Orbost Hockey Club completed its 2026 home and away East Gippsland Hockey Association season last Saturday when they took on Maffra in round 15 action in Bairnsdale.
The Green and Gold’s under 12 team registered a stirring victory to book their place in the finals, while the under 14s made it 14 wins out of 15 for the year as they tuned up for the September challenges ahead.
Orbost’s under 12s were into the attack and were rewarded with one of their best team goals of the season, one which began with a rampaging run down the wing by Savannah Lindfield, some great work by Belle Healey to drive the ball into the ‘D’ and a sharp finish by Demi Murray that gave the keeper no chance.
Maffra quickly equalised and then threatened to go in front themselves, only for a reflex stop by goalie Darius Mathews and some strong tackling by Sophie Scott and Harper Morgan to keep them at bay.
Joe Millward’s powerful running through the centre and his ability to hit the ball long regularly stretched the opposing defence, and it was from one such combination that Murray was able to get the deftest of deflections from a booming pass to put Orbost back in the lead just before halftime.
There was however time for one more score before the main break when Teddy Kuyper danced into the ‘D’ with the ball on his stick, creating a moment of panic for the Maffra backline that Asha Farley was able to exploit when she forced the ball home from close range with her second effort.
The Green and Gold once again had both Mathews (with a pair of sharp saves) and Harry Greenwood (with a crucial clearance in his own ‘D’) to keep their opponents out early in the second half, although Maffra was eventually able to pull one back to set up the grandstand finish.
Both Lara Kenny and Jaxon Murray were intercepting and rebounding a number of balls in the midfield that helped to sustain the attacking pressure, and after being awarded a corner, it was Millward who stepped up to secure the win for his side when he unfurled an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner of the cage.
The under 12s have secured third place on the ladder and will play an elimination final next week against Maffra.
Final score: Orbost 4 d Maffra 2.
The under 14s ultimately registered a comfortable final round win, but they were certainly made to work hard for it by a Maffra side that caused them more than a few headaches, particularly in a highly competitive first half.
Goalie Jacob Rutherford remained calm under pressure as he made several interventions with his big boots, while Kitty Millward and Savannah Lindfield battled hard across the backline throughout to disrupt a number of dangerous attacks.
The Green and Gold’s next generation of under 14s also saw plenty of action with both Teddy Kuyper and Asha Farley applying attacking heat in the Maffra ‘D’, while Lara Kenny impressed with her midfield work and Joe Millward did likewise with his powerful ball striking (which unfortunately included having one sizzling shot into the back of the cage disallowed).
Alex Kenny’s dynamic running through the centre and down the wings provided plenty of challenges for his opponents, particularly as the game wore on, and with the ball increasingly locked into attack for Orbost, this served to finally break the contest open with a flurry of Green and Gold goals in the second half.
All seven scores were recorded by the stick of Jasper Anderson, two of which came from sharp finishes to complete strong team counterattacking moves, and the remaining five from his ability to weave his way through and then wheel his way around the defenders before picking just the right moment to successfully slot the ball home.
The under 14s have finished in first place on the ladder and will play a qualifying final next week against Sale.
Final score: Orbost 7 d Maffra 0.
Orbost’s under 16 side went into their fixture knowing that results elsewhere in the league meant that they had to at least draw with Maffra if they were to reach the finals.
Their prospects of doing so decreased further when they fell three goals down in the first quarter, but when Campbell Edlington powered home a second effort from a corner before applying a more delicate touch to finish off a strong team counter to score again, the Green and Gold had some hope.
Despite Maffra registering a further brace of goals before the main break, the second half saw Orbost launch multiple attacks as they chased the game – a Chloe Findley effort was denied just in front, a Keira Irvine and Owen Fisher combination attack was turned away, and an Edlington blast hit the side rather than the back of the cage.
Some strong clearance work at the back by Leni Millward, together with a vital Sarah Gladstone tackle and a block of a certain goal by Mia Martin all served to prevent Maffra extending its lead, and with goalie Jack Scott also making a series of bold
saves of his own, only a single (and disputed) score was added to their tally.
Meanwhile Orbost kept fighting up front as it continued its comeback attempt, but when Jasper Anderson saw three successive powerful blasts from corners all saved, his team’s pursuit of postseason play unfortunately came to an end.
The under 16s finished in fifth place on the ladder, meaning their 2026 campaign has come to an end.
Final score: Maffra 6 d Orbost 2.
With there being no finals series in the under 10s competition, this fixture represented the chance for Orbost’s youngest players to finish 2026 on a high, something they certainly achieved with a hard-fought one-goal victory over Maffra.
In what was an open affair with plenty of movement and end-to-end action, the Green and Gold saw all of Indi Gilmour, Keira Murray and Sophie Perry apply plenty of pressure in the centre, allowing the pairing of Matilda Kuyper and Lyla Gilmour to stream forward with the ball into dangerous areas.
The key moments of the contest came firstly when Jett Findley coolly converted his chance to score after Evie Crofts and Coden Volk had generated an attack from midfield, followed by Zoe Griebenow making a vital stop on her own goal-line to prevent a last-minute Maffra equaliser.
Orbost’s under 10s recorded three wins and three draws over the course of their season.
Final score: Orbost 1 d Maffra 0.
Orbost’s women’s team unfortunately saw their finals aspirations dashed before a ball was struck courtesy of results elsewhere making their qualification impossible, but there was still the opportunity to test themselves against one of the competition’s
benchmarks in Maffra.
As they have done all season, the trio of teenagers Phoebe and Chloe Findley plus Aster Anderson provided plenty of run and drive up the ground, delivering the ball to forwards Marni Riordan, Alana Farley and Sammi Reynolds to try and find their way through the opposing backline, unfortunately to no avail on this particular day.
At the back goalie Sarah Gladstone capped her wonderful year between the pipes with a series of strong stops, while Lisa Murray, Kerryn Volk and Misty Anderson all worked tirelessly to divert away multiple dangerous attacks.
The women finished in fifth place on the ladder, meaning their 2026 campaign has come to an end.
Final score: Maffra 5 d Orbost 0.
Orbost Hockey Club’s two competing teams will play the first round of the finals this Saturday in Bairnsdale when the under 12s face Maffra and the under 14s take on Sale at the WORLD facility.
