Power House/St Kilda comes through gruelling test

POWER House/St Kilda (PHSTK) has cemented its position in the top four of Hockey Victoria’s Men’s Premier League competition.

POWER House/St Kilda (PHSTK) has cemented its position in the top four of Hockey Victoria’s Men’s Premier League competition with an impressive two wins, a draw and a loss during four games over the past 10 days, including a stunning 5-2 win away over the previously unbeaten Altona.

Facing a daunting run as they catch up on some postponed matches, the Saints are just about to complete a crowded mid-season schedule in which they will have played an exhausting six games in 18 days, finishing with an Altona rematch on June 3.

After holding on for a draw against Footscray (3-3), PHSTK has beaten MCC (2-1) followed by a loss to Essendon (1-2), the 5-2 win against Altona and a 5-4 win against Hawthorn in a cliffhanger on Sunday.

It puts it fourth on the Premier League ladder, four points clear of fifth with nine of 22 home-and-away rounds for the season completed.

In the most recent game against Hawthorn, PHSTK reached a 4-1 advantage just before half time including two sharp goals from Adam Seccull plus singles from Matt Mallinson and Brett Dempster.

A gallant Hawthorn fought back to level the scores up at 4-4 with three quick goals after the break.

With three minutes remaining, Adam Seccull scored his third goal for the game when he converted a penalty corner opportunity before the Saints desperately held on to their one-goal advantage to run out winners.

Meanwhile, an unprecedented five players from PHSTK’s Men’s Premier League team have been named in the train-on squad for Victoria Vikings, who will represent the state during the National Hockey League in October.

Goalkeeper, Matt Defina as well as Adam Seccull, Jake Sherren, Will Gilmour and Malcolm Kemp have all received the call-up and are big chances of being selected to wear hockey’s Big-V later this year.

Club president Anne Cerche said no stone was left unturned as the club tackled its daunting recent six-match schedule.

“We have had great support from a specialist sports science team in developing a training, diet, player rotation and recovery program that would help us navigate through a tough 18 days for the squad,” Cerche said.

“All of the hard work seems to have paid dividends but we still have one more game to get through before a short break and a return to a weekly fixture frequency.

“It has been a big challenge playing three consecutive midweek games but the great depth we have at the club has been beneficial in negating the fatigue, bumps and bruises that are inevitable from such circumstances.

“It has been a combination of good management and good luck with injuries that has now set us up for a big finish to the season.”

Cerche said the club’s good results were a direct outcome from the thoroughness of preparation by the coaching staff across the men’s and women’s squads as well as sound medical input from team physio Sarah Wolff and renowned sports medic Dr Peter Brukner, the father of PHSTK firsts’ team player Bill Brukner.

“It has been a huge effort by all involved including great discipline from the players and an army of club volunteers doing everything from washing the kits to preparing meals and transporting players to games and training,” Cerche said.

“The whole club has pitched in to get the best possible results for our Mens team during this crowded schedule.”

PHSTK’s Women’s Premier League team has tried hard without any luck during the same period with its two most recent outings reaping successive defeats at the hands of Essendon (0-3) and Hawthorn (0-4) respectively.

With no games scheduled for the Queen’s Birthday weekend, PHSTK’s Premier League teams have a nice mid-season break before returning to their Cox-McKenzie Pavilion home pitch on June 14 for a crucial round of fixtures against Mentone.

The Men’s 1st Grade takes to the pitch at 2pm followed by the Women’s 1st Grade at 3.30pm.

Completing a great afternoon of top-notch hockey, these games are book ended by the Men’s Premier Reserves at 12.30pm and the Women’s Premier Reserves at 5pm.

PHSTK is a community-focused sports club fielding 27 teams from ages U10 to O50 in Hockey Victoria-sanctioned competition during the 2014 winter season.

The club caters for players of all ages and levels of experience.

*For more information about PHSTK Hockey Club visit the club website or email the president.