Winter Competition Heats Up In Thrilling Round 3

Round 3 of the Winter Competition turned up the heat, delivering two nail-biting matches that kept spectators gripped until the final whistle.

DTS extended their unbeaten run, while the Vikings stunned the Redbacks in a fiercely contested showdown.

The opening match of the afternoon saw the Penguins take on a determined DTS side in what proved to be an enthralling and evenly matched contest. Both teams showed incredible grit and skill, with the Penguins dominating possession early but struggling to convert opportunities into goals.

Despite their territorial advantage, the Penguins were unable to break through a solid DTS defence. It was Melissa Wark who finally broke the deadlock in the second quarter, capitalising on a loose ball near the post to calmly slot it past the goalkeeper and give DTS a 1–0 lead.

The intensity lifted in the second half as play surged from end to end. Jose Webber and Joshua Dunk were influential for the Penguins, directing traffic and pushing their team forward. But DTS defenders James Cronin and David Wark stood firm, repelling attack after attack in a show of resilience.

Tahlia Gruber impressed with some deft touches in midfield, while Izack Meharg and Elijah Meharg continued to develop strongly, showcasing their growing confidence on the ball.

Early in the final quarter, the Penguins finally found the equaliser they had been hunting. Joshua Dunk capped off a strong performance with a well-taken goal to level the scores at 1–1. However, DTS respond

ed almost instantly. David Hall produced a stunning solo run from deep in his own half, slicing through the defence before delivering a pinpoint pass into the circle. Once again, Melissa Wark was perfectly positioned to finish the move, sealing a dramatic 2–1 win for DTS.

The second game of the afternoon featured another fierce battle, this time between the Vikings and the Redbacks. Both teams came out firing, moving the ball quickly and with purpose in a fast-paced, high-energy clash.

The Redbacks started strongly, launching a series of attacks through the middle, only to be repeatedly denied by the Vikings’ fullbacks and a standout performance from

goalkeeper Adam Gunderson. The Vikings responded in kind, pushing forward with pace and precision. Their efforts were rewarded when Levi Smith found the back of the goal early in the first quarter, converting an excellent pass from Faith Freeman to give his side a 1–0 lead.

The second quarter saw a hard-fought tussle between two evenly matched teams, each searching for a crack in the other’s defence. Paul Robertson played a key role in anchoring the midfield for the Vikings, while Kristy White applied relentless pressure on the Redbacks’ defensive line. For the Redbacks, Emily O’Brien was a constant wall of strength at the back, supported ably by Edwina Murray, who made life difficult for the Vikings’ attackers.

The deadlock held until the third quarter, when Zac Williams capitalised on a tight opening to blast the ball through a narrow gap between the keeper and the post, levelling the score at 1–1 with a superb finish.

In the final quarter, the Vikings shifted gears, adopting a more attacking mindset.

By spreading the play wide and using quick passing combinations, they began to stretch the Redbacks’ defence. Their efforts earned them a short corner late in the game, and Brendan Sheppard made no mistake — striking the ball cleanly and threading it through the defence and past the keeper to clinch a thrilling 2–1 victory.

With two high-calibre games and plenty of standout performances, Round 3 has certainly raised the bar for the Winter Competition. As teams continue to find their rhythm, fans can expect even more excitement in the rounds to come.

IMAGE: Tracy Lamb moves past Ned Mullany (Vikings vs Redbacks)

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• Hockey