Winter Hockey Round 6: Vikings Stay On Top, Penguins Denied First Win

Round 6 of the Winter Hockey Competition delivered two tightly contested matches, with teams digging deep in their pursuit of victory.

In the opening game, Vikings held off a determined Redbacks outfit to claim a hard-fought 3–2 win and maintain their position at the top of the ladder.

Vikings started strongly, dominating early possession and converting a slick penalty corner through Michael Adams in the first quarter.

Redbacks hit back early in the second, with Zac Williams finding space behind the defence and slotting the equaliser past the advancing goalkeeper.

Vikings regained control in the third quarter, as Adams struck again from a penalty corner, followed by a sweetly timed field goal from Kristy White to give them a twogoal buffer at the final break.

Redbacks launched a spirited comeback in the fourth, earning multiple penalty corners. Luke Cosgrove capitalised on one to narrow the margin, but Vikings’ defence held firm in the dying minutes.

Strong performances from Kerry Palmer and Tracy Lamb in the halves, along with the tireless efforts of Paul Robertson, helped seal the win.

The second match saw Penguins denied their first win of the season, forced to settle for a 1–1 draw against a resilient DTS.

The Penguins were bolstered by the addition of two Solomon Island players, Juninia Mahika and Melwyn Makana, whose speed and flair added a new dynamic to their attack. Mahika opened the scoring in the second quarter with a sliding effort that brought the crowd to life.

Despite standout performances from Josh Dunk and Jose Webber, the Penguins couldn’t find a second goal.

DTS capitalised late in the third quarter when Melissa Wark, left unmarked on the post, calmly slotted the equaliser.

David Wark controlled the midfield for DTS, while Fiona Douglas anchored the defence and the Hall brothers contributed solidly across the field, helping their side salvage a valuable point.

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