Cairns Hockey: Stingers primed for grand final rematch
Trinity Stingers coach Paula Valmadre is hoping her side can ride the momentum from their last-start win over Brothers into Saturday night’s grand final rematch against Souths.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Leps display promising signs in Sharks defeat
- Saints eye finals return on back of young talent
- How FNQ’s code-hoppers have adjusted to new sports
- Phoenix rise to historic Cairns Netball victory
Trinity Stingers coach Paula Valmadre is hoping her side can ride the momentum from their last-start win over Brothers into Saturday night’s grand final rematch against Souths.
Valmadre said she was impressed with her squad’s 4-0 victory in their first game back, but they would need to take it up a notch if they wanted to upset defending premiers Souths in this weekend’s Round 4 clash.
“We’ve got a very different team to what we started the season with, with a few girls returning and a few girls playing out of position as well,” she said.
> SOUTHS DOWN SAINTS IN COME-FROM-BEHIND WIN
“We’ve been working on getting more cohesion between our lines, particularly between the strikers and the midfielders, and also just working on outletting out of our defence.
“We’ve got a bit to work on, but it’s very positive for the season ahead.”
Stingers’ versatility was on display in last week’s shutout of Brothers, and Valmadre said they would need to lean on it again if they wanted to hand Souths their first defeat of 2020.
> SHORTENED CAIRNS HOCKEY SEASON TO RAMP UP THE PRESSURE
“It was Diana Hepworth’s first time in a half position and she did exceptionally well, while Lani Fitzsimmons showed great improvement playing defence for the first time,” she said.
“I also had to rely on our captain, Lola Pastrana, to be out of position quite a bit.
“We had no subs in defence so she had to pop back there to help out and I was really pleased with the way they came together.”
> SAINTS SKIPPER TIPS YOUNG GUN PAIR TO FIRE
Stingers returned to the turf in emphatic fashion with a 4-0 win over the Fury, while Souths defeated Saints 3-1, as Cairns Hockey resumed its A-grade women’s season after it had to be suspended for almost five months due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Stingers’ Lisa Fatnowna, Carmen Haug, Abby Toshach and captain Lola Pastrana each scored a goal in their side’s victory.
Originally published as Cairns Hockey: Stingers primed for grand final rematch