Hockey: Tribute match attracts big crowd

Spencer Park recorded a stirring win in the Lower Great Southern Hockey Association’s women’s A-grade competition on Saturday, defeating North Albany 2-0 in the 12th annual Jo Burling Memorial Game.

Picture by Laurie Benson: Spencer Park’s Elsa Pigott gets past a Kelly Burlikowski tackle

With a big crowd of supporters in attendance to urge their side on and pay tribute to Albany hockey identity Burling, Spencer Park overcame a slow first half to 8record victory on the club’s 8biggest day of the season.

Redbacks were on the back foot from the first whistle, given they only managed to field 10 players, but they kept up with the pace of Spencer Park for much of the first half.

Emma Russell squandered Park’s best chance of the opening period, while Redbacks came closest to scoring from a short corner midway through the half.

Scores were level at the break but Spencer Park came out looking determined to find the back of the net and they didn’t have to wait long, with Kirby Williams and Rachael Goetze scoring in quick succession to kill off any Redbacks chance.

Park coach Shane Congram said his side had performed well after starting off slowly in the first half.

“Not happy with the first 25 minutes but in the last 10 minutes of that first half we started to ramp it up and get our game plan together,” Congram said.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t 8fully convert. We had plenty of scoring opportunities.”

Congram said his club was very happy to get two wins on the day, with the men’s side also triumphing, after drawing in the Jo 8Burling Memorial Game last time around.

“It’s always good to get away with a win with the finals coming up,” Congram added.

While the focus of the day was on the Redbacks-Spencer Park clash, Manypeaks produced one of the upsets of the season, defeating ladder leaders Tigers.

Peaks are already ruled out of finals contention but they fought hard to secure their third win for the year against all odds, with Emma Pyle scoring the game’s 8solitary goal for Manypeaks.