HOCKEY
ROGER PARKER
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Dalefield 4 Wellington Indians 8
Round one of the Intercity competition was quick to display the new scoring system – the field goal ‘conversion’ rule.
Put simply, Dalefield ‘converted’ their one field goal with another goal in a one-on-one shootout with the goalie to score two points. Their opposition on Saturday, the Wellington Indians, converted all four of their conversion opportunities and won the match by what looked like a handsome margin.
In fact, the game was an entertaining spectacle of open, attacking hockey in which Dalefield created enough opportunities to come out on top.
Dalefield started well with an early goal from Barnaby Anderson after a free hit was taken quickly and fed into the circle. With the ensuing ‘conversion’ Dalefield was up 2-0. Indians responded in kind in the second quarter to have the scores locked at 2-2 at halftime.
Indians edged early in the third quarter with another converted goal before a Dane Lett drag-flick had the game evenly balanced at 3-4.
The last period was one of missed opportunities for Dalefield. While regularly making inroads through the midfield, the links to the strikers broke down too often, allowing Indians to turn the tables and convert their chances.
Assistant coach Benedict van Woerkom summed up the frustration.
“We needed to play around them more effectively. We didn’t do that well enough. When our attack broke down, we gave Indians the option to hit back on the counterattack, which played to their strength.”
Dalefield rounded out the match with another well-taken penalty corner, but by that time, Indians had converted two more goals.
WOMEN
Dalefield 2 Harbour City 1
Farriers Dalefield got the better of a ‘friendly’ match with Harbour City on the Trust House Hockey Complex turf on Saturday, but had to dig deep late in the game to secure the win.
Charlize Baron opened the scoring in the first quarter. Two lengthy, accurate passes put Baron into a one-on-one with the goalie in the circle, and she finished with relative ease.
The new scoring option of a one-on-one with the goalie ‘conversion’ attempt for field goals was unsuccessful.
Midfielder Reese Robinson doubled the home side’s lead in the second quarter with a sharply taken reverse shot that gave the goalie no chance. The ‘conversion’ attempt was again unsuccessful.
Harbour City lifted their game in the second half and a period of pressure produced a well-deserved field goal, that, had it been converted, would have tied the scores. For the third time in the match, the conversion was unsuccessful. Dalefield defended efficiently enough to see out what was a vigorously contested game from that point on.
For Dalefield, Jorja Sacke stood out in defence, giving a player-of-the-day performance which included several crucial tackles.
