LGSHA in narrow finals loss

Lower Great Southern Hockey Association women’s senior team lost their third division 1 grand final in four years after going down to Geraldton in this year’s decider at the CBH Group Women’s Country Championships in Perth at the weekend.

After narrow grand final defeats to Bunbury (2015) and Busselton (2013), the LGSHA were on track for another appearance in the final when they topped their pool standings.

On Friday the LGSHA beat Roe Districts 2-0, with Georgina Lilford and Chloe Westerberg both finding the back of the net before they played out a scoreless draw after defending champions Bunbury later that day.

In their final pool match on Saturday, the LGSHA proved too strong for Upper Great Southern Hockey Association, winning 2-1 after fullback Annie Judd scored twice from penalty corners.

Finishing top of pool A, the LGSHA then progressed to play Eastern Goldfields Hockey Association, which were second in pool B, in their crossover game on Saturday night.

Again Judd scored from a penalty corner but the two sides were locked together at 1-1 after normal time.

Westerberg, Aleesha Thompson and Judd all scored in the penalty shootout with Judd’s strike handing LGSHA 3-2 win that book their place in the decider.

In Sunday’s final, both sides had a number of chances in the first half but the staunch defence at both ends prevented a goal from being scored.

LGSHA pressed hard with a couple of opportunities from penalty corners that were well saved, but in the 44th minute Geraldton youngster Gemma Dix slotted home a goal from a tight angle which eventually proved the match-winner.

Despite their attempts to equalise in the final 12 minutes, which included hitting the post in the dying stages, the LGSHA fell short as Geraldton held on to a 1-0 victory.

LGSHA captain Georgie Powis said it was disappointing to lose another grand final but was immensely proud of the new group.

“We didn’t have Renae (Parsons) or Courtney (Robinson), who are the stars of Albany hockey, so we had quite a young and new side,” Powis said.

“We had a lot of new players that hadn’t been to country week and a few that have been to quite a few country weeks, so it was a good combination.

“It was a really big team effort and everyone worked hard.

“I was very proud of the effort. All the players impressed me.”

Powis said in the grand final, like a number of their games, they had numerous chances but couldn’t convert up forward.

She paid credit to young striker Lilford who enjoyed a breakthrough tournament while Westerberg also impressed.

The LGSHA defence led by Judd, goalkeeper Ruby Tompkins and Powis conceded only three goals in normal time across the five games.

LGSHA, who sent only one side to compete, also won the Fallows Cup awarded for the best association result.