Cairns Hockey: Souths down Saints in come-from-behind win
Souths maintained their unbeaten Cairns Hockey Association A-grade men’s record with a 3-2 win against a determined Saints outfit following the restart of the season on Saturday night.
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Souths maintained their unbeaten Cairns Hockey Association A-grade men’s record with a 3-2 win against a determined Saints outfit following the restart of the season on Saturday night.
Souths’ record stands at three wins from as many starts but they were forced to scrap for the points on Saturday night with Saints pushing them all the way in a free-flowing affair.
The defending premiers trailed twice before finishing strongly to keep their perfect start to the season, even after a four-month break between the second and third rounds due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Saints got off to the perfect start with a goal in the fourth minute to Daniel Pittendreigh, but Souths were quick to respond when Glenn Geraghty scored a minute later.
Pittendreigh would strike for his second goal of the night in the 17th minute and Saints looked like taking a 2-1 lead into the sheds until Souths’ Joel Darbyshire found the equaliser two minutes before the break.
The arm wrestle continued into the second half as both teams tried to gain the upper hand, but it was Souths that broke the deadlock in the 47th minute when youngster Ashton Schenk finished off some silky lead-up work from experienced forward Mason Bombardieri.
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Saints threw everything at Souths and had chances late through some threatening raids, but the defending premiers were able to hold on for the win and the outright top spot on the ladder.
Coach Carl Whipp praised the club’s young talents for standing up in the tough contest.
“I think every club’s going to be in the same boat this year where it’s going to be a changing of the guard, and the young fellas all put their hands up,” he said.
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“We blooded a few of them last year, but with the change back to halves from quarters, they’re going to see a lot more time this year and they grabbed it with both hands.”
Hayden Lane was outstanding in the middle for Souths, holding his own against Saints’ Simon Borgner, who made his return to the Cairns A-grade competition for the first time since suiting up for HC Melbourne in last year’s Hockey One league, while young gun duo Austin and Ashton Schenk brought attacking flair up front.
Originally published as Cairns Hockey: Souths down Saints in come-from-behind win