Spring Twilight Hockey Competition – Round 7 Recap

Sunday’s Round 7 of the Spring Twilight Hockey Competition was played in welcome cooler weather, with players delivering some thrilling contests across the field.

The opening match saw the Koalas take on the Wombats.

Both sides began short on numbers but quickly filled the gaps with handy substitutes.

The Wombats capitalised early, dominating the first quarter with strong attacking play and two quick goals.

Faith Freeman was consistent on the wing, while Fred Dimmick and William Byrnes held firm in defence.

Jose Webber impressed with skillful ball control and sharp skills, scoring two goals, while Janice Dunk added another to give the Wombats a total score of 3.

The Koalas lifted in the second half once they fielded a full team.

Jennifer McKay was tireless, finding space and driving the ball forward.

She was rewarded with a goal, joined on the scoresheet by Mitchell Bellingham, Juninia Mahika, and Melwyn Makana.

Kylan Williamson-Bellingham sealed the comeback with two goals of his own, securing a 6–3 victory for the Koalas.

The second game was a tightly contested battle between the Possums and Emus. Ruby Walsh opened the scoring for the Possums, supported by strong midfield play from Cindy James, Annie Starr, and Natasha Reynolds.

Despite repeated attacks, the Emus’ defence, led by Donna Burns, held firm.

Greg Bannister directed play superbly through the middle, creating opportunities for the Emus and scoring one himself.

Elijah Meharg added another, giving the Emus a 2–1 lead heading into the final quarter. But the Possums refused to concede, and a slick Brendan Sheppard–Michael Walsh combination saw Walsh equalise just before the final whistle.

The match ended in a hard-fought 2–2 draw.

The final game of the day was a goal fest, producing the highest scoreline of the season.

Playing their second match, the Wombats worked tirelessly, with Edwin Kwan pivotal in defence. Yet the Kookaburras delivered a performance to remember.

Aiden Gunderson and Joshua Sibanda each recorded hat-tricks, Jude Sibanda added two, and Nothabo and Hannington Sibanda also found the goal, giving the Kookaburras a remarkable total of 10 goals.

The Wombats showed resilience and flashes of brilliance, with Faith Freeman scoring twice, while Kwan and Byrnes added one each.

Their teamwork earned them a respectable four goals, though the Kookaburras claimed the emphatic 10–4 win.

Next week marks the final round of the Twilight Competition, promising more excitement as players and supporters come together to celebrate the end of a fantastic season.

• Topics:

• Hockey