ON TARGET

THE Torquay Tigers aren’t the only sports club in town to have a spectacular 2017 season, with the Torquay Tornadoes claiming their first men’s flag in hockey and Galaxy United winning through to the preliminary final in the women’s soccer.

The Tornadoes had a thumping victory to take the Hockey Geelong men’s Division 1 final against long-time rivals Newtown Falcons, while the Galaxy saw off Alamein FC in the WNPL elimination final.

Saturday’s Division 1 final was played at Stead Park and saw the Tornadoes put in a dominant performance, slamming home seven goals while keeping the Falcons scoreless.

Reece Shand scored twice for Torquay, with Scott Cullen, Liam Kerr Nelson, Jackson Moore, Ryan Parry and Glen Monday also getting shots past the keeper.

It was a particularly sweet win for the Tornadoes against Newtown – the game was the fourth grand final the two clubs have contested in the space of five years, with the Falcons winning last year as well as in 2013 and 2014.

In the WNPL, Galaxy United is one step closer to a premiership, winning 2-0 against Alamein FC to set up a rematch with Calder United.

Saturday’s sudden-death game at Banyul-Warri Fields pitted the third-placed Galaxy (16 wins and 6 losses) against fourth-placed Alamein (14 wins, 4 losses).

After several chances early, both of Galaxy’s goals came in the second half, Lujeyn Al-Huneidi knocking home both scores in the 58th and 77th minute, respectively.

Galaxy lost 2-1 to Calder in extra time in the 2016 grand final, and Galaxy will be keen to make amends for last year’s result in Saturday’s game, to be played at ABD Stadium in Broadmeadows on Saturday at 1.30pm.

The winner of that game will secure their spot in the WNPL grand final on October 1 against ladder leaders South Melbourne FC, who defeated Calder United 4-2 in the qualifying final.