Graduates tip to move into grand final
MINOR premiers North-West Graduates will be hot favourites to progress to the women’s Premier League hockey grand final with victory over DiamondBacks at 1pm today.
North-West couldn’t enter the closing stages of their premiership defence in sharper form, having dispatched OHA (5-1), Canterbury (6-0) and Derwent (3-0) in recent weeks.
Graduates also hold a 2-1 advantage over DiamondBacks with one draw, but their last two encounters have seen them win 3-1 and 2-0.
Graduates coach Chris Hazelwood was his typically reserved self ahead of the big clash, though he did reveal Heidi White would be out of action.
“We lost this same game last year and we need our whole team to share the load. DiamondBacks have many and various ways to hurt an opponent so we must be vigilant by minimising their key players and taking our chances,” Hazelwood said.
Despite his reticence the Graduates’ statistics speak for themselves, with the team scoring 52 goals for the season, led by Ash Arthur with 15, and conceding just 13 goals.
DiamondBacks stars Pippa Lewis, Nicole Geeves and the return of Em Donovan and Marcelle Ottaway will mean the Maroons pack plenty of punches going forward.
Coach Sarah Birch has been busily finetuning their game plan ahead of this final.
“Given Graduates are currently converting their scoring opportunities, we will need to be strong in this area and as much as possible break down play outside our defensive circle,” Birch said.
University is the only club beside North-West Graduates to feature in both the men’s and women’s Premier League finals campaigns, with the women storming home with a seven-game winning streak to reach September for the first time since 2002. The Students, coached by Vanessa McDonald, know that their best hockey stacks up against anyone.
They face Canterbury at 3pm, knowing that the Lions started the year strongly before struggling to earn just four points in the final five matches.
But Canterbury has enjoyed a 2-1 advantage over University this season, including thumping 4-0 and 6-1 wins during the middle of the season, as the Students struggled with their quick forward line.