HC Melbourne Women End Cobras’ Unbeaten Start With 2-1 Derby Win
The Cobras women came into derby day unbeaten, with their captain scoring late winners for fun. They left with that record gone, beaten 2-1 by HC Melbourne in the first women’s Melbourne derby.
Lahni Woodger gave the Cobras the lead in the 23rd minute, and for a long stretch it looked like the newcomers might keep their perfect start intact. They’d already shown a habit of finding goals in the final minutes, with captain Claire Colwill scoring in the last four minutes of both their first two games. This time, though, the late drama went the other way.
Mihaylia Howell was the difference. She scored in the 49th minute and then beat the keeper in the one-on-one challenge that follows every Hockey One field goal, turning one strike into two on the scoreboard. Just like that, a 1-0 deficit became a 2-1 win, and the team that started the day sixth in the table had the derby bragging rights.
That’s a big swing for both clubs. The Cobras had the early-season buzz, an unbeaten record and the sense that a brand-new club could push straight for the top four. A first defeat doesn’t end that, but it does change the mood. HC Melbourne, meanwhile, had lost the grand final rematch to Perth and needed something to get their season moving. A derby win over the unbeaten neighbours is exactly that kind of result.
It also tightens the women’s race nicely. Perth and Brisbane have set the early pace, and now HC Melbourne have shown they can beat anyone on their day. The Cobras will be hurting, but they’ll also know they were one converted chance away from keeping their run alive.
Both sides are back in action next weekend. HC Melbourne travel to Canberra to face the Chill on Friday 30 October. The Cobras go to Hobart to play the Tassie Tigers on Saturday 31 October. Neither trip is easy, and after derby day, neither side will need reminding of that.Related:
https://sportscursor.com/hockey-one-women-thundersticks-stay-perfect-pride-3-2-24-october-2026/
https://sportscursor.com/brisbane-blaze-women-3-0-adelaide-fire-hockey-one-double/
https://sportscursor.com/live/
https://sportscursor.com/rankings/
