Hockey One Women Round 4: Thundersticks’ Perfect Run Faces Its Next Test in Perth
The women’s Hockey One season has a clear pacesetter, and Round 4 is where the chasing pack gets its chance to do something about it. Perth Thundersticks are the only unbeaten team left, and they close the round at home on Sunday.
First, Friday night in Canberra. The Chill host HC Melbourne at the EPC Solar Hockey Stadium on Friday 30 October at 7:45pm AEDT (1:45pm PKT). Both sides sit on six points, and both have lost once, so this is a straight fight for second place behind Perth. The Chill bounced back from their early loss to beat the Tassie Tigers 4-2 in Hobart on Friday, while HC Melbourne won the Melbourne derby 2-1 against the Cobras on Sunday, with Howell scoring the winner in the 49th minute and converting the challenge goal that came with it. Winner here takes a real grip on a top-two spot.
Saturday has two games pulling in opposite directions. The Tassie Tigers host the Brisbane Blaze in Hobart at 1:00pm AEDT (7:00am PKT). Both are on three points, both have lost twice, so this is already a game neither can afford to drop if they want to stay in the semi-final race. Later, Adelaide Fire host NSW Pride at the State Hockey Centre at 5:30pm ACDT (12:00pm PKT). The Fire are still without a point from three games and have conceded 15 goals, while the Pride sit on three points after pushing Perth close in Sydney on Saturday. Adelaide need a result at home, because winless teams don’t climb tables in November.
Then Sunday in Perth. The Thundersticks host the Melbourne Cobras at 2:00pm AWST (11:00am PKT) at Perth Hockey Stadium. Perth’s women have won all three games, conceding just three goals, and they beat the Pride 3-2 in Sydney on Saturday to stay perfect. The Cobras are genuine contenders in their own right on six points, with two wins already, including captain Claire Colwill’s late clincher against the Chill. If anyone is going to end Perth’s run, a confident new club with nothing to lose is a decent bet.
The table going into the round reads: Thundersticks 9, Chill 6, Cobras 6, HC Melbourne 6, Pride 3, Tigers 3, Blaze 3, Fire 0. Four teams make the December semi-finals, so the middle of this table is a scrap. For our money, Friday night in Canberra is the game that shapes it. Lose there and you’re suddenly looking up at three teams instead of one.
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