KEW Hockey Club

M1 West: Geelong 2 def Kew 1

Goals: S Cleave 1

Since the Sopranos switch to the Western Metro One competition the road trip to Geelong has been eagerly awaited and built up as the road trip to end all road trips, there were rumours of a team “venga” bus and Karaoke.  The bus never eventuated and carpooling was the result; the Sopranos went through their road trip preparations: Shorts –check, Shirt – check, Stick – Check, Shin Guards – check, All bar 1 of the squad completed this prior to venturing the 75km down the Geelong Road – one young soprano failed to pack the normal hockey apparatus and had to make a hurried trip to Rebel for some Shin Guards.

The sun was out but the breeze from Melbourne was strong and relentless – the Dees can attest to that after failing to score a goal in the first quarter of their game just down the road.  Fitzy was anointed as backline captain and rallied Dabner and Clance to the cause. The toss of the coin saw us playing to the Melbourne end and into the breeze.   The Geelong side playing with the breeze put up numerous overheads, several going perilously close to parting greying locks and splitting balding heads, “El President” had had enough and finally tried to pick one off only to have the attempt ruled over the shoulder and off he went for an enforced rest.  With Jim Allen suffering from yet another calf strain the bench was gone and we were down to 11 (arguably) fit players the Geelong Seconds continued their high rotations keeping up the pressure and playing a style of hockey that was constantly rewarded by umpiring interpretations, a resultant corner was a well struck dipper that just caught the back board to put the home side one up.  The Sopranos were not done and mounted several positive raids into the breeze through Macca, Hills and the remaining Allen – Barney on the Right Wing.  Another goal to the home side saw them 2 up at half time.

 At Half time the obligatory snakes and jelly babies were served, and the directive was to go short and make the ball move and get them to chase us. 

During the second half we regained our structure and got some players back into the game through the midfield, leaving Cleavey up front in his usual role as the focus with support from Drew and Macca.  Barney worked himself into the game at right half and created several overlaps and penetrating balls down the right.  Hayden again stepped up at left half and with new shin guards and a borrowed stick showed flair and fitness to negate the several Geelong opponents rotated through the position and also produce some counter attacks linking well with Lach, Charlie and Hills.  We knuckled down and played some tough hockey creating several attempts with a couple of narrow misses and a cross bar denying us.  An innocuous collision between Drew and a Geelong rough nut saw Drew from the field with the Geelong player acknowledging the poor decision, it didn’t stop him debating his skill and (poor) hockey judgement with the historian Clance.  After several attempts we finally won a corner and variation saw it well converted by Cleavey. 

 It was too little too late, however it was a better second half effort against one of the top sides in the competition.  The long trip home gave us time to ponder what could have been and what lies ahead – More Roadworks!!