Super Saturday in Melbourne: Perth’s women win the Grand Final rematch, Canberra’s men can’t stop scoring
Four games, one venue, and by the end of Super Saturday in Melbourne the Hockey One ladders had a very clear shape. Perth and Canberra are flying. The new Cobras women are flying too, which nobody had in their predictions. And Perth’s men? Still stuck on zero.
HC Melbourne women 1-3 Perth Thundersticks women
This was the rematch of last year’s women’s Grand Final, and Perth played it like champions.
Madeleine Ratcliffe put them ahead from a penalty corner in the third minute. Sophie Murphy levelled for Melbourne from a corner of their own in the 12th, and for a while it looked like we’d get the tight game the fixture promised.
We didn’t. Neasa Flynn scored in the 36th minute and Courtney Schonell converted a penalty stroke in the same minute, and that was that. Two goals in a blink, game gone.
Perth have won both their games, conceded once, and sit top of the women’s ladder. Melbourne, who lost a final to this lot last season, have now lost the rematch too. That one stings.
Scorers: Murphy 12′ (PC) for Melbourne; Ratcliffe 3′ (PC), Flynn 36′, Schonell 36′ (PS) for Perth.
HC Melbourne men 5-2 Perth Thundersticks men
The men’s game flipped the story completely.
Joshua Simmonds opened it in the 11th, Nathan Ephraums buried penalty corners in the 15th and 32nd, and although Harrison Golding gave Perth hope in the 36th, scoring and converting his one-on-one for two goals in one play, Duncan Jackson shut the door in the 42nd. Field goal, conversion, 5-2.
Melbourne’s men are two from two. Perth’s men are none from two, and they’ve now shipped nine goals in two games. The Thundersticks women are carrying the franchise right now.
Scorers: Simmonds 11′, Ephraums 15′ (PC), 32′ (PC), Jackson 42′, 42′ for Melbourne; Golding 36′, 36′ for Perth.
Melbourne Cobras women 3-1 Canberra Chill women
The Cobras are the new team in this league. Nobody told their women’s side they’re supposed to struggle.
Zara Geddis scored in the 27th, Mahima Choudhary added a second three minutes later, and although Valentina Costa pulled one back for Canberra from the spot in the 35th, Claire Colwill’s penalty corner in the 58th finished it.
Two games, two wins for the Cobras women. They’re second on the ladder behind Perth, and next week they get HC Melbourne in a Melbourne derby that suddenly looks like a proper test for both sides.
Scorers: Z. Geddis 27′, Choudhary 30′, Colwill 58′ (PC) for Cobras; Costa 35′ (PS) for Canberra.
Melbourne Cobras men 2-4 Canberra Chill men
Canberra’s men are the most fun team in this league and it isn’t close.
Abu Mahmood put the Cobras ahead from a penalty stroke in the 27th minute. Then the Chill woke up. Jake Staines scored in the 34th, James Jewell converted a corner in the 38th, Dylan Brick did the same in the 42nd, and Aidan Dooley made it four in the 47th. Raheel Mouseen’s corner right at the death, 60 minutes plus, was consolation only.
That’s 13 goals in two games for Canberra’s men. Staines, who scored four in Round 1, is now the tournament’s top scorer with five. The Cobras men, unlike their women’s team, are still chasing a first win.
Scorers: Mahmood 27′ (PS), Raheel 60+’ (PC) for Cobras; J. Staines 34′, Jewell 38′ (PC), Brick 42′ (PC), Dooley 47′ for Canberra.
Where Round 2 stands
Men: Canberra top on 6 points with a +10 goal difference, HC Melbourne and NSW Pride also perfect on 6, Tassie fourth on 3 with a game in hand. Cobras, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide are all still on zero.
Women: Perth top on 6, Cobras second on 6, then Canberra, Pride and HC Melbourne all on 3. Brisbane are bottom, winless in both competitions.
Round 2 closes on Sunday in Adelaide, Fire v Tassie Tigers in both games. Both Adelaide sides are on zero. Both need a win. Somebody’s Sunday is getting ruined.
