Winter Hockey Heats Up: Vikings and Penguins Victorious in Round 10 Thrillers

Round 10 of the winter hockey season delivered two tightly contested matches, treating spectators to thrilling play, sharp skills, and a showcase of impressive goals. With just two rounds remaining, the finals are shaping up to be an exciting finish.

Vikings vs Redbacks

The first game saw the Vikings take on the Redbacks in a spirited clash. Both teams came out strong, wasting no time warming into the contest.

Redbacks struck early, with Luke Cosgrove slotting a brilliant goal from the edge of the circle, catching the Vikings defence off guard.

The Vikings answered swiftly, as Andrew Pratt delivered a powerful strike that slipped past the Redbacks defence, equalising the score by the end of the first quarter.

From there, the Vikings stepped up the intensity, executing quick, clean passes that saw them surge through the Redbacks defence.

Despite the pressure, Redbacks goalkeeper Conan Scott made several crucial saves, proving tough to beat.

Eventually, Brendan Sheppard broke through, taking advantage of a short corner in the second quarter to give the Vikings a 2-1 lead, narrowly beating Scott’s glove. The Redbacks continued to challenge, but struggled to get the ball into their attacking half, thanks to the solid defensive wall of Paul Robertson, David Webster and William Byrne.

Emily O’Brien, Edwina Murray and Sarah Wills stood strong in defence for the Redbacks, keeping the Vikings from extending their lead.

The second half remained scoreless, and the Vikings held on for a well-earned 2-1 victory.

Penguins vs DTS

The second match of the round featured the Penguins and DTS in another nail-biter, with both sides having equal chances at goal and keeping spectators guessing right to the end.

Fiona Douglas was a standout for DTS, consistently shutting down the Penguins’ early attacking moves, well supported by reliable goalkeeper Oscar Heffernan.

But the Penguins remained relentless, driving the ball forward with speed and precision. Juninia Mahika, Joshua Dunk and Timothy Roberts were instrumental in the midfield, eventually finding Cooper Saines, who expertly threaded the ball through the DTS defence to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead at halftime.

DTS continued to press, with David Wark moving the ball effectively and Michelle Cronin finding strong positions across the field.

Yet they were repeatedly denied by a rock-solid Penguins defence, with Edwin Kwan making key interceptions and clearances to protect the lead.

In the second half, Izack Meharg pounced on a loose ball in the circle and calmly slotted it into goal, extending the Penguins’ lead to 2-0.

Despite DTS’s best efforts, the Penguins held firm, sealing the win and continuing their impressive winning streak as the finals draw near.

IMAGE: David Webster takes on Michael Killick (Vikings vs Redbacks)

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