Hayden Mills double helps Manypeaks win men’s preliminary final, Mt Barker claim women’s preliminary final

Manypeaks advanced to the Lower Great Southern Hockey Association men’s A-grade grand final, edging past North Albany with a 2-0 win in the preliminary final on Saturday. After a gruelling first period, Peaks found the back of the net in the second and third quarter to bounce Redbacks out of the title race. Chances were hard to come by in the opening stages with each defence holding firm before a Peaks penalty corner in the last minute provided an opportunity for them to hit the front. Peaks were unable to convert and both sides went into the first break locked at 0-0. A Redbacks penalty corner early in the second period was repelled before Peaks’ Mitch Bradbury had another shot saved shortly after. Peaks were awarded a penalty stroke in the seventh minute mark after a foul in the goal circle. Emerging talent Hayden Mills found the back of the net, pushing his shot to the right of the keeper to put his side 1-0 up heading into half-time. Within the first two minutes of the third quarter, Mills once again bobbed up to complete a run to the edge of the goal circle before flicking the ball past the keeper and doubling Peaks’ advantage. Redbacks were left to rue two missed chances after they failed to convert a penalty corner before James Watters sprayed a shot wide of the target at the back post shortly after. Their misery was compounded when star player Robert Stan-Bishop went down with an injury in the opening minute of the final period. Mills was denied a hat-trick when his shot on goal was disallowed before Redbacks’ Simon Philpott had his strike saved from a penalty corner moments after. Despite Redbacks earning two penalty corners in the fourth period, Peaks kept a clean sheet to advance into this Saturday’s decider. Bradbury and Mills were exceptional over the four quarters while Chris Metcalfe and Taylor Pocock also provided drive for the winners. Philpott and Robert Stan-Bishop stood out for Redbacks in a losing affair. Meanwhile, in the women’s A-grade preliminary final played on Friday night, Mt Barker booked their place in the grand final after a tense 1-0 win over Spencer Park. Mt Barker scored early in the contest and then had to absorb plenty of pressure from Park to win the final. Park had three strong chances to equalise but they were all saved on the line by a desperate Mt Barker defence.