Hockey girls win premiership
Sunday September 18, 2011
Congratulations to the MCC Women's State League 2 hockey team, which defeated Footscray 3-2 in the grand final at the State Netball and Hockey Centre today.
This capped off an amazing undefeated season for the girls, which will see them back in the top division next season. This was a very successful year for coach Scott Doyle.
The game started with an intense first five minutes, with our girls settling first. The first goal came from a one-on-one with the Footscray goal keeper, with Sarah Calthorpe skillfully beating the keeper and scoring the first goal.
This was followed by a goal by Caitlin Jones on the left post from a great ball from Alison Upton.
The girls went into the half-time break leading 2-0, but knowing that Footscray would come out in the second half fighting.
Carla Bond (co-captain) seemingly sealed the victory with a goal from field play in the second half. This was Carla's 33rd goal for the season ‚ an amazing average of 1.7 goals a game.
However, the Footscray girls were not going to finish their season without one last go and quickly scored two goals. The last five minutes seemed to go for hours, but the defence kept strong, ensuring victory for the girls.
It was a fitting end to what has been an amazing season rivalry between the two teams. All girls should be congratulated for their effort this season and hard work during an intense final.
The Grand Final weekend also saw victories to the Women's Metro 1 team over Camberwell 2-1, the Men's Metro 3 East team 4-3 in overtime golden goal.
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Fifty up for hockey
The MCC Hockey Section marked its 50th year of competition with a gala dinner for 250 in the Members Dining Room on May 29, and there was much to celebrate.
The section, which started with just two teams in 1961, now has a staggering 29 teams of men, women, juniors and veterans taking the field with nearly 400 players donning the MCC colours each week.
Men’s chair, senior team captain and principal organiser of the dinner, Anthony Traill, reported satisfaction on two fronts. “It was great to see a cross-section of our hockey people enjoying the evening and reinforcing the culture of the section,” he said.
“And our top team, playing in State League 1, is only a game off top spot at the half-way mark of a very competitive season.”
After half a century it was pleasing that co-founding members in Lew Jenkins, Frank Hill, Mal Hull, Ian Huntington, Ian “Doc” McDonald and Ron Coventry were able to enjoy the celebrations.
Doc McDonald recalled the early days when hockey supremo Charlie Morley, a keen MCC member and VHA executive who represented Australia at the 1956 Olympics, pressed vice-president Hans Ebeling to form an MCC hockey club.
Hans put the suggestion to the committee, which agreed to support the initiative and promptly charged second-year MCC committeeman McDonald with overseeing the section’s foundation.
They were well prepared when they put two teams on the field in 1961, competing in B and C Grade. Charlie Morley’s influence helped them secure three Victorian players and a Tasmanian representative, plus Olympians Geoff Bennett and Ken Clarke. Morley was inaugural coach.
So they were competitive from the outset and won successive flags to land in A Grade after just two years of competition, an outstanding result for the fledgling section.
Fifty years on, it’s high time we had a victory at the highest level. As keynote speaker at the dinner, Dr McDonald enjoined: “I want to die happy with a grand old high-flying flag from the men’s ones.” Now there’s a challenge!
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Young Demons selected in Junior State Championship squads
Congratulations to the following MCC Hockey Section players on being selected in teams for the Junior State Championships to be held from June 30-July 6 at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Melbourne:
Eastern Hotshots
Lucy Mowat, Caitlin Symon (Under 13 girls), Ben Symon (Under 13 boys), Mitchell Hope (Under 14 boys) and Kip Davey (Under 15 boys).
Goulburn Valley
James Thomson (Under 13 boys)
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