Men’s powerhouses play out A1 thriller
HOCKEY: While the stakes have changed, the intensity between the Newtown and Red Lion men is still as strong as ever.
Last year’s A1 grand finalists battled for the right to remain the only unbeaten side remaining in the COVID Cup at Clyde Park.
Newtown struck first as Joch McPaul snuck home a short corner right on the stroke of halftime.
Red Lion didn’t let the late goal deter them at the break, coming out firing in the third as Josh Bidgood tied things up just five minutes into the quarter.
That laid the platform for a fourth quarter surge, with goals to Will Nielsen and Corey Guse closing out the 3-1 victory.
“It was a really high quality game,” Red Lion coach Scott Downs said.
“It was a tough first half, and even though I thought we were on top, they did enough to score a goal and we didn’t.
“We came out in the second half, went through our processes and tried to not play too frantic or let the scoreboard pressure get to us.
“Our last quarter was the best 15 minutes of hockey this season. I don’t think we did too much wrong and we couldn’t have played better.”
With a bye this Friday night, they boast a 4-0 record after playing each team once.
The Red Lion women made it a clean sweep on the night, scoring a 2-0 defeat of Newtown.
Teresa Light and Tess Henare got on the scoresheet in the victory.
Norths and Rangeville played out a thrilling 2-all draw in their men’s COVID Cup encounter.
Kris Glass got the scoring underway for Norths in the second quarter, before Tom Campbell levelled things up moments before halftime.
Liam Brown again gave Norths the advantage just two minutes into the third quarter, with Konrad Crowell forcing a tie with just seven minutes left in the contest.
The Rangeville women remained unbeaten for the season after a comprehensive 7-1 defeat of Norths.
Katie Wollstein had a hattrick in the victory, along with two goals to Katarina Taylor.
STANDINGS
A1 MEN: Red Lion (4-0), Newtown (2-1), Past High (1-2), Norths (0-2-1), Rangeville (0-2-1). A1 WOMEN: Past High (3-0), Rangeville (3-0), Red Lion (1-1-1), Norths (0-2-1), Newtown (0-3)