What’s on at Southern?

What a weekend. Thirty nine juniors played their first game of junior club hockey on the weekend, with 58 players playing their first game in Southern colours. Welcome to Southern all of you.

Twenty junior teams (well 19 as Under 12 had a bye) took to the field for the first round – with two quarter field under 10s, four half field teams, and the rest full field teams. Thanks to everyone who helped to get the season started. A huge thanks to the coaches who give their time freely to help our children, to our age co-ordinators who spend a huge amount of time making it all happen behind the scenes, Robyn with the registrations, and Allison who did the first time ever umpire allocation with the retirement of Sue Jones, who had previously done this thankless task for so many years. Thanks Jane O’Neill for taking on the umpire allocation for juniors.

The new canteen format is running well. Thanks to all the parents and players who do their canteen duty. Special mention to Danny Gibbins with help from Lilith who managed the egg and bacons rolls for the under 10 quarter field hoard, 50 egg and bacon rolls were sold Saturday morning. Thanks so much for setting the tone for the morning.

The canteen with the new coffee machine, and no frying of food is considerably easier than in the past, and a great possie to watch the game. This year people will not be stuck at the back where they cannot see what is happening. So please if you want a nice warm, dry spot each week, let us know.

This coming weekend, on the 5th May the premier league teams play at Farm Rd against Hawthorn. The Hawthorn women’s team is an incredible team of athletes come down and watch some exciting women’s and men’s hockey. Women premier league at 2pm, and men premier league 3.30pm.

We are always looking for photos from games, as well as news and highlights from the games, please send to secretary@suhc.com.au We love to hear about what is happening.

Premiers League Round 2 – Match 3

The premier league teams played TEM at Hawthorn Hockey Centre. TEM women have had a mixed start to the season with a loss to Footscray, like Southern a draw with Yarra and a win over MUHC, after finishing behind Southern in 2017. The Southern ladies had the goods to finish 2-1 up.

While the TEM men had a bad season in 2017 finishing with the wooden spoon and only 5 points, they had started the season stronger with 3 points already on the board. But the TEM men were not up to Southern with Southern winning 6-1, with two goals to Nathan Ephruams and Matt l’Hullier, one to Ben van Woekrom and Carlin Walker scoring his maiden premier league goal.

Photo by Stuart Westmore (TEM)

Women’s Round 3

What a day at the hockey centre. Women’s pennant B 5-0 over Camberwell. Dom Blatherwick was back from the Under 15 tournament and back in goals, giving Bridie a chance to enjoy her reserves win and not having to rush off to a second game, the goals were shared around, with Maddy Ryan scoring 2.

Women’s pennant E at Farm Rd, put up a good show against Waverley but could not just get there with Waverley finish 2-1 up. Welcome to the club Kate and Lucy Makowski, a new goalie, just what we needed.

Women’s metro A took advantage of Erin holding the goalie kit from 16 girls game, thanks Erin for volunteering. The ladies finished with a 1-1 draw with Collegians. Great to see Ruby Jansz out there for her first senior’s game for Southern, taking after mum and dad. Lisa, Ruby’s mum, was the Moorabbin women’s highest aggregate point winner in 1999, and of course her grandfather is one of our life members.

Metro B also had a great result with the 7-0 win over Mornington with 3 games, 3 wins to start the season. Lulu Stansby’s first senior game, playing alongside her mum Allison with both of them scoring a goal.

Men’s Round 3

Men’s Pennant E team played in the 2017 Pennant F grand final rematch when they played Powerhouse at Farm Rd. The result was quite different with a 2-2 draw.

Men’s pennant D had a tougher game against relegated Casey going down 4-1.

While on Sunday pennant A and Pennant C headed to Camberwell. The pennant A boys had a tough game which was a lot closer than the 3-0 loss suggests. While the pennant C game was on a knife edge the whole game with Camberwell scoring early, but Southern continuing to have their share of play. With two penalty flicks hitting the net from Liam Eddington pennant C won 2-1. Rumor has it that it is Jonnos first win against Camberwell at Camberwell since he left in 1999?

The metro teams continue to have a great season with Metro A notching up their third win, 4-0 against Mentone with 2 goals to Mark Lambert and 1 to Josh Madden – again, and 1 to Tom Durrant. A great family game, the Durrant brothers, father and son combinations of Mark and Hamish Lambert, and Chris and Liam Lewis.

Metro B not to be outdone also have hit three wins in a row with a 2-1 win over Frankston, and did I see Mike Campbell in goals?

Juniors Round 1

It was always going to be a tough start to the season with 11 players away in Wollongong finishing off the Victorian Championships and Amy away playing in PNG for Youth Olympic Qualifier. But we got through it. The fixture gods were kind to us with the mixed pennant and shield at home.

The under 14 mixed pennant team started round 1 at home against Bayside with a great start to the season season with a 2-1 win. Pennant is always an interesting grade in juniors with what can be incredibly strong teams when it is the clubs first team, and sometimes the opposite when the shield team has taken the strength from the club.

Five of the pennant players kept on going with the u14 mixed shield team game immediately following. Thanks Isaac, Oliver, Thomas, Lucien and Jasper. For Oliver Campbell in goals what a step up from under 12 pennant last year to playing against Essendon shield. The mixed shield players with the pennant playing holding their own really took it to Essendon where the game was quite even. 2-2 near the end of time and Essendon scored making it 3-2. While Southern was heading towards goal, disaster struck with Shayla going down with an injury. End of time and the Southern players should be proud of such a great shot at a tough game in tough circumstances. While we are talking Shayla, and the Jansz history in the club, did you know Jason, Shayla’s dad, and masters player was the club junior best and fairest in 1987.

The under 16 mixed shield suffering similar loss of players to 14 mixed shield also had pennant players doubling up, with four 16 pennant players stepping in for the 6 players away. A frustrating game for all, where Southern had most of the play and countless shots on goal finished with a 2-2 draw. Thanks for helping out Cameron, Lucas, Anthony and Aiden.

After playing their heart out the 16 pennant players joined their own team in their pennant game against Waverley finishing the night 2-0 up.

Meanwhile at the hockey centre the 16 shield girls also had the challenge of their goalie in Wollongong. Erin pulled on the pads for the team in their 3-1 win against WestVic with goals to Molly, Emilia and Liana Tyrrell. We are very pleased you had a last minute decision to play this year Liana.

Earlier in the evening the under 14 shield girls after a challenging pre-season the very young girls team – all girls being first year under 14 – came from behind for a 2-2 draw. Great work girls and super coaches Mini and Pim.

With two under 16 south teams, it is always a tough gig, but the teams had a good start to the season. Greg’s team at Monash against Bayside finished 3-0 up, with Dave McGregor’s team only 2-1 down against Mornington.

For the first time since the Under 18 competition started we have two teams. Welcome to our Caulfield Grammar players who joined giving us nearly a ready made team. To quote super coach “U18s played each other, goals were scored and everyone was the winner”.

Saturday morning started bright at early. with the Under 10 Quarter field players hitting the pitch for their first game. With the 6 local teams playing in the quarter field it should be a great season.

The under 10 half field teams were next in the morning, the children bright and shiny in their new uniforms. Thanks to Evan, Isaiah and Lewis for helping out the half field boys. The teams with six boys and one of the girls playing their first day of hockey were facing the tough opponent of Waverley. But the children with great support from coaches and “support staff” showed they had some skills and up to the task with the girls winning 2-0 and the boys 4-2. Great work under 10s – Keep having fun.

The under 12 pennant boys were next on the pitch at Farm Rd, against Mentone. Despite some great work from Taine, in goals for the first time, the boys finished 3-0 down.

The under 12 shield boys had a tough match for their first game going down to Doncaster. Thanks to the pennant boys who helped out the shield boys. Silas, they missed you.

The under 12 shield girls travelled to Doncaster and worked their heart out to finish 1-0 up, a great game in two matched teams, played in great spirit. While the under 12 district girls played at the State Netball and Hockey Centre against Brunswick. What an amazing experience for the girls, most who were playing their first game of hockey in a Hockey Victoria competition. Thanks Phoebe for being their with all your support.

Other News

Australia has qualified for the Hockey 5s in the Youth Olympics to be held in Buenos Aires in October after a massive clean sweep in Port Morseby with the help of Amy Lawton and Brad Marais. Congratulations.

The Australian Under 15 Championships have finished. The Girls Blue team cruised through the pool rounds and semi final with only one goal scored against them. The gold medal match was tight, with NSW scoring in the first half, Victoria scored in the last seconds for a 1-1 draw. The penalty shoot out resulted in a draw leading to a sudden death shoot out with Victoria finishing with the silver medal. The 15 blue boys finished fourth.

Great work.

Southern U15 reps – missing Shauna and Laura

Under 12 School Sports Victoria teams have been announced with three players from Southern United representing their schools. Lulu Stansby, George Papadopoulos and Ashton Williams. Congratulations to the three of you. First state representation for George and Ashton.

Fixtures Round 4 Seniors

There will probably be some movement in the juniors fixtures. Please check the most up to date fixtures at https://suhc.com.au/fixtures/