Stingers a win away from the big one

HOCKEY STINGERS coach Rod Taylor is hoping his team can repeat last week’s result against Souths and book a place in the Cairns Hockey A-grade Men’s Grand Final.

In the last round of the regular season, Stingers won 1-0 against Souths and the two sides meet again in tomorrow night’s knockout semi-final, with the winner to play Saints in the decider.

“It’ll be another close game. There hasn’t been much between us all season,” Taylor said.

Stingers and Souths played five times throughout the season, with honours split 2-2 and a draw.

Stingers took the first game 5-1, Souths then bounced back 4-2 and 2-1, before playing a 1-1 draw. But Stingers’ 1-0 result last Saturday gives them the ascendancy heading into the finals.

“I wouldn’t expect there to be more than a goal in it. At least we have the advantage of getting through with a draw,” Taylor said.

If the scores are tied at fulltime, there will be 10 minutes of extra time and Stingers will advance if it remains a draw.

In the women’s semi-final, Saints will look to bounce back against Brothers after losing 5-2 last Saturday in an upset.

Saints had been the dominant side all season, winning all but one of their clashes. The exception was a 1-1 draw.

However, Cairns Hockey coach David McNeil said he expected Saints to find their groove again.

“Last week was a bit of a shock, but I think we’ll see the real Saints this Saturday,” he said.

“It should be a good game, but the winner is going to have a hard time against Souths in the grand final.”

Souths only lost one game in the regular season, finishing with 10 wins and four draws from 15 matches.

Their only loss was against Saints earlier this month when they went down 2-1.