CALVERT IGNITES GRADS

NORTH-WEST Graduates forward Grace Calvert lit up the Tasmanian Hockey Centre last night with a damaging display in her side’s 3-0 defeat of title contenders DiamondBacks.

Graduates capitalised on their territorial advantage in the sixth minute when Lucy Alexander deflected home from an Ash Arthur penalty corner routine. Calvert doubled Grads advantage in the 20th minute after receiving from teammate Sarah Pascoe and scoring on the third attempt in quick succession.

DiamondBacks looked a different side after half-time with Emily Donovan driving her side forward, but their first shot in the third quarter rebounded off the woodwork.

Nicole Geeves then had a tame penalty stroke attempt well saved by Graduates goalkeeper Kacee Ponting, before Calvert burst through late on to hammer home her second and the match-sealer.

“Our team worked exceptionally well, keeping another clean sheet, with Kacee’s efforts being influential in our win,” Calvert said.

In the men’s game, NorthWest Graduates coasted to a 6-0 victory with star Gobindraj Gill scoring two goals. Graduates’ Alex Shaw, Alistair White, Matt Lim and

Harry van der Woude also found the net.

On Wednesday night, OHA came from behind to defeat Derwent 3-1 to sit just one point adrift of Graduates after nine rounds. Derwent opened the scoring through Georgie Fox’s debut Premier League goal. OHA levelled the scores through Sofie McLeod’s penalty corner flick before adding further scores from Maddison Brooks and Hannah Richards.

Derwent and OHA men drew 2-2 in a topsy turvy encounter that had plenty of feeling and saw OHA star Jeremy Edwards best afield.

The Ships shocked Derwent with a Sam McCambridge goal in the opening twenty seconds before fighting back through Vaughn Bowen and Angus Boulton’s goals before half-time.

Jo Murphy levelled the scores to ensure both sides took a point.