Zac Hardie [No 2] scored one and had an assist in another goal for Dalefield. PHOTOS/FILE
HOCKEY
CHRIS COGDALE
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MEN
VICTORIA 0 DALEFIELD 5
Farriers Dalefield picked up a valuable bonus point victory over Victoria at the National Hockey Stadium on Saturday, but it could have been a lot more, according to co-manager Bernie Lett.
“It was a bit frustrating, but we were probably our own worst enemy, and we put ourselves under pressure at times,” he said.
“We had lots of opportunities, lots of circle penetrations but again, we were not getting enough outcomes, either getting PCs [penalty corners] or shots on goal, and we need to get a bit more clinical and hungrier in there.”
Although Dalefield finished with the five-goal bonus point, Lett said the win was set up by their exceptional defence.
“Vic had quite a number of good scoring opportunities, but good defence kept us ahead. Our goalkeepers John Forsyth, in the first half, and player of the day William Brown, in the second half, had very strong games.”
Lett said the team gave up too many soft turnovers through poor decisions and poor execution of passes that didn’t go where they were supposed to.
Hamish Finlayson opened the scoring late in the first quarter, deflecting in a Dane Lett drag flick.
Rowan Yeo doubled the lead in the second quarter, while Zac Hardie and Myles Houlahan added goals in the third quarter, and Marcus Ambrose scored with a drag flick from a PC in the final period.
Lett said Graeme Murrell had a solid game in defence, and students James Crawley, Ben Schwass, and Alex Clark all did very well, considering their lack of experience at that level.
The win moved Dalefield into a share of second place in the Wellington Premier Men’s Championship.
WOMEN
VICTORIA 2 DALEFIELD 2
Farriers Dalefield have dropped out of the top four in the Wellington Women’s Premier Championship with their surprise 2-2 draw with Victoria at the National Hockey Stadium on Saturday.
Try as they like, Dalefield could not break the deadlock, and they had to settle for a frustrating draw.
Van Woerkom was disappointed by the outcome but praised Victoria’s defence, especially goalkeeper Rachel Lilley, who saved several goals.
“In the fourth quarter, we attacked and attacked and attacked. We put together some really good passing, but once we got over the 25m, we dribbled too much, and their goalie just played outstanding and probably saved lots of goals,” she said.
“We just needed to be a bit smarter and continue our passing game into that final 25. We could have done better, but kudos to them; they’re a good team, they trap well and do the basics quite well.”
Van Woerkom said there wasn’t any complacency in the team after their 10-0 win over Toa the previous weekend.
“It’s not that the girls weren’t trying, but I wonder if we thought it might just happen, especially after a big win last week. We will be pretty keen to take them on at home and show them how we can play.”
Dalefield are fifth but should move back into the top four when they play bottom-of-the-table Karori at Clareville on Saturday.
