LGSHA 2023: Spencer Park cap undefeated season with hard fought grand final glory over rivals Manypeaks

Spencer Park capped their undefeated season in the best possible way, edging past rivals Manypeaks to claim back-to-back Lower Great Southern Hockey Association men’s A-grade premierships on Saturday. Goals to player-coach Darren Parkes and star Brodie Sarre proved the difference in the stirring 2-0 grand final win, Peaks failing to answer back from that deficit in the final quarter. After a slow start in the first period, Park shifted into gear and found their shape for the remaining three quarters, Parkes highlighting the impressive turnaround. “There were maybe a couple of nerves or jitters at the start, a couple of the boys just wanted to get on the pitch and have a bit of a run,” he said. “We then came back to that structure we played all year and the boys turned it on and clicked into gear. “The plan kind of worked I suppose.” Parkes said a dedication to the cause throughout the season was a major catalyst in his side going undefeated throughout the year. “The boys have put it in all season with the team, we were really focused on just being a team regardless of who scored the goals,” Parkes said. “Even on crappy rainy nights on a Tuesday, all the guys turned up which gave us everything we needed for the season. “Our defence is rock solid and that’s something we focused on, just being the hardest team to score against.” Both sides grappled for the ascendancy in the opening quarter as nerves settled but it was Peaks’ Mitch Bradbury who had the first chance, earning a penalty corner in the sixth minute. His shot drifted wide of the target before Parks’ Hennie Botha went on a run and earned his side’s first penalty corner at the other end. Brock Keymer’s shot missed the mark before the quarter-time whistle. Parks’ Alex Fergie missed a chance early in the second quarter at the back post before Mitch Bradbury fizzed a ball across goals at Peaks’ end, but no one was there to greet it with the required touch. Park were awarded another penalty corner in the seventh minute and it would prove a costly one to concede. Parkes received the ball on the left side and rocketed his attempt past the goalkeeper to open scores on the cusp of half-time. The reigning premiers continued to dominate in the third quarter and it was powerful forward Sarre who doubled the advantage from a penalty corner, slotting his attempt on the edge of the circle in the 14th minute. Park continued to pepper the Peaks defence but Peaks weren’t lying down. Mitch Bradbury set off on a blistering run, got past a stack of defenders before giving away a free in the final stages of the third term. After a rousing three-quarter-time speech from Peaks’ coach Ashton Mills, Peaks pressed hard in the last term but couldn’t find an answer to a well-structured Park defence as they held on for a memorable triumph. Mills cut a disappointed figure after the game but praised his side’s ability to match it with Park in open play. “I’m really happy with the guys, I thought we were pretty even at the end of the day,” he said. “The only goals we conceded were short corners and that’s just the nature of the game. “As far as field play, we thought we were right up there with them throughout. “I thought we were really strong in the middle and Mitch (Bradbury) was strong up forward. Sadly we had a couple of guys who were sick but they toughed it out. “I’m proud of the boys, the main thing we didn’t want was a blowout and we really took it up to them.” Parkes, James Leiper and Sarre were damaging for the winners while Rowan Gilbert was outstanding in defence. Sarre was named best afield in the grand final for his superb four-quarter effort. For Peaks, Jack Mills, Hadyen Mills, Chris Metcalfe and Mitch Bradbury were all terrific.