We continue to tick towards the halfway mark of the Goulburn Valley Hockey Association season, with the competition returning at the weekend after three weeks off.
Games in the A-grade men’s league were split over Friday night and Sunday afternoon as the Smurf Turf of Shepparton Regional Hockey Complex set the stage for both matches.
Mooroopna came into its Sunday affair with Echuca Moama with no points and one goal scored from its opening three rounds, but this game came to life just the way the home side needed.
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Echuca Moama’s Ryan More advances directly through the midfield.Image 2 of 6
Echuca Moama’s Troy Kenny turns on the jets to get around Mooroopna’s Adam Kennedy. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 3 of 6
Echuca Moama’s Lucas Kell has acres of space to run into. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 4 of 6
Mooroopna’s William Jirik looks to deliver a cross from out wide.Image 5 of 6
Echuca Moama’s Ryan More makes another forward foray. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 6 of 6
Echuca Moama's Lucas Kell sweeps through a groundstroke. Photo by Rechelle ZammitGoals two, three and four for the season would have instilled a great degree of confidence in a Mooroopna side playing its first campaign back in the A-grade division after coming up from B-grade last year.
Unfortunately for the boys in blue, Echuca Moama was not in a giving mood, eventually sending both teams home with a point apiece in a 3-3 thriller.
The two form sides of A-grade met under Friday night lights at the Shepparton complex as Strikers and SYC renewed hostilities.
Max Cole and Kieran Murphy would find the back of the net as Strikers continued their dominant run in a straightforward 2-0 victory.
In the women’s draw, two contrasting results popped up as Echuca Moama made it seven wins from seven in a 10-0 drubbing of Euroa.
Sarah-Jane Taylor and Courtney Thompson each delivered hat-tricks in the thumping win, with Echuca Moama now moving two games clear of Strikers, who had the bye.
Benalla scraped out a 2-1 victory over SYC, its first of the season, through a brace to Katrina Brown.
Also on Sunday at Shepparton, Mooroopna’s women put in a brilliant showing at home to Melton Hockey Club, thrashing the visitor 9-0 courtesy of seven different goal scorers.
Hannah Vibert scored for the third straight game, adding another brace to her red-hot form as Mooroopna further consolidated its grip on fourth spot in the Vic League 2 table.