Strikers Blue's Stewart Tyquin passes up the pitch during the defeat to the River Rats
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Shepparton Youth Club’s Blue contingent continues to make up ground on its inter-club Yellow rivals at the Goulburn Valley Hockey Association League summit, while Echuca-Moama claimed a memorable first win of the campaign.
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Coming into round nine, the SYC Blue boys had reason for optimism after two successive victories to set up an eye-catching home clash up against neighbours Mooroopna.
Settling into the battle down at Shepparton Regional Hockey Complex on July 18, the hosts left no stone unturned in their efforts to make up ground on their Yellow clubmates as they dispatched of the visitors in a 6-2 triumph.
Meanwhile, the representatives from Goulburn Valley Grammar School produced one of the true shocks of the round as they held the current table-toppers SYC Yellow to a surprise 2-2 draw.
The first-placed side’s captain, Ryan Mackenzie gave credit to the opposition after what proved to be an entertaining spectacle on home turf.
“It was a game of people popping to play at a position with we had several of our key people unavailable for the game on the weekend unfortunately,“ the SYC Yellow’s skipper said.
“But it was certainly props to GV Grammar, who have shown that they have been developing themselves throughout the year.
“They started off underdone but as the year has gone on, we’ve watched them become a fighting team, so they certainly not to be under-estimated.
“They certainly had the fight and determination, trying to get the win on us but it was a very even contest in the end - it's not a loss so we will take that.”
This stalemate meant the pacesetters had to settle for a share of the points, allowing SYC Blue to make up crucial ground in the battle for the GVHA league championship, as the title fight was blown wide open.
Now, Yellows leader Mackenzie has provided insight into the focus for his team as they look to bring the fight for the premiership spoils.
“We've certainly got a few things to work on if we want to have a very good fight for the title,” he said.
“The key factor really would be making sure we have that little bit of extra grain and determination - we don't wanna get complacent thinking we're just going to win at the top there.
“We really do need to go back into that high gear again like we were at the start of the year and I think need a good dominant win to get the wind back in our sails.”
As it stands, SYC’s inter-club sides are separated at the league summit by just a couple of points, with the Yellows’ recent run of back-to-back draws providing a window of opportunity for the Blues to make up ground in the championship chase.
In the other game in this round of fixtures, the Shepparton Strikers Blue side slipped to a 4-1 loss against Echuca-Moama, as the visitors down at Shepparton Regional Hockey Complex claimed a maiden win of the campaign.
In the GVHA Women’s League, the River Rats capped off a successful week for Echuca’s hockey scene as they sealed a 3-1 victory over SYC, while Mooroopna overcame the Shepparton Strikers in a convincing 5-0 triumph.
