Goal frenzy sinks Sharks

A FRENZIED 20-minute opening from Camberwell sealed Geelong’s fate in women’s Premier League hockey on Saturday.

The home side fired in four goals in that period, added another through a penalty stroke in the shadows of half-time and made sure of victory with two more in the opening 14 minutes of the second half.

Geelong pulled back a consolation goal through Sandie Lockley in the 65th minute, but Camberwell strengthened its place in the top four with a 7-1 result.

“It was a frenetic pace early and they were going a hundred mile-an-hour, throwing themselves everywhere,’’ coach Shane Walters said.

“It took as a while to settle. We were never in control of the game but once we started to wrestle possession back a little and control the tempo of the game, things were played more on our terms.

“In the last 10 minutes of the first half and most of the second half we were with them.’’

The Sharks took away plenty of positives from an even second half and will learn much from the blitz Camberwell brought to the opening.

While Walters was offering no excuses, Geelong was missing club champion Eliza Flanagan and had a number of players suffering the after effects of illness, including skipper Emma Hatton, who was the Sharks’ best on the day.

“I thought Hatts was probably our best player today,’’ Walters said, adding full back Elise Webster and goalkeeper Morgan Gould also stood out.

The reserves also suffered a loss, going down 3-0.

Geelong is away again next Saturday, facing Toorak East Malvern.

The Geelong men’s Vic League 1 team lost 2-1 at home to Mornington Peninsula.

Still finding their feet with a new-look side and playing only its second game in three weeks, Geelong was right in the match before Mornington converted a penalty corner with 15 minutes to go.

Mornington opened the scoring after 10 minutes, but Sean Fitzgerald pulled that back nine minutes later before a lapse in the second half proved costly.

“We got a little unsettled for a 10 or 15-minute period in the second half,’’ coach Terry Moore said later. “The players let little things get under their skin a bit and let Mornington slip in behind us and they got a short corner and converted.’’

Moore praised the efforts of Lachie Hannah in his first game of the season and young striker Jett Mitchell, who was strong upfront. The men’s reserves scored a good 3-1 win, with Jacob Climpson (2) and Riley Basham the goalscorers.