Four teams set to battle it out for Club Glenvale Challenge supremacy

The Chronicle’s in-depth guide to grand final night in Toowoomba Hockey’s Club Glenvale Challenge.

Macey Hill of CS Vixens. Picture: Kevin Farmer

HOCKEY: As teams prepare for grand final night in the Club Glenvale Challenge, one women’s team will earn their place in history.

The CS Vixens and SQPS Scorers have won their way through to the decider of the inaugural women’s division, with the former looking to continue an extraordinary winning run.

Since dropping their first round clash, the Vixens have won all five remaining regular season games, including downing the Scorers 5-2 last week.

“We wanted to get it going last year but it didn’t happen, and then COVID hit, but it’s good to see them doing it this year and they’re all enjoying it,” Vixens coach Shane Mogg said.

“It’s very good to be coaching a team in the final in the first year.

“We started slow and lost the first game, but we got going after that.

“There was a lot of younger players, older players and they hadn’t played before. Once we started to gel together, we were able to get some wins.”

Mogg praised the way his side has not only been able to unite over the course of the season, but translate their training form into wins.

“What we’ve been doing at training is putting in to our games which has got us over the line the last five weeks,” he said.

“The main thing is we stick to our structure of what we’ve been doing over the last few weeks, because it’s worked.

“When we get the opportunity in the circle, we need to make sure we get a result, whether that be a goal or a short corner that could lead to a goal.

“We need to concentrate on a few basic points in defence and focus on results when we attack.”

Amber Suey of SQPS Scorers. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The form in front of striker Katie Wollstein has been a highlight for the Vixens, slotting home 17 goals in the season.

Mogg has given his star the ultimate compliment as she prepares for another big outing.

“She’s outstanding,” he said.

“She’d be the number one striker in Toowoomba at the moment.

“One she gets the ball in any sort of space, look out. She dominates.

“As the competition has progressed she’s got stronger and stronger.”

The Vixens have claimed both meetings between the two teams this season, and finished on top of the standings with five wins, while the Scorers claimed victory in fourth of their games.

Cory Mogg of Agetal Farmers. Picture: Kevin Farmer

FARMERS LOOK TO CUT DOWN HOT SHOTS

If the TAB was to offer odds on the men’s final, it would be fair to say the HSR Hot Shots would be raging hot favourites to lift the trophy.

They come into the final without a loss, bouncing back from every hurdle put in front of them to clean sweep the regular season.

That doesn’t bother the AgEtal Farmers however, who are more than happy to come into the contest as underdogs.

“We’re always happy (to have that tag),” Farmers coach Greg Dean said.

“Like we’ve seen before, it’s great to have that tag and we’re happy with it.”

Despite being unable to overcome the Hot Shots this season, the Farmers have displayed strong enough form to get them through to the decider.

Dean said that gives his players confidence that they can get the job done when it matters most.

“They’re pretty confident coming into the game,” he said.

“We did a bit of video analysis which has been quite the attribute to our preparation.

“We’re all happy to be in a final and playing hockey.”

Alex Cronk of HSR Hot Shots. Picture: Kevin Farmer

While acknowledging the size of the task at hand, Dean is calling on the youth in the squad to rise to the occasion, believing they can make the difference on the night.

“I think we’ve got the artillery with all our senior players, and if our younger guys can step up, I think that will be the difference,” he said.

“We’ve got a number of strong players, and if they can have a cracking night, that will help us.

“Converting field goals will be important. Once you get the ball in that area, a second chance at goal is where you need to be aiming.

“We need to be able to break down them down and prevent them from getting chances at field goals.

“Our speed up front is one of our main attributes. That’s the structure we try to play with and that will do us well.”

Prior to both men’s and women’s finals, the third and fourth placed teams in their respective divisions will take part in a penalty shootout.

GRAND FINAL FIXTURES

Vixens vs Scorers (women) at 6.20pm

Hot Shots vs Farmers (men) at 8.10pm

Games played at Clyde Park, Friday

TEAM LISTS

VIXENS: Amanda Ross (captain), Emma Bradbury, Jane Butler, Georgina Greig, Macey Hill, Tannah Hood, Eliza Lebsanft, Emily Manhire, Madyson Mogg, Ebony Panzram, Emily Payne, Tatum Stewart, Briana Suey, Kirsty Tolputt, Tammy Williams, Katie Wollstein. Coach: Shane Mogg. Manager: Alisa Panzram

SCORERS: Erin McCurley-Ault (captain), Sarah Bradbury, Abby Burge, Delaney Burke, Mai Connor, Rebecca Denny, Shayel Fielder, Ella Hagenbach, Tess Henare, Emily McKewen, Heidi Phillips, Lily Rickert, Jada Rutledge, Mackenze Rutledge, Katarina Taylor, Brooke Thompson. Coach: Elke Swain. Manager: Sue Henare

HOT SHOTS: Jay Mogg (captain), Josh Bidgood, Nathan Case, Sean Collins, Alex Cronk, Braydon Denman, Kynan Haddock, Bradley Hobday, Wilson Love, Josh McPaul, Dylan Ready, William Ready, Brett Rollason, Jaiden Schroder, Elliott Speed, Hamish Speed, Matthew Tarlinton, Matthew Wallace. Ryan Williams (coach).

FARMERS: James Cunliffe (captain), Shaun Alexander, Jack Bergemann, Ryan Bidgood, Tom Burge, Tom Campbell, Will Cronk, Kaleb Gaschk, Corey Guse, Alex Hilton, James Lush, Brad Messenger, Carter Mogg, Cory Mogg, Corey Moore, Dylan Pember, Liam Pember, Craig Smith, Will Suey. Greg Dean (coach).