The Sharks have indicated that they are true premiership contenders with an impressive 10-4 win over Dolphins, the side most people would pick to be in the Grand Final with Sharks, at the start of next month.
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The Sharks have a strong playing roster, in terms of numbers and talent and it would be a brave pundit who would predict a form collapse in the final month of the regular competition.
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Sharks were methodical, taking a 2-0 score line into quarter time, after goals to Jason Nicholas and Emma Maddox.
The Sharks scored two more in the next quarter, both off the hand of Christian Antoniak, before Steve Dunn got the Dolphins on the scoreboard. Leading 4-1 was a comfortable halftime buffer for the Sharks, who were perhaps a little too relaxed, as Dolphin’s danger man Daniel Barnes brought his team back into the match briefly with two goals in the third period.
Unfortunately for Dolphins, Jason Nicholas and Emma Maddox scored again for the Sharks to keep the buffer safe.
The fourth quarter was a different matter, the Sharks went into full attack, ripping the Dolphins apart with a 4-1 blitz in the last quarter. The early detection scheme didn’t appear to function for Dolphins, as danger players, Jason Nicholas 1 and Emma Maddox 2 scored again for Sharks, with Stephen Maitz adding the extra. Russel Endersby was the lone scorer for Dolphins.
The other A grade match was a non event, as Polar Bears struggled for numbers and were forced to forfeit to the Mariners.
The Mariners B side continued their recent run of victories, with a 6-1 win over the Dolphins.
The first quarter was as close as Dolphins got in the match, as they trailed by 1, going into the first break. Goals to Sean Andrews and William Docherty got the Mariners off to a good start, while Chris Canute scored what turned out to be the Dolphins only goal for the match.
Sean Andrews scored again in the second period and William Docherty again in the third for a 4-1 lead going into the final period. Dolphins were finding it hard to breach the Mariner’s defence and the last period was no different, as Mariners netted another two goals, both coming from Campbell Wakeling, for the final 6-1 score.
Horton’s Heroes scored a solid win, 9-4 over Oxley Blue.
Horton’s Heroes began with a flurry of goals and before the waters settled for the first break, they led 4-1. Tom Sargood scored 2, Sam McKay 1 and Craig Ford 1, Chris Cork scored Oxley Blue’s only goal.
The second period was closer, 2-1, with Sam McKay and John Jamieson scoring for Horton’s Heroes and Chris Cork again scoring for Oxley Blue.
The third period was tight with the only score coming from a goal to Horton’s Heroes, Noah Ford. The second half was a good effort from Oxley Blue, as they held Horton’s to 2-2 in the last quarter and a 2-3 second half, showing that they can match it with the competition front runners.
Lucy Wawn scored both of Oxley Blue’s last period goals while Tom Sargood reappeared with his third goal and Austin Lockhart scored the other for Horton’s Heroes.
Polar Bears B scored a solid 8-3 win over Oxley Gold, the Polar Bears broke the ice with two goals in the first period, both scored by Lauren Cameron.
Lauren is one of the most improved players in the competition and she added the only goal of the second quarter to give Polar Bears a 3-0, halftime lead as they had frozen out the Oxley Gold attack.
The third period saw a closer contest with both teams managing two goals each. Luc Puchert came out from the Polar Bears goalie position, that he had been performing so well, to show his versatility and post two goals.
Sophia Dummer and Bronte Smith scored Oxley Gold’s goals. In the final period the Polar Bears came out with conviction, taking the period 3-1. Karl Nurse scored a double and Lauren Cameron added another to her total for the Bears.
Jock Heinrich scored Oxley Gold’s final period goal.
In the run to the B grade finals, Horton’s Heroes continue to hold the mantle as favourites but perhaps not as clearly as at the start of the season as other teams have formed some creditable combinations.
