2016 Hockey Season April 16/17

The 2016 Hockey season got off to a slightly wintry start on April 16, with some drizzly rain reminding us that hockey is basically a winter sport.  The weather didn’t put a damper on the effort and enjoyment shown by all the players though and there were some fantastic performances during the weekend.

Kookas Junior Program

The Kookas Junior program started well on Friday April 15, with new players showing great skills and game sense, leading to a very competitive game.  Cate and Ben worked well together making great leads to space to receive passes from Sam S. Amy and Ella  provided great support for team mates and helped move the ball into attack for their team. At the other end of the field, Zac showed great focus and defended well in front of goals. Good running and good use of the wings saw play switch and create attacks with Sam H, Grace and Jai all working hard to gain possession and threaten the defenders. The game finished as a 1-1 draw – a very even result. We look forward to the next game – see you at 4.30 pm on Friday at Lloyd Reserve.

Under 6 Joeys

We are delighted to have another group of children join our Joeys Under 6 program, and look forward to discovering some future Hockeyroos or Kookaburras players amongst them. We began the first session for the year in some slightly damp weather, but the players took it in their stride and worked on dribbling the ball, keeping control and avoiding the obstacles in the way.

hockey for young children

Under 6 Joeys Players – having fun even in the rain.

 Under 8

Newtown Strikers vs Golden Plains

A drizzly morning welcomed the Strikers to their first game of the year. Welcome to Ruby, Alex S and Isla to the team and welcome back to Alex J, Amy, Amelia, Eliza and Emma. Some great passing skills and calling to each other was observed from the start of the game. Amy and Emma demonstrated their blocking and defensive skills, well done girls. Amelia and Alex J showed good strong long passes. Eliza and Isla kept attacking the goals and followed on after their shots to regain control of the ball for further attempt on goal. Thank you to Ruby for volunteering to assist with numbers for our fellow Newtown club and when returned to the team played a rotating role on the field from the wings to backing up the goal keeper. Well done to Alex S for jumping straight into your first game and keeping your eyes on the ball and nice defence in goals.

Remember to practise some backwards running during the week to help with the changing directions of the game.

Newtown Rebels vs Kardinia Kookaburras

A great start to the season for the Rebels. Congratulations to our first time players Scarlett, Hana and Hannah. Scarlett showed some amazing all-round skills, shooting, defending and passing. Both Hana and Hannah were impressive intercepting and passing through the midfield in the second half. Surry and Seb joined forces, running the ball from defence to the goals with several passes in between. Mai also showed great skills passing and sharing the ball with her team mates. A goal for the team to work towards next game is to spread out and remember their positions on the field. All in all a SUPER team effort.

Newtown Spirit v College Green
Newtown Spirit has started its 2016 campaign with enthusiasm and a handful of goals after meeting College Green in Under 8 competition at Lloyd Reserve on Saturday morning. It was a reunion for most of the Spirit crew after playing together the previous year. But team newcomers Charlotte and Lucy slotted right into the action, both showing great signs that they’ll be welcome additions to the line-up. Nate, at centre half forward, teamed well with centre Max in the first half. The duo threw themselves into the action, constantly driving the ball forwards towards goal and skilfully setting up Spirit’s many scoring opportunities.

After half time Meyah switched from goals to the forward line, didn’t stop running and showed her versatility in both attack and defence. Ruben provided opportunities out wide at the wing while Avah never backed down in a contest, fighting hard time and again for Spirit against a determined College Green. Green goaled several times despite desperate defence from the Newtown crew. Sometimes during the year Spirit players may be called upon to bolster opposition ranks to keep numbers as equal as possible during a match. Many thanks goes to Nate for filling this role in the second half of play on Saturday.

There were plenty of encouraging signs in Spirit’s first Under 8 match, with some great play between teammates as well as individual efforts. It will be a pleasure watching the team develop over the coming rounds.

Newtown Raiders vs Kardinia Kangaroos

The Newtown Raiders team began the first game of the season well, and with the loan of a player from Kardinia put up a strong midfield defence. Crowded playing conditions made it difficult to make any significant attacks in the first half, but there was some excellent passing between players with Eliza-May showing great ball control skills and approach to the ball. Charlotte was in the right position many times to hold up the Kardinia attacks and allow Newtown to regroup. The second half saw Isabel taking quick free hits and with Cait making space on the wing and Jesse in the centre we were able to make some headway and create attacks. Oscar switched to defence and made some great saves in front of goal.  A great first game by Raiders.

Under 11 North

Newtown Rebels vs Geelong 8-0

The U11 Rebels kicked off the season with a good 8-0 win over Geelong. Scorers for the match were Luca (3), Basyl (2), Olivia (2), Kiah (1).

Geelong were a few players short, so thanks to Imogen, Basyl and Patrick for topping up the Geelong team during the game. The team handled the bigger pitch and quicker surface at Stead Park really well and there was good passing and communication from all of the team. Well done Patrick for having a go at goalkeeper in his first game.

junior hockey season

U11 Newtown Rebels vs Geelong

junior hockey season

U11 Newtown Rebels vs Geelong

 

 

 

 

 

 

Under 11 South

Newtown Spirit vs Kardinia 6-2

And so it begins again….
The 2016 season started off in a slightly disjointed way with fill in coaches and almost a third of the team absent! With some help from fill in players we managed to field a team and took on Kardinia. As with most first games of a new season it was a slow start but a good start to the game. The new players to the Under 11 division did an outstanding job and some good passes saw Mia find the back board twice.

The second half was also a great half of hockey with a little more position play coming into action. Some good calling and looking up before passing again saw 3 further goals being scored by Angus and Grace. A great game was played by all on the team for the full 2 halves. Well done to you all.

Newtown Strikers vs Golden Plains 10-0

Both teams were undermanned, but Newtown were able to control the game from the beginning. Great ball control skills and focus on the ball saw Harry score 2 goals in the first 5 minutes. With Harry moved to the back line, other players stepped up and showed great determination and great teamwork. The forwards worked well to pick up the balls coming out of the midfield from Luca, Zoe and Declan, and turn them into great forward moves. Maggie was very efffective at right wing, scoring 3 goals for the game, so off to the defence for her. Owen in his first game showed lovely reverse stick skills and was in the right position on many occasions. Grace ran well to support team mates while Jack and Surry were quick to confront the opposition with sticks on the ground to gain possession and continue the attack. A lovely game from the Strikers team with accurate and controlled passing, great use of width in attack and lovely ball control skills. Quick free passes helped to keep Golden Plains under pressure. Well done everyone. Thanks to Surry for filling in from U8s.

Under 13

Newtown Strikers vs Golden Plains Bellarine 3-0

The Strikers have opened their season strongly against  Golden Plains Bellarine with a 3-0 win.

It was a solid team performance with only 10 players against a younger opposition.  The highlights in the game were the use of passing and space in the field to create opportunities for attack and following half time, the direct implementation of strategies from the coach to good effect (particularly from Ella and Sam).  Kasey scored the first goal of the season with an excellent strike and then Harry followed up with two second half goals. All players were able to get an opportunity to pass the ball around and create what was an attractive game of hockey.

 

junior hockey season

U13 Newtown Strikers vs Golden Plains Bellarine

 

junior hockey season

U13 Newtown Strikers vs Golden Plains Bellarine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newtown Spirit vs Torquay 2-1

Well done to the U13 Spirit team who started their season with great support of one another right from the warm up.  With a fill in coach (Thanks AJ) and team manger, team members took charge themselves. Thanks to Tom (who came to watch) and Jamie for stepping up to lead the team with introductions and a warm up.  In the first half, Torquay were very strong and consistent in attack and the defence was put under a lot of pressure.  Ely and the defense held strong and did not let in any goals.  Newtown Spirit started strong in the second half and some great passing and passages of play emerged.  All of a sudden we were 2:0 up with Jamie having scored both goals, well supported by Jarrett.  Torquay fought back and scored a goal and again the team held strong in defence to hold on for the 2:1 win.  A great start to the season.

Under 15

Newtown Spirit vs Bellarine 5 – 1

Newtown Spirit started the season with a 5 -1 1 win over Bellarine. Despite leading 2-1 at half-time, thanks to goals from Amber and Miles, the first half would be best described as rusty, with play continually breaking down as we attempted to attack through the centre. Following the coaches (Nico and Brendan) instructions to look for options out wide, the team clicked into gear after the break creating numerous scoring chances. Some resolute defence from Bellarine managed to restrict the scoring to three second-half goals (two more to Miles and one to Tom with customary celebration). Overall it was a strong team performance well led by Lachie in defence, Max in goal and Amber and Miles in attack.

Newtown Strikers vs Kardinia 5-1

2016 Hockey Season is off and running, and if any of us were in any doubt that Hockey is a winter sport this morning reminded us with cold and wet conditions. The U15 Strikers have started the season on a high note with a 5 to 1 victory over Kardinia at Stead Park this morning.

Playing well as a team from the outset they set about moving the ball well up the field making good us of long passes and capitalising on gaps left open by the oppositions to push home 3 goals off running play. Organising them selves to make the most out of short corner opportunities the Strikers converted 2 into goals. Todays goals came from Hailey and Jack with one a piece and Oscar taking a hat trick. Player of the match was awarded to Jack for his efforts in centre, moving the ball to open players and making the most of turn overs and interceptions.

 Under 17

Newtown Strikers vs Torquay 6-4

Newtown Spirit Bye

Division 1 Men

Newtown Falcons vs Newtown Strikers 8-1

Division 1 Women

Newtown Strikers vs Newtown Falcons 7-2

Our first game back for the Strikers saw a good mixture of old and new players. Our forwards Emma, Grace and Nicole had a lot of the play up front with great skills and running onto the ball to score 3 goals in the first half. There were some handy skills on show from Alice, Elese and Tiahna to stop the ball coming down into defense and get it back up front. Meg, Sam and Penny held down the fort in defense with some great stopages. We finished off the game 7-2 which is a good start to the season.

Division 2 Men

Newtown Spirit vs Corio 2-5

Division 2 Women

Newtown Spirit vs Newtown Rebels 5-2

Mild conditions saw the return of the usual suspects, former stars and a dynamic duo of new returnees to the game in our opening match of the season. A huge welcome to Georgie and Eliza who are returning to hockey after a long break. Obviously nothing was lost during that time as they starred on the left side in attack throughout the game. Spirit got off to a quick start with sharp plays from Katey, Georgie and Eliza with all 3 rewarded with goals in the first half.

Jacinta showed why she was voted most consistent player last season with a great return to form in defence, breaking down many of Rebel’s advances along with Andy. Hillary and Jan fended off many attacks, with strong clearances out. Again Claire was invaluable in goals. The second half saw Rebels fire up and advance their attack with 2 goals. The right side of the forward line returned fire with both Kirsty and Nicola scoring in the second half.

Hope everyone recovers by next weekend!

Newtown Rebels vs Newtown Spirit 2-5

A great game by an undermanned Newtown Rebels team. Spirit’s weight of numbers gave them plenty of attack in the first half, but great defence and sideways clearances by Colleen halted many of their attacks. Midfield play was solid with Amy, Kellie and Tracey making good interceptions and great clearances. Rachel, Amy and Monique worked well together in the first half and great leads to space combined with good passing saw Rebels create some attack. With the addition of an extra player in the second half, Rebels were able to gain some extra impetus and Peta helped to push the ball forward where Rachel’s never say die endeavour and skill saw her create attacks and score 2 goals. With the score 0-3 at half time, the second half was a tied game – a great effort by Rebels still with only 9 players.

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