Little moments equal a big deal for Stingers
A POINT is always worth cheering about for Stingers skipper Jess Watson and she’s urging her side to celebrate the little victories, adamant a big one is around the corner.
Stingers had a 1-1 draw with Saints on Saturday, which the midfielder said was a reflection of improving skills and efforts within her side.
Watson said they were even in “a bit of shock” over how it came together. They all kind of just walked off and were so quiet and I was like: ‘Girls, you’ve got to be happy about it’.
“We’re just so not used to getting close to a top team. But I think we’re getting closer.”
Watson praised defender Renee Barber for being a “little superstar” in defence and hoped
Souths 1 (Georgia Trompf goal) d Brothers 0
Saints 1 (Chrissee Benn goal) drew Stingers 1 (Phobe Nixon goal) the recent return to hockey of striker Taylor Williams would help Stingers pop in some goals.
On the other hand their male counterparts are flying after a full-strength Stingers dismantled Saints 6-2, showing just how adept they are at the short corner. Three of their
Stingers 6 (Aaron Wilkes 3, Kyle Richardson 2, Callan Short goals) d Saints 2 (Daniel Pittendreigh, Darryn Born goals)
Brothers 2 (Alistair Mais, Nathan Reilly goals) drew Souths 2 (Josh Fowler, Johannes Oberlies goals) goals came from the set play, two of them to Englishman Aaron Wilkes, who ended up slotting another from the field.
The two teams traded goals early before Stingers pulled away to put their stamp on the competition.
Coach Rod Taylor said the team kept their composure better than previous weeks and reaped the rewards.
“We talk about being patient and not trying to rush the ball up the front all the time and building the play up the field, and hitting long balls, and trying to get lucky touches in the circle,” he said.
“It actually sort of worked for us in the end, being patient, getting free hits and then short corners really worked for us.”
Souths kept their lead in the A-grade women with a 1-0 win over Brothers, but defeated coach Terry Brodin said it showed his side was not too far away from putting it together.
But the lack of an established goalkeeper hurt them in the scramble that led to Georgia Trompf’s winning strike, something that could be solved soon with the pending arrival of a Pakistani import.
“Look, the girls that are filling in, who are field players, are doing a brilliant job, but we miss a bit of experience now and then,” he said.
“You can’t really knock them for putting their hand up. But as we say in hockey, to be a goalkeeper, you have to be a special kind of ‘stupid’.
“But we had opportunities after their goal was scored and we just didn’t capitalise on it.”
The A-grade men’s game finished a 2-2 draw.
A-grade competition resume on May 12.
Cairns players will travel to Brisbane this weekend as part of the Northern Storm representative team in the annual Super League tournament, while Cairns will host the Men’s Masters Over 40 and Over 50 state titles. will