Orbost’s under 10s and 12s both recorded victories on the weekend against Swan Reach at the Orbost Recreation Reserve in round 14 of the East Gippsland Hockey Association 2024 season, further proving their growth as a side throughout the season.
For the under 10s the pace and power running of Savannah Lindfield and Asha Farley brought them a brace of goals apiece, while the defensive efforts of Sophie Scott and Harper Morgan kept the ball from spending too long in the Orbost half of the field.
Lara Kenny and Isobel Lawless were industrious in the midfield engine room, with the latter also finding the scoresheet courtesy of a strong burst forward and shot.
In the under 12s encounter it was Lily Crofts who regularly found herself in the right place at the right time up front in order to convert three well-worked team goals, while Kitty Millward also notched up a personal hat-trick of scores with her direct running in on goal and accurate shooting from distance.
Alex Kenny and Malky Morrison were continual thorns in the side of the Swanny midfield and defence with the pressure they supplied, while Jacob Rutherford was once more a rock at the back who was determined to let nothing past him.
The remaining two Green and Gold goals were scored by Geoffrey Florance who excelled in both his rebounding work and his ability to work his way into dangerous positions up front to be both a creator and a finisher when his teammates required it.
Final score (U10s): Orbost 5 d Swan Reach 3.
Final score (U12s): Orbost 8 d Swan Reach 0.
Orbost’s under 16s side faced the daunting task of taking on an unbeaten Swan Reach outfit that had only conceded three goals for the season, but the hosts certainly did not back down from the contest and turned in a highly creditable performance, one that saw them draw the second half a goal apiece.
The Green and Gold backline withstood plenty of early pressure with Phoebe Findley and Leni Millward in particular contributing numerous well-timed clearances, and goalie Sarah Gladstone getting her boots and her body behind many of the powerful strikes that the visitors were able to pepper her goal with from a variety of angles.
Three Swanny scores did eventuate before the main break, but Orbost’s determination meant the game
remained closer than expected.
A combination of the warm weather and a slower than usual playing surface made the conditions tough for both sides as the game wore on, but it was the home team who responded the best to them.
With Chloe Findley winning plenty of the ball across the ground and Campbell Edlington working tirelessly up front, the attacking opportunities for Orbost steadily increased, with Jasper Anderson whistling a pair of dangerous balls across the face of goal that almost went in, one directly from his own stick, the other from Ava Martin’s effort at the back post.
After Swanny scored their fourth goal, the Green and Gold were finally able to reply in kind thanks to an effective team counter that caught their opponents napping and led to a successful Anderson strike after he fought off the attentions of a pair of defenders inside the ‘D’.
Final score: Orbost 1 lt Swan Reach 4.
Orbost Hockey Club will complete its home-and-away season this Saturday when it travels to the WORLD facility in Bairnsdale to play against Sale.
