Uni hunting ’hungry’ Lions

UNIVERSITY defender Ben Read, fresh off a hat-trick last weekend, says his Students are eyeing off more penalty corner success this weekend against Canterbury, from 2.30pm.

The Lions, meanwhile, stole a 2-2 draw with Premier League front runners NorthWest Graduates and are out to avenge their elimination final loss to University in 2019.

“The elimination final feels like it was years ago now, but I’d say they have improved since then and seen good improvement from their fringe players,” Read said. “We always seem to play entertaining games against them and the beauty of our group ... is we have three quality drag-flickers, which makes life hard for opposition goalkeepers.”

“One week it could be me scoring and the next it’s Tyler McDonald or Josh Brooks.”

University has strengthened its defence, with keeper Jayden Pearson back in after missing its 3-1 defeat of OHA.

Canterbury assistant coach Brenton Watson says the memory of the finals loss “is still pretty fresh, so we will be hungry for redemption.”

The Lions have added Irishman Allan Dale and Territorian Jamie Hullick, and they’ve both found the back of the net.

“They have added valuable experience to a young group and have been performing well on the field,” Watson said.

DiamondBacks face ladder leaders North-West Graduates, who are bolstered by the return of Marcus Richardson and George Wilkinson to their forward line. The Bulldogs have appeared to be trialling a 4-4-2 structure, with Kookaburras captain Eddie Ockenden in midfield, but look set to tweak that set-up for the game from 1pm, with Ockenden returning to Perth midweek and other players coming in to the side. Derwent is expected to debut exciting 14-year-old Ruben Hoey, brother of 2019 Premier League Player of the Year Ewan Vickery and 2019 women’s premiership player Java Vickery. The Strikers smacked nine goals past DiamondBacks last Saturday and will enter the 4pm clash with OHA full of confidence.