First game back from the long weekend and without Centre Half as Lee and Amy B. were off in Perth and Vanessa G. choosing 4 weeks in Africa over playing hockey. With Emma C joining the group and Emily Cole dropping into a full back role we were ready to take on Mentone.

At the 5 minute mark it looked like it was going to be a long day on the field. Mentone just attacked again and again and would have scored at least twice if it wasn’t for Alison Wright’s superhuman reflexes. After a about 15 minutes the girls started to settle into the game and got a lot more of the ball and we started to dominate the play with some good attacking play by Katelyn W and Ellie C and Alisia S turning over Mentone’s defence. The pressure paid off with a penalty stroke which Alisia converted with workman like efficiency.

We were able to keep the pressure on them in the second half and Jacky J even made a cameo appearance after Holly Mc. got a nasty hit on her forearm from a shot at goal on a penalty corner.

Two more goals followed and there was some great defensive play from Sue Mc, Emily and Jane O. Jane made one save on a certain goal which resulted in the Mentone player being sent off, followed closely by Alisia being sent off for the same reason.

Mentone managed to get a goal at the end of the game but a 3-1 result Southern’s way was a great reward for some well co-ordinated play. From a coaching point of view it is very pleasing to see the girls starting to string together some good ball movement and strong attack into goal. 

At the end of round 9 the team is sitting in 4^th position on the ladder with 3 wins, 3 losses and 3 draws.  I am looking forward to improving the girls skills further and getting some good results for the team.