Orbost Hockey Club (OHC) hosted its first home matches of the 2026 East Gippsland Hockey Association season last Saturday when it welcomed local rivals Swan Reach to the Orbost Recreation Reserve.
The Green and Gold had plenty to celebrate, recording five derby victories in the six games played, including their biggest win in the women’s fixture for many a year.
The day began with the under 10s, which given OHC’s healthy player numbers at present, required two games to be contested on each half of the field.
The “A” match was evenly fought throughout, with Evie Crofts and Sophie Perry looking to drive the ball forward with intent, together with Sadie Lindfield who made multiple interceptions across the ground to help her team turn defence into attack.
Zoe Griebenow and Grace Reddy displayed tenacious tackling at the back, both impressing with their clearance work, including a crucial stop on the goal-line from each of them as the hosts withstood an extended period of pressure from their opponents.
With the scoreless game still in the balance in the second half, it was Orbost who made the decisive move, when after locking the ball into a dangerous area in front of the Swanny goal, second-gamer Matilda Kuyper stepped up to sweep home a fine strike into the bottom corner to seal the win.
In the “B” match the youngest brigade of Green and Gold stars were able to control most of the contest thanks to their relentless pressure around the ball, with Coden Volk and the brothers Steel and Jude Perry particularly active in this regard.
With Keira Murray and Alastair Songailo working hard to minimise the impact of Swanny’s attacks, Orbost was able to spend much of the game in front of the visitors’ goal, and it was from one of these opportunities after the interval that Jett Findley pounced for his career-first score in his second-ever appearance.
“A” final score: Orbost 1 d Swan Reach 0.
“B” final score: Orbost 1 d Swan Reach 0.
The under 12s encounter saw the Green and Gold’s legion of forwards put the Swanny defence under immediate and sustained pressure, and it was only a matter of minutes before Asha Farley had forced home a pair of loose balls in front of goal to put the hosts in control.
First-year player Teddy Kuyper swept home his debut goal after teammate Jaxon Murray’s strong supporting work, while Joe Millward benefitted from the midfield endeavour of Demi Murray and Sophie Scott to draw good saves out of the visitors’ keeper early in the second half.
When Neave Songailo’s hard work in the centre freed up Savannah Lindfield to storm up field and score with a second effort, Orbost was four up, and when Bella Healey led a late counterattack into the visitors’ ‘D’, Farley was on hand from close range to wrap up both her own personal hat-trick and her team’s comprehensive victory.
Final score: Orbost 5 d Swan Reach 0.
The Green and Gold’s under 14s team also charged to a commanding victory, one that saw them score from their first attack and then continue to hit the back of the cage at regular intervals throughout.
With siblings Alex and Lara Kenny forming a virtual wall across midfield and regularly rebounding the ball into attack, the hosts were always threatening and creating opportunities, particularly when Teddy Kuyper, Lily Crofts and Demi Murray were driving into dangerous areas.
Jasper Anderson’s impressive stick skills were on full display as his ability to dispossess opponents and then dribble his way through the defence enabled him to score all but one of Orbost’s tally of strikes, with Kitty Millward adding a goal of her own with some determined work on the back post in combination with Asha Farley.
Final score: Orbost 10 d Swan Reach 0.
Orbost’s fifth and final win of the day was in the women’s game against their fiercest rivals – local derbies in this grade against Swan Reach have a history of being tight and low-scoring affairs, but not on this occasion as the Green and Gold romped home.
Bree Kenny’s pass to an open Alana Farley enabled the latter to calmly beat the keeper for 1-0, a lead that was quickly doubled after a Georgia Anderson charge down the wing saw her pass to Maddie Fecondo who then buried the ball in the bottom corner. Swanny responded with their best passage of the game and pulled one back via a corner, but Kerryn Volk, Jaime Haas and Phoebe Findley all made powerful clearances on the last line of defence in order to maintain the Orbost lead at the half.
With goalie Sarah Gladstone using her boots to good effect at one end, it was the hosts who seized most of the attacking momentum after the main break, and when Farley completed her hat-trick with a couple of well-taken deflections into the cage at the back post, the Green and Gold were cruising.
There was still time for two more late strikes however courtesy of a Fecondo charging run and shot, followed by Aster Anderson finishing off an end-to-end counterattack in which her mother Misty played a significant part.
Final score: Orbost 6 d Swan Reach 1.
The under 16s matchup proved to be harder going for Orbost as it had to contend with a Swanny opponent that held the advantage in terms of both speed and striking ability.
Goalie Jack Scott was superb for the Green and Gold regardless of the final scoreline as he time and again made last-second interventions with his boots and pretty much every part of his equipment, while the Leni Millward-led backline fought hard throughout despite the pressure they faced.
Campbell Edlington and Chloe Findley were tireless with their energy and effort across the ground, while Jasper Anderson had a trio of big shots saved, while each of Kitty Millward, Keira Irvine and Lily Crofts all went close to converting his crosses into scores.
Final score: Orbost 0 lt Swan Reach 8.
Orbost Hockey Club will be back in action this Saturday when it travels to Sale to take on Wellington.
