Finals Bound: Vikings Crowned Minor Premiers, Penguins In Strong Form

Round 12 of the winter hockey competition brought fierce contests, with teams battling for their final chance at the coveted title of minor premiers.

Sunday’s two matches delivered thrilling, down-to-the-wire action, with the Vikings forced to dig deep to defend their position at the top of the ladder. Their efforts paid off, securing them the honour of being crowned the 2025 minor premiers.

The opening clash was between the Vikings and Redbacks, with just a single point separating the two sides on the leaderboard.

With the minor premiership on the line, the match carried high stakes—and it delivered. These two teams have fought fiercely all season, and this showdown proved no different.

From the first whistle, neither side gave an inch. The opening quarter was end-to-end, with Brendan Sheppard and Paul Robertson moving the ball well for the Vikings, while Luke Cosgrove linked neatly with his inners and wings to challenge the Vikings’ defence.

Dodee Ryan was a standout for the Redbacks, working tirelessly across the field. Despite strong play, scoring chances were scarce.

In the second quarter, the Redbacks pushed hard into attack, forcing the Vikings onto the defensive. Several opportunities came their way, but goalkeeper Adam Gunderson stood firm, making crucial saves to keep the scoreboard untouched.

Momentum swung again in the third quarter as the Vikings pressed deep into Redbacks territory, looking increasingly dangerous.

But the Redbacks defence held strong, with Sarah Wills, Edwina Murray, and Fred Dimmick all stepping up, and goalkeeper Conan Scott producing spectacular saves to deny the Vikings. The deadlock remained heading into the final quarter.

The last 15 minutes were played at a furious pace, with both sides lifting their intensity. Just as it looked like the game would remain scoreless, Kristy White made a solo run the length of the field, and a clash in the Redbacks’ circle saw the Vikings awarded a penalty stroke.

Brendan Sheppard calmly converted, giving the Vikings the lead in the dying minutes.

But the Redbacks were not finished. In the final minute, they won a penalty corner, and Luke Cosgrove seized the moment—firing the ball past the Vikings’ defence to equalise 1–1.

Though the match ended level, the draw was enough for the Vikings to cling to top spot on the ladder and claim the minor premiership for 2025.

The second match of the day saw the Penguins and DTS face off, with just one point also separating them for third and fourth place on the ladder. The Penguins have hit form late in the season, charging into finals contention, while DTS were eager to build momentum to close out their campaign.

Previous meetings between the two sides had been close, reflecting the strong quality of hockey on display this year.

Early on, DTS found it difficult to move the ball forward in attack as the Penguins’ midfield applied relentless pressure. This forced turnovers and gave the Penguins excellent field position, which they used to launch quick counter-attacks.

Shaun Mortyne was outstanding for the Penguins, working tirelessly at both ends of the field and proving especially dangerous in attack. In the fourth minute, he broke into the circle and slipped the ball past Oscar Heffernan to open the scoring.

For DTS, David Hall and Matt Hall worked tirelessly from end to end, defending stoutly while also linking with David Wark and Andrew Austen to drive forward.

However, Penguins’ defenders Monique Woodward and Lucy Dunk were pivotal—Woodward breaking up play and setting up runs down the right flank, while Dunk impressed with sharp stick skills and smart positioning that created multiple scoring opportunities.

Mortyne struck again in the second quarter, extending the Penguins’ lead to 2–0 at halftime. DTS rallied in the second half, attacking as a unit and creating a string of penalty corners, but they were unable to find a breakthrough.

Michael Skillen played consistently well, setting up chances for DTS, but the Penguins held firm. At the final whistle, it was the Penguins who emerged 2–0 winners, cementing third place on the ladder and carrying strong momentum into the finals.

IMAGE: Redbacks attack Vikings goal.

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