Games star lift to club

COMMONWEALTH Games hero Dylan Wotherspoon underlined his class to kickstart Labrador’s Brisbane Hockey League (BHL) campaign on Saturday, but not before being woken from “holiday mode” by perennial battlers Kedron Wavell.

Still riding high after helping the Kookaburras claim a sixth straight Games gold medal, Murwillumbah product Wotherspoon scored a decisive third goal for Labrador three minutes from time in Saturday’s 4-2 win over the Wolves.

The Tigerstix had earlier fought back from a 1-0 deficit to take a 2-1 lead in the 48th minute following goals from captain Joe Reardon and Jeremy Stephens, before Kedron Wavell levelled again four minutes later.

Appearing for Labrador for the first time this season, Wotherspoon, 25, then stepped up to break the deadlock in the 68th minute, with Stephens putting the nail in the Wolves’ coffin with his second in the final 60 seconds.

The Round 3 encounter in Brisbane was the first since March 24 for the 2017 grand finalists, who opened the season with a comfortable win over Redcliffe before falling to University of Queensland.

After a week’s break to soak up Australia’s Games success, Wotherspoon conceded it took time to hit full stride.

“I had the massive high on the weekend (with the Kookaburras) and then coming back I wouldn’t say I was flat, but at the start I felt a little bit like I

was in holiday mode,” the forward, in his second season at Labrador, said.

“But once the game got going I’m in the competitive mindset that when I play I don’t want to lose. For me, whether it’s playing for Labrador, Queensland or Australia, I take it as serious as I can.

“That was pretty much my first get-together with (the Labrador players in a while).”

Having played about half of Labrador’s games last season, Wotherspoon said he would be available for the Tigerstix until a likely call up for Australia’s Champions Trophy campaign in late June. He described the chance to play at a home Games as “awesome”.

“Just playing so close to home and having all your family and friends watching, it’s pretty hard to describe. It does give you goosebumps,” he said.

Labrador’s next game is against Norths at Carina on Saturday.