Orbost’s under 10s side have continued to grow from strength to strength this season in the East Gippsland Hockey Association, playing a hotly-contested match against Maffra last Saturday in round 11 at Bairnsdale’s WORLD facility which ended in a goal apiece.
In a game that had more than its fair share of breakaway attacks, both Sophie Scott and Dallas Redman impressed with their cool heads and tackling at the back, while Harper Morgan, Lara Kenny and Asha Farley were all busy players across the ground, assisting whenever needed in defence, tackling hard across the middle and keeping the ball moving forward into attack.
It was the running ability and strong stick work of both Savannah Lindfield and Darius Mathews that created the best opportunities up front for Orbost, and it was the latter who scored his side’s goal after a strong team move that moved the ball from one end to the other.
Final score: Orbost 1 dw Maffra 1.
The under 14s encounter was also an entertaining affair with plenty of goalmouth action at both ends, with Maffra’s fast start and strong passing game helping them to make the most of their opportunities and open up an early three goal margin.
Orbost though steadily worked its way into the contest and almost got on the scoresheet when a pair of Chloe Findley runs into the ‘D’ followed by sharp crosses were almost converted by Kitty Millward on the back post.
After goalie Campbell Edlington kept his team in it with a big save from point-blank range, a quick counterattack led by Kayley Robinson’s accurate long pass led to a short corner opportunity, one that Jasper Anderson powered home to open the Green and Gold account.
Maffra kept pressing to extend its advantage in the second half, but crucial backline interventions from Leni Millward and Peter Florance, together with a pair of big tackles to end dangerous breakaways from Sarah Gladstone and Mia Martin, all served to keep Maffra at bay.
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After a Robinson run and pass led to a Findley shot at the near post being denied, a Lily Crofts cross created an opportunity in front of goal that Anderson was the first to react to, scoring Orbost’s second in the process.
As time ticked down, Anderson almost equalised on two separate occasions after Florance and Jack Scott respectively fed the ball to him in the ‘D’, only for his first shot to be saved and the other deflect to safety off the post, but Maffra too was still generating opportunities of its own as both sets of attackers took advantage of tiring defensive legs.
One such opportunity required Martin to make a desperation clearance from her own goal line, and regrettably for the Green and Gold’s comeback efforts, their opponents were able to lock the ball in the ‘D’ and eventually force it home for the deciding score.
Final score: Orbost 2 lt Maffra 4.
The following under 16s matchup also saw both teams generate plenty of attacking opportunities, but ultimately it was the Maffra side who made the most of converting those at one end while effectively snuffing out Orbost’s with a rock-solid defensive performance.
For the Green and Gold, Phoebe Findley worked tirelessly to contest every loose ball and turn defence into attack, while Mitch Farley was full of pace and persistence across the ground, working well in partnership with both Campbell Edlington and Jasper Anderson to create scoring chances.
All three of the aforementioned players saw their shots on goal turned away in the first half, while in the second both Chloe Findley and Ava Martin just missed out on converting fluent team attacks into deserved goals.
The Orbost backline certainly battled hard and between them thwarted many Maffra attacks, with goalie Sarah Gladstone bravely saving a trio of powerful strikes, but ultimately this was not to be their day.
Final score: Orbost 0 lt Maffra 7.
By the time the women’s game began, evening had arrived and with it a cool and wet change to the weather, leading to the fixture being played in a frigid downpour.
The Green and Gold’s Bree Kenny was particularly in fine form with a couple of spectacular clearances inside her own ‘D’.
After an early goal put Maffra in front, Orbost responded with a splendid score of its own when a long Mia Joiner pass found Georgia Anderson in a dangerous position, who then dribbled the ball past the goalie and drilled it home cleanly, levelling the proceedings up at the half.
Despite some good saves in goal from Alana Farley, together with Misty Anderson’s strong clearance work and Kerryn Volk’s timely interventions on the backline, Maffra was able to pull away in the third quarter with a trio of well-taken strikes, and with the conditions deteriorating by the minute, the sensible decision was made by both sides and the umpires to end the contest at that point.
Final score: Orbost 1 lt Maffra 4.
Orbost Hockey Club will be back in action this Saturday when it travels to Bairnsdale to take on local rivals, Nagle.
