Sajandeep Singh brilliance powers Banks to DHL minor premiership

A classy play in the dying stages of a top-flight Darwin hockey game has led Banks to claim top spot in the competition. Here’s how the magnificent goal played out.

Banks are the Darwin Hockey League A Grade men’s minor premiers after a brilliant run from Sajandeep Singh in the dying stages led his side to a thrilling one-point win over Nightcliff on Saturday.

Singh eliminated three Tigers in his classy run before setting up his teammate Yuji Chaki for a finishing goal to claim the glorious win with 25 seconds left on the clock.

“It was awesome, it was what we needed,” Banks leader Ayden Parkin said.

“I was on the bench and one of the boys was like imagine if we won it from here and we did — we were ecstatic.”

Tigers senior women’s coach Stuart Beath, who watched the game following his side’s 1-all draw with Banks earlier in the day, said it was a captivating finish.

“It was (exciting for Banks),” he said.

“It was a length of the field goal for Banks, they turned it over in their defensive circle.

“Sajandeep Singh virtually ran from halfway all the way through and beating our keeper to finish it off with 25 seconds left on the clock.

“It was pretty exciting for Banks I’m sure, not so much for Tigers supporters but.”

Banks have claimed the 2023 men's minor premiership. Picture: Supplied.

Beath said the game yet again proved how close the top-tier men’s competition was this season. 

“It was a fast game, it was a good game to watch, really competitive, both sides played quite well,” he said.

“Banks were missing a couple of players as were the Tigers but it was a good-fast game.

“Banks got the win in the last 30 seconds which turned the tables on the Tigers from the last outing where the Tigers won in the last 30 seconds.

“So it was a good game and I think coming into finals, it’s really anyone's for the taking in the men’s competition, it’s a really even comp this year.”

The Tigers won 3-2 the last time the teams played in Round 9.

“In A grade men, the top four is not completely locked in yet, I think the results from this coming weekend will decide who makes the top four,” he said.

“But again it has been a really even comp in the A grade men this year so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top at the end of the finals.”

In the women’s game between Banks and the Tigers, a strong defensive effort from both sides saw the game end in a 1-all draw.

The Tigers came back from 1-nil down to score in the third quarter and tie the match.

Beath was pleased with the result despite not getting the victory they required to remain a chance of making the finals.

“They scored early and then we fought back and scored in the third quarter which is very pleasing for our group,” he said.

“It would have been great to get the points, we had quite a bit of the play, lots of shots on the goal.

“We just couldn’t get past Evie Sievers, she had a good game in goals and it was just a good defensive game from both teams really.”

Beath said it was a season which tested them.

“It’s been a challenging season, we haven’t been able to keep the same team on the park week in, week out,” he said.

“We have had a lot of people away for work or study or various reasons.

“But for us, we have beaten all the top teams apart from Banks and although we haven’t made the finals, we still got a good platform for us to build on for next year.”

Beath also said the women’s season was just as close as the men’s.

“It has been really even this year, basically whoever plays better on the day is winning,” he said.

“We have had no real blow outs, there has been no big score lines or anything like that across both divisions.

“It’s good for Darwin hockey, it means people have got to play really well to get the win.”

Beath predicted Commerce would win the ultimate prize based off their recent form.

“Commerce have hit pretty good form in the run home to finals,” he said.

“If you based it off the whole season, anyone of Banks, Waratahs or Commerce could win it and oh, East Darwin as well.

“East are on top of the ladder, we fortunately beat them twice this year but again, toss a coin across the four of them and see who is going to win.

“But if I had to have a pick, I would say Commerce at the moment just judging off their recent form.”

No More founder Charlie King speaking to participants during the DHL No More round. Picture: Supplied.

The weekend’s action also saw the hockey community come together to recognise and discuss the importance of ending domestic violence and saying “no more”.

“Both teams took the field and basically formed the number 35 which symbolises how many women have been killed by their partners with domestic violence incidents this year,” Beath said.

“So obviously it’s important for Hockey NT to support that.

“The No More Cup is an important weekend for hockey and the community in general.

“And Charlie King was there, he is a big supporter of the No More Cup.”

Banks, Nightcliff Tigers to play for cup in NO MORE round

Darwin Hockey League men’s ladder leaders Banks will be striving for revenge when it takes on Nightcliff Tigers which handed them their only loss of the season, 3-2, in Round 9.

The blockbuster 1v3 clash at the MWT Hockey Centre will be no easy game for Banks who will be playing for the No More Cup at 5pm on Saturday against a Tigers side in strong form who have won five of their last six games.

Meanwhile, Banks are coming off their fourth draw of the season to fourth-placed Palmerston Saints and despite only losing one game in the campaign, the leading side is just one win superior of the Tigers and equal with East Darwin on eight.

So a win on the big stage of No More Round, where Hockey NT comes together to recognise and discuss the importance of ending domestic violence and saying no more, would be huge for Banks.

NO MORE founder Charlie King. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

No More founder Charlie King said partnering with sporting organisations such as Hockey NT was about recognising leaders in communities and encouraging them to be the voice in their clubs.

“(The partnerships are about) recognising who those leaders are and then encouraging them to be the voice for their clubs and the rest of the competition,” King said.

“And for them to be able to say what is happening in family violence is unacceptable and we all have a responsibility to do something about it.

“If that means we link arms before a match, think about what we can do, that’s a good thing so we encourage them to keep doing that.

“There are some real good leaders there among the hockey fraternity and we are always proud to work in with them.”

King will be at the match to present the spirit of the game awards to players who played the game with respect and fairness.

King said there was more work needed to be done to lower the number of domestic violence incidents.

“It just continues to rise but it would rise even more if we didn’t continue to be strong standing against it,” he said.

“We live and breath for the day when we see the numbers come down.

“I mean it’s hard work but it’s just necessary.

“We know it’s about changing the attitude of people for people to have a think about respecting their partners.

“It’s men against women in the main but there’s women against men as well who have learnt that behaviour from what they have grown up seeing within their own families.

“So it’s a bother for us all but there’s a lot of people doing a lot of good work now.

“I think it’s not far away we are going to see a sharp turn and a sharp drop down in the stats that are horrific.”

In other men and women top-tier games in the second last round of the season before finals, Commerce will take on East Darwin and the Saints will face Waratah.