Watch the replay: Burnside v North East face off in women’s Premier League hockey clash
Its coach watched the match via our live stream more than 1000km away. But that didn’t stop North East shining in its Hockey SA Premier League clash with Burnside. See the replay now.
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He was more than 1000km away from Adelaide, watching his team play via The Advertiser’s live stream.
But North East coach Gavin Dell said the early-season signs were positive for the Zulu Warriors, after their 4-0 Hockey SA Premier League win over Burnside on Saturday.
The round three top flight women’s clash was live streamed exclusively on advertiser.com.au from Gepps Cross, as part of our ongoing hockey coverage.
Dell was forced to watch the match online from Bathurst, NSW, where his daughter, Keelie Dell, is representing SA at the under-15 national championships, also being live streamed by The Advertiser.
The mentor praised his squad’s depth of talent, given it was missing young guns Emma Dean and Aaliyah Loffler due to state under-18 duty.
“It was a good performance by the girls,” said Dell, whose son, Mitchell Dell, is also playing in Launceston, Tasmania, at the under-18 nationals.
“We had a few players away with the (state) under-18s, but a few girls stepped up and played some roles to fill in for those girls.
“In the first quarter, we had a few opportunities but we didn’t really consolidated our chances.
“But the girls put some pressure on after that and scored some goals.
“Not being there at the game was a little bit different to being there and watching it – you get to see a different side of things.”
Goals to Sherilyn Cass and Holly Evans put North East 2-0 up at the main break, as it looked to bounce back from last week’s loss to Port Adelaide.
Cass was on target again early in the second half, before Janelle Pisani rounded out the scoring to move the Zulu Warriors to a 2-1 record.
“We played Port the other week and they’re a pretty strong side,” Dell said.
“But it’s promising to be 2-1 this early in the season and we’re looking forward to the rest of it.”
Rebecca Axford and Leesa McDonald were among the standouts for North East, which faces Adelaide next Sunday.
The loss left Burnside winless and bottom of the ladder.
But it was a reunion for Burnside goalkeeper Steph Thompson, who spent two decades at North East.
Thompson faced off against her former teammates, following her off-season switch from the Zulu Warriors.
Speaking prior to the match, she said gaining more opportunities in the top flight was behind her decision to defect.
“I had been sitting in the Metro One goal keeping position but was really looking to make the next step,” Thompson, 42, said.
“The goalkeeper at North East is pretty good and an opportunity came up at Burnside so I thought I’d give it a go.”
“It would be great to beat them.
Burnside midfielder Holly Evans is good mates with Thompson off the pitch.
“Between Steph and I there is a rivalry,” said Evans, before the clash.
“We are really excited for her, but we also want to beat her too.
“We are very friendly off-field – they are a great bunch of girls.
“But I think once you cross the white line, game’s on.”
The broadcast formed part of The Advertiser and Messenger’s partnership with Hockey SA to live stream more matches this season.
It follows the live stream of the round two double-header between Adelaide University and Grange Royals.
The round one double-header between Port Adelaide and Forestville was also broadcast exclusively on advertiser.com.au, as was the 2020 men’s and women’s grand finals.
The men’s Premier League match between North East and Burnside was also set to be live streamed this Saturday, but the game has been rescheduled to Thursday, April 22 due to players being away at the junior nationals.
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