Clash of the contenders
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2019 themercury.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS 1300 696 397 WOMEN’S Premier League pre-season premiership fancies OHA and Derwent will face off for the first time this season under lights from 6pm tonight.
The Strikers’ four-goal final-quarter blitz last weekend destroyed DiamondBacks and expectation is building at Derwent after the recruitment of experienced pair Holly Bonde and Julia Reid.
On the flip side, OHA fell to a shock 1-0 loss against North- West Graduates, with their plethora of attacking talent failing to fire despite earning seven penalty corners.
Speedy forward Laura Spandler returns for the Ships to bolster their attacking stocks and coach Sarah McCambridge says that her squad are eager to make amends.
“The girls have been keen to get back into it after a loss and we have continued to focus on our season’s goals and moving towards this next match,” McCambridge said. “Video analysis is a great way for us to reflect on individual and team performances, and constructively work on ways to improve our game.”
McCambridge is predicting a promising future for the Ships if they can keep their squad together.
“With continued development and understanding of game structures our current young players will no doubt feature in the Australian Hockey League, while I think the prospects for Maddi Brooks are as high as she is willing to strive,” she said.
Derwent coach Torin Bester understands that tonight’s clash will be a good challenge for his improving squad.
“Both teams have lots of pace. We will need to stop their ability to run and break lines,” Bester said. “A quality team such as OHA will make us pay if we are as much as 5 per cent off our best.”
DiamondBacks and University aim to open their ac- counts for the season with a win in the game starting at 3pm. The Students are all set to blood junior stars Ansa le Grange, Stella Bale, Lily Bushby, Rebecca Payne and Emma Fenner.
North-West Graduates and Canterbury will be out to maintain their unbeaten start when they clash at 4.30pm, with Graduates selecting Lucy Alexander, Sarah Pascoe and Jen Phillips and the Lions losing Amy Chamberlain and Isabelle Sharman.