Hard fought three-peat for LSE women

Senior country championship success for Lower South East Hockey Association teams

It was a sensational third title in a row for the Lower South East Hockey Association’s women’s side (pictured right) in last weekend’s senior Country Championships in Adelaide.

There were a lot of new faces this time around to add to the core group, coached by Brayden Burston.

First game up saw LSE take on Naracoorte in what would be a grand final preview, with LSE coming out on top 3-1, with sisters Billie Jones (1) and Dana Jones (2) sharing the goals.

Billie was at it again in the goals in game 2, scoring the opener against a strong Port Pirie side. Youngster Clare Hopgood scored her first goal in the senior side, with LSE holding on for the 2-1 win to remain undefeated.

The third game of day 1 was a game of two halves, with LSE dominating early to take a 3-0 lead, only to be reeled in over the space of five minutes by some outstanding offensive play by Riverland to end up 3 all.

LSE however bounced back on the morning of day 2, with a convincing 8-0 win over Whyalla, with Kaitlyn Nisbet scoring twice and singles for all the rest in a true spread of team goals.

Port Lincoln loomed as the crunch match with them also not having lost prior to the game, and it was a tight tussle throughout with Dana Jones scoring the only goal to win 1-0, thanks in large part to some outstanding defending by Morgan Cooper and mid field running by Olivia Turner, Chloe Boylan and Tess Kenseley.

The final pool game did not matter in the end, but LSE wanted to go into the finals full of confidence so pushed hard for the win against traditional rivals the Barossa. After a mid field arm wrestle, Hopgood slotted the game’s only goal backstick off a beautiful cross by Dana Jones for the 1-0 victory, to head into the grand final in top spot and undefeated.

The grand final was a cracking contest between two sides who knew each other well, and Naracoorte came out the stronger, only narrowly being denied by the post early on after a great early shot on goal. LSE goal Keeper Kate Fabian showed why she is so highly rated with some outstanding defensive work in both halves, with clearance after clearance, as LSE held on at times by the skin of their teeth.

Cooper was at her dominant best at fullback, repelling attacking play after attacking play, and Lauren Lunsmann hit peak form in the final, holding firm with some great defence. Amy Hunt was dominating for her side, and Naracoorte finally broke the deadlock and took a deserved lead through Olivia Williams.

LSE looked out of sorts, with their offence struggling to penetrate under the pressure of Naracoorte’s well organised defence marshalled by Shannan Derrington.

However with all of their stars thrown up forwards for a last push, LSE were able to draw out a penalty stroke thanks to an infringement in front of goal, which Cooper calmly slotted to even the scores.

With only a matter of minutes remaining LSE scored possibly the goal of the tournament, as a bullet pass into the spot by Cooper found the deflection from Dana Jones for a goal to remember for LSE.

It was a fantastic ending to a great comeback by LSE, and an equally impressive tournament by Naracoorte, especially Amy Hunt MT GAMBIER who was named player of the finals.

The LSE men (pictured below) also had a very successful tournament, making it all the way to the grand final before running into a terrific Barossa side. The early rounds went according to plan for LSE, with youngster Nash Lobley scoring in the first 20 seconds to secure a 1-0 win against Port Pirie in the first match.
Game 2 saw goals from Connor

Bartlett (2), Greg Doll (1) and Lobley (1) for a 4-0 victory over Country West. In what was to be the final game of the day, the lights malfunctioned on pitch 2, unfortunately meaning a declared draw against Barossa to end the day after only five minutes of play. Day 2 saw LSE defeat Riverland 4-0 with goals to Lochie Nisbet, Doll, Lobley and Bartlett.

With fewer teams participating, the men’s side of the draw had a full finals structure, with LSE making the 1v2 play off for the easy path through to the grand final.

Unfortunately it was not to be however, with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Barossa meaning the team had to go the hard way through with a do or die match against Port Pirie.

Like the pool game the match was very tight, at times getting willing between two sides desperate to progress. Some brilliant keeping by BJ Howard denied Pirie for a time, but eventually they took advantage of a fast break to create a three on one situation which they duly scored to take a 1-0 lead. Staring down the barrel of elimination, LSE dug deep, eventually finding an equaliser thanks to Brayden Burston.

This goal was enough to secure the draw, and courtesy of finishing higher on the ladder LSE progressed to the grand final for another crack at the Barossa.

The extra game and only two substitutions seemed to loom large for LSE however, with Barossa jumping out of the gates and piling on four goals before the half time break, in what would be the final score after LSE lifted their game to a higher level in the second half.

Despite the loss it was an excellent campaign and a great result for the men, runners up for the second year in a row.