Hockey success

West Gippsland have claimed a gold and silver at the Hockey Junior Country Championships over the weekend.

West Gippsland sent two teams to compete at various venues throughout Melbourne, with both the under 15 boys and under 18 girls making the grand final.

Golden weather gave way to gold medals for the West Gippsland under 18 girls.

It was a dominating performance over the entire weekend by the girls, ending with seven wins from seven games and a 38 goal to 0 advantage. In fact, the top three goal scorers for the entire tournament were from West Gippsland. Zizi Pozzebon scored 15, Tarilyn Bottrell 12 and Bianca Zurrer six.The backline of the mighty green were rock solid every single game. They let nothing past them and delivered the ball up field to perfection.

The grand final game saw Ballarat really push West Gippsland early on before the nerves settled and the goals started to flow. In the end it was a 3-0 win.

The team thanked coach Paul Cake and team manager Andrew Mock.

It was a heart-breaking ending to an otherwise amazing tournament for the under 15 boys from West Gippsland.

After getting into the grand final with a 1-0 win, it took a goal after the siren in a tight and tough game to force a penalty shoot out to separate the two teams.

Unfortunately for West Gippsland, the team from North Central came out on top.

The team lost players and the team manager 12 hours before their first game. They even lost a player to COVID halfway through the tournament.

However, they pushed on and did West Gippsland very proud. Thanks to the coach Julien Finger and team manager Annette Zurrer.

The gold medal winning West Gippsland under 18 girls team are (back, from left) coach Paul Cake, Claire Cake, Ebonie McAskill, Zizi Pozzebon, Bianca Zurrer, Hannah Spragg, Ariya Mock, captain Monique Zurrer, Sarah Sutton-McLellan, team manager Andrew Mock, (front, from left) Lauren Austen, Marisah Mock, Ruth Tucker, Tarilyn Bottrell and Thea Pozzebon.

The runners-up at the Hockey Junior Country Championships are the West Gippsland under 15 boys team (back, from left) Cailean Thomas, Hamish Zurrer, Harry Coster, Liam Finger, (middle, from left) Callum Wallace, captain Thomas Pettigrew, Will Stephens, Leith Metcalf and Caleb Van Der Marel. Absent is Judd Van Brugel.