Pyle hat-trick secures Peaks finals berth

Spencer Park’s finals hopes were ended at the hands of an improving Manypeaks, who prevailed in a high-scoring round 13 affair in the Albany Retravision Lower Great Southern Hockey Association men’s A-grade competition on Saturday afternoon.

Park were clinging on to a slim hope of playing finals and needed a win over Peaks to remain in the hunt but they were unable to stop their opponents from scoring four second half goals.

After an entertaining first half the two sides were locked together at 2-2 and again they traded goals in the second half but with 10 minutes to play Peaks got right on top.

David Pyle scored two quick goals and his side added a third inside the final seven minutes as they finished 6-3 winners to secure third spot and a place in the preliminary final.

A Pyle hat-trick was the difference between the two sides and Matt Stevens was also a strong contributor while Kieran Howie and Tim Metcalfe also found the back of the net for Peaks.

Sam Want, Oscar Latham and Hennie Botha all scored for Park while experienced pair Sam Brown and Tim Yap led from the front in the loss.

In the other men’s A-grade fixture, North Albany showed what they are capable of after downing top side Mt Barker 4-1.

A double from Leander McQuade helped Redbacks to their sixth victory of the season and first triumph against the defending premiers.

Ashley Eikelboom and Jamie Chester were again vital for the winners while Niven Brown, Matthew Ferreira and Harry Barbour were among Mt Barker’s best players. Meanwhile in the women’s A-grade competition Redbacks proved too strong for Peaks on Saturday evening.

Peaks started with 11 players but a knee injury to Charlotte Edwards early in the match left them with only 10 and late in the game they lost a second player to finish the game with nine.

In a high-intensity game Redbacks were able to grind their opponents down as Sophie McDonald and Beck Gallimore set them up well going forward as they won 3-0.

Alice Lydiate was outstanding for Peaks along with Renae Parsons.

On Thursday night Mt Barker were guaranteed a top two finish after defeating Park 2-0, setting up a second semifinal with Redbacks in a fortnight.