Orbost Hockey Club’s under 16s side have shown great resilience and on-field improvement throughout the East Gippsland Hockey Association 2024 season, two characteristics they brought with them into the contest against Sale last weekend where they were the underdog at the WORLD facility in Bairnsdale.
After absorbing some early pressure thanks to a sharp save from goalie Sarah Gladstone from point-blank range, a rampaging run down the wing from Dom Preston created an opportunity for Orbost to score from a corner, one that Mitch Farley took when he drilled an absolute peach of a reverse stick shot into the bottom corner.
After their opponents had scored a couple of goals of their own to open up a half time lead, the Green and Gold had a pair of chances to equalise when firstly Ava Martin just missed out on converting Farley’s precise cross, and then when Campbell Edlington’s big charge forward was ended by the goalie’s pads.
With Phoebe Findley working tirelessly across the backline, Sale’s forwards were continually challenged to find a way through the determined Orbost defence and it was only via a fortuitous goalmouth scramble they were able to secure their third score.
The Green and Gold weren’t out of the contest yet, with Martin coming close to pulling a score back after Peter Florance cleverly flicked the ball into a dangerous area, but regrettably their desire to chase the game led to them being exposed on the counter with the last goal of the match therefore going against rather than for them.
Final score:
Sale 4 d Orbost 1.
In the under 18s competition Orbost faced a similarly stiff challenge against a finals-bound opponent, and once again they showed a huge amount of spirit and determination to keep the scoreline to a final margin that if anything flattered Sale.
Thanks to Ellie Florance’s feisty tackling in the backline and a brilliant deflection to safety by Phoebe Findley, many of Sale’s best first half efforts were turned away and it was only through very well-taken shots from tight angles that they were able to open up a two-goal lead.
The Green and Gold were no strangers to dangerous attacks of their own however, with a dynamic run from Chloe Findley creating a scoring opportunity for Leni Millward and a sweet Joe Mathews shot that travelled the wrong side of the post marking their best chances before half time.
Goalie Dom Preston made good use of his boots to deny a double-chance after the break, but unfortunately could not prevent the third consecutive shot on target becoming Sale’s third goal, although this now put Orbost in the nothing left to lose mindset and led to its most attacking period of play in the game.
A big run and saved shot from Mathews created a rebounded ball that Chloe Findley did well to work into the cage for a goal, and in quick succession Mitch Farley (twice), Mia Joiner and Millward all forced saves from the keeper after getting onto the end of some encouraging end-to-end team moves, only for time (and a further last gasp goal from their opponents) to ultimately defeat their comeback.
Final score:
Sale 4 d Orbost 1.
Orbost’s women’s team had the unenviable task of taking on this year’s minor premiers in their last fixture of the year, and despite going down to a heavy defeat where they conceded six goals in each half, it was the pride shown in the Green and Gold shirt, particularly by the many first-year and junior players that really stood out.
Although most of the match was played inside their own half, Orbost was able to frighten its opponents with some dangerous attacks of their own, with a saved Kerryn Volk shot that fell to Jaime Haas on the back post representing their best opportunity of the first term.
On what became an increasingly warm afternoon, the effort to drive forward and grab at least one consolation goal remained strong, with a long Volk pass to Mia Joiner in the ‘D’ providing one red hot chance, before finally a weaving run from Joiner herself reaped the deserved dividends when she wrong-footed the keeper and slotted the ball into the cage.
Final score:
Sale 12 d Orbost 1.
Orbost Hockey Club’s under 14s side will travel once more to the WORLD facility in Bairnsdale this Saturday when they take on Swan Reach in a sudden death fixture to determine who will move onto the preliminary final and further September action.
