KEW Hockey Club

Collingwood vs Richmond at the G.  Our game at Albert Park.  Note to self…Allow extra 20 minutes to make sure I get there an hour before this very important game.  And another tip…don’t try Spencer Street as the alternate route to Punt Road. 

So at 2.50pm when the last of the team walked into the changerooms we were able to start to concentrate on this ‘season defining game’.  If we were to win this game against our old arch rivals we could finish on top of the ladder allowing for automatic promotion without the need for a grand final victory.

The wind on Saturday was terrible and it is strange that you always think that it only going to be a disadvantage for your team.  It must be remembered that if it is windy for me then it will be windy for my opponent too…

And to the game.  A very hard and tough game.  There was plentiful attack into both teams’ circles without success for the first 20 minutes.  A new right side combination of Kirsten, Brooke and Amy really did have a lot of play and looked dangerous on several occasions.  Could Kew get this goal?  The ball did spend more time in our circle but it was not registering on the scoreboard.  A couple of corners too but only to be shut down…

Finally through brute strength the captain barged her way to the top right of the circle and the loudest person on the field demanded the ball on the left post.  Goal deflected in.  Kew 1-0 up.  (Sorry about the celebratory slap which left a hand print on your back for the remainder of the game!)

As is the Kew way…we then conceded a goal within seconds.  1-1.

The second half saw Powerhouse dominate over Kew and we were very lucky that no goal was scored earlier in the half.  Kew’s opportunities did dry up.  This may have led to the frustration of the team green card for back chatting.  I forgot to mention earlier that wind affects umpiring as well and often obvious corners can be not seen when windy.  Kirsten’s tackling and then questioning of the umpire saw a yellow card given.  Kew handled the ‘man down’ calmly…and even looked to score a couple of times.

Unfortunately with a minute to go Powerhouse forced a corner and converted through a powerful straight hit.

For the second time this season Kew was up by a goal to then let Powerhouse win 2-1.  This does not mean we are a better team now…but does mean we have the potential to beat this team in the finals if we can concentrate for 70minutes.

Goals: Ange Allen