Strikers, SYC and Echuca- Moama prevail in Goulburn Valley Hockey Association grand finals

Xavier McBain and company utilised a heavy scoring third quarter to account, netting three times to take the wind from SYC’s sails and run away with a 5-3 victory.

McBain, who struck a goal during the win alongside Max Cole and Samuel Holland (three), was rapt to lift the cup in triumph for another year.

“It was a close game, hot contest - it was very physical and we were able to obviously get the win in the end. But it wasn’t easy,” he said.

“Initially we just thought ‘play our game and we’ll be able to get the result’ if we play our game style.

“But we knew what SYC would bring with pressure and intensity. We said if we can match that and bring our game style, we should get the win.”

McBain’s likely reason to be cautious of SYC derived the last time both sides met.

Back in round 10 of the regular season, the Scorchers emerged with a 2-0 victory courtesy of goals from Matthew Irwin and Alex Dowe, and the former was not to be denied in Saturday’s decider.

However, his say certainly wasn’t the first on the match.

Strikers bulged the net twice in the opening quarter, the first from Holland as he tapped home from close range after a McBain strike rapped off the post before Cole drilled one from the top of the circle.

SYC then fired back in the second term as the Scorchers scored twice to draw things up at the half.

But the Strikers were about to turn up the heat.

In football, the third stanza is often referred to as the ‘premiership quarter’ and McBain’s boys took a leaf out of the oval-ball manuscript as they foiled SYC goalie Caleb Ellemor on three occasions in 15 minutes.

McBain converted a lovely flick while Holland completed his hat trick with two more goals, prompting his mentor to wax lyrical about the young gun’s talents.

“Sam was definitely one of our best players. He was very impressive, he’s only a young fella but he’s got great skill and speed,” McBain said.

“He definitely brought his best game on the weekend.”

Another second half from the Scorchers kept things interesting, but ultimately it was the side in red celebrating at the final whistle as the scoreboard read 5-3.

Nathan Greig, Luke Greig and Irwin were SYC’s scorers on the day.

Despite the game’s tight nature, Strikers’ monopoly on the competition prompts a question whether the club considers following in Mooroopna Hockey Club’s women’s footsteps and entering into the metro Vic Leagues.

McBain, who plays in the Vic League One for North West Lightning away from his Strikers’ duties, was quick to shut that down, however.

“It’s a big commitment to go into the Vic League with a lot more travel, all the games are mostly played in Melbourne,” he said.

“We’re not looking to go any further than the Goulburn Valley league, it’s up to the individual players to do that.

“This club hockey is great for us because we get to showcase our skills and bring back a bit of talent to the Goulburn Valley Hockey Association.

“I’m definitely hanging around next year, we’ll hopefully build another squad next year and go again.”

Meanwhile, the B-grade men’s grand final was just as much of a heart stopper as its higher division counterpart.

With the scores locked at one-all between SYC and Benalla with 30 seconds left on the clock, Scorchers’ Iain Greig completed his brace from a short corner to send the yellow and blue faithful into raptures.

Greig had struck earlier in the game while Benalla’s Andrew Glazzard also netted, but it was the former’s late goal that sealed the title for SYC on a memorable day for the club’s second division outfit.

And in the women’s grand final, Echuca-Moama brought silverware back to the twin towns as it knocked over Strikers 2-1.

Makayla Pendlebury and Courtney Thompson scored for the River Rats while Victoria Charlesworth bundled home the Strikers’ solitary goal in the defeat.