ROBERTSON’S semi-finals berth in the Illawarra Men’s Hockey competition is slipping after the Highlanders recorded a 4-2 loss against Albion Park on Sunday.
Robertson now must win two of their last three matches to be guaranteed a place in the playoffs.
They face Highlands rivals Mittagong this week before matching up against league leaders Uni and third-placed Fairy Meadow in the final two rounds.
On Sunday, Albion Park’s goalkeeper pulled off countless saves to rob Robertson any chance of taking the competition points.
Robertson trailed 1-0 at halftime, before a goal to Ben Donovan equalised soon after the break.
Albion Park hit back with the next three goals before birthday boy Jed Schofield scored a late consolation for the Highlanders.
Robertson captain Damian Gair said Robertson played well but struggled to find the back of the goals.
“We kept peppering the goalkeeper and he kept making saves,” Gair said.
He said Schofield picked up the players player award but the team struggled without key players including goalkeeper Mick van Haeff who had a romantic weekend with his wife-to-be, and green-thumb Ben Wright who got an early start to spring.
Uni outclass Lions
MITTAGONG couldn’t crack Uni’s defence at Welby on Sunday as the competition leaders headed back to Wollongong with a 4-0 win under their belts.
Lions coach Glen Isedale said his team’s basic skills were lacking as they failed to capitalise on opportunities.
“Our trapping and marking was not as good as usual,” Isedale said.
“We had a number of chances and must have hit their goalie three or four times.”
Isedale said Mittagong goalkeeper Tim Neven was tidy in goals while Graham Isedale was solid in the middle of the field.
The coach said he thought Uni was on par with Albion Park and the two teams should be equal favourites to take the Illawarra title.
He said his team was looking forward to this weekend’s clash with Robertson and promised his team wouldn’t lie down to help Robertson move up the competition ladder.
“We are keen to throw everything at them,” he said.
“We can give them a taste of semi-finals hockey.”
Bring on season’s end
BOWRAL’S final home game of the season ended on a sour note as the blues were trounced 11-2 by semi-finals bound Fairy Meadow.
The Highlanders have to travel down the coast for the final three games of the season and coach Jules Linolli said the club would struggle to get a full squad and may need to call on the club’s second and third grade players to help out.
“Considering some of the losses we’ve had this season, I have to hand it to the guys they haven’t thrown in the towel or spat the dummy and given up,” Linolli said.
“We’ll be struggling for numbers the next few weeks.”
Linolli said the club had considered forfeiting the last few matches, but Bowral president Darren Roberts had preferred to honour their first grade commitment and use lower grade players if need be.
Glenn Turner, fresh from the Australian men’s team, scored both of Bowrals goals on Sunday, while his younger brother Dave Turner was Linolli’s pick for man of the match.
Illawarra Men’s Hockey first grade table after round 18: Uni 49, Albion Park 42, Fairy Meadow 32, Robertson 30, Wests 26, Mittagong 19, Dapto 8 and Bowral 4.
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