Teenagers shine at state titles

Wimmera Hockey Association entered three teams in Victorian Junior Country Championships at various venues in Melbourne.

Best players from the Wimmera in under-17 boys, under-17 girls and under-15 boys age groups played five games each against the elite from other country associations across the state.

The under-17 boys achieved the best results of the Wimmera entries, with wins against Ballarat and East Gippsland and a one-all draw with eventual winners Hockey Albury Wodonga.

Sandon Schultz scored the one goal in the draw and Bradley Walker and Blake Miller scored goals in the win over Ballarat.

A goal by Jason Reichelt gave the team the win over East Gippsland.

After finishing third in pool A they lost a fifthplace classification match to Goulburn Valley.

The under-17 girls team, in its pool B matches, had a scoreless draw with Warrnambool and a two-goal victory over Hockey Central Victoria, with Ellie Murden scoring twice.

This qualified them for a fifth-place playoff game against Ballarat, which finished in a draw.

The Wimmera’s eastern neighbours from North Central Hockey Association defeated Hockey Albury Wodonga in the final.

The under-15 boys were drawn in pool B of their age group and played against Goulburn Valley, Glenelg, North Central and East Gippsland.

Although they failed to finish ahead in their games, they gained valuable experience they will bring back to the Wimmera.

Albury Wodonga defeated Central Victoria in the final to win the title, while the Wimmera team suffered a five-goal loss to Ballarat in the eighth-place playoff game.