 1.
Senior women
Churchill def Moe, 3-0: Goal scorers Churchill – Tia Inverarity 1, Jasmine O’Shea 1 and Melissa Wagman 1. Best on ground Churchill – Melissa Wagman 3, Tamara Kemp 2, Kelly McLaughlin 1. Moe – Ash Vullermin 3, Nicole Walker 2, Claire Cake 1
Traralgon def Rovers Thunder, 9-0: Goal scorers – Traralgon – Jo Wade 4, Lachlan Thompson 3, Marika Bazley 1, Sophie Fitzpatrick 1. Best on ground – Traralgon – Marika Bazley 3, Jo Wade 2, Sophie Fitzpatrick 1. Rovers Thunder – Greta Tatchell 3, Corrinne Metcalf 2, Eva Tatchell 1.
If you are interested in playing hockey for the 2018 season, email latrobevalley@hockeyvictoria.org.au.
