WA Over 50's - 2004 Match Reports

Game 1: WA vs NT - Monday 27th September, 10:00am

The WA Over 50's commenced their quest for gold with a convincing 8-0 victory over the NT Crocs. 
With Geoff Hudson and Len Blyth unavailable for game one, the team started with fourteen players, all of whom were able to gain valuable game time in both halves. 
With the tournament starting in fine weather, the WA Over 50's commenced with confidence and it was eight minutes into the match when Robbie Lawson scored a sharp deflection goal on a pass from right half Eddie Bartnik. The Grey Ducks continued to apply pressure and with further goals from Ray Norton (stroke), Ralph Untersteiner (Penalty Corner direct hit) and Dennis Baker, the score was 4-0 at half time. But for great goalkeeping by John White (the NT goalie), the score could have been higher. 
After the half-time break, the Grey Ducks took total control and with quicker, sharper passing, looked more dangerous. However, the NT defence stood firm. Further goals from Rob Lawson, Tom Long (2) and Dennis Baker saw the final score finish at 8-0, a good start for the Grey Ducks. 

Game 2: WA vs ACT - Wednesday 29th September, 2:30pm

The WA Over 50's continued on their winning way when they disposed of ACT 3-1 in today's fixture. 
ACT, who had won the tournament in 2003 and who had beaten NSW No 2 in their first fixture, were probably expected to win but a great team effort again by the WA team allowed them to dominate the first half to lead 2-0 at half time. <br< a="" fine="" goal="" by="" tom="" long="" started="" the="" scoring="" and="" this="" was="" soon="" followed="" reverse="" stick="" tap="" in="" dennis="" baker="" goalkeeper="" rebound.="" <br="">The second half was a see-sawing affair with both sides having a fair share of the play, ACT in particular holding midfield sway with their Centre Half. A great overhead pass from right half Eddie Bartnik to Ralph Untersteiner and then to Tom Long who passed in to Rob Lawson in front of the goal resulted in WA's 3rd goal. 
ACT got a consolation goal when they scored a fine deflection goal off a short corner. 
The game finished with WA striving for the next goal and having had a few close calls, were happy to see the game run out at 3-1. 

Game 3: WA vs VIC(1) - Thursday 30th September, 4:00pm

The WA Over 50's dominated a Victorian XI to win their 3rd game with a score of 2-0. 
The score was probably not a good indication of the game as the WA side dominated the bulk of the game, particularly in the second half. 
The score at half-time was 0-0 with the WA side having had one goal disallowed and other scoring opportunities missed. 
However, in the second half, the Grey Ducks shortened their passes, moved the ball more quickly and transferred play from side to side, causing the Victorians to play in their defensive half. It was only going to be a matter of time before WA scored. 
The first score came from an overlap from right half Eddie Bartnik who hit the ball flat into the circle and a fine deflection from Tom Long found the net. 
With continued pressure, the Grey Ducks were awarded a penalty stroke which was neatly converted by skipper Ray Norton. 
The Grey Ducks held the bulk of the play for the remainder of the game but were unable to add to the score. 
Eddie Bartnik was voted best player by the WA team, while Tommy Long received the vote of the opposition.

Game 4: WA vs NSW(2) - Saturday 2nd October, 10:00am

The WA O/50's cemented their position at the top of pool A with a convincing win over NSW(2). 
WA started in spectacular fashion with centre forward Tommy Long stealing a first pass-back, breaking into the NSW(2) circle and creating a penalty corner. He then scored a rebound goal off the keeper. Nine seconds had passed on the clock between the start of the game and the awarding of the corner! 
The Grey Ducks continued to dominate and were rewarded with further goals from Tom Long and Dudley Evans to make the score 3-0 at half time. 
In the second half the Grey Ducks continued to move the ball around accurately and quickly, thus depriving NSW(2) of the ball. With great build-up down the right hand side Dudley Evans found himself in front of the goal to seal his second and WA's fourth. 
NSW(2) began a spirited fightback and were rewarded when a right side hit in was tapped in to the WA goal. 
However, not to be denied, WA fought back quickly and another right side attack saw Robbie Lawson finish off a great pass from Pete Fogels to secure WA's fifth goal. 
Final score was 5-1. Alan Chesney was named best player by his WA colleagues.

Game 5: WA vs TAS(2) - Sunday 3rd October

The Grey Ducks completed their first round of competition with a 4-1 victory over Tasmania 2. 
After five victories the Grey Ducks finished on top of their pool (A) and now go into the second round with games against the top 3 in pool B, this being NSW(1), Tassie(1) and NSW(3). 
Although the Ducks did not play particularly well they were convincing winners over Tassie(2). WA scored first when Dudley Evans scored a rebound off a penalty corner and this was followed by another penalty corner when Butch Worth converted a neat pass back from Dennis Baker. 
The Ducks dominated the 2nd half with Alan Chesney controlling the mid-field and the strikers continuing to create chances. However it was half-back Eddie Bartnick who scored the next goal on an overlap from right half. Ralph Untersteiner scored from a penalty corner to make it 4 and then Tassie scored a consolation goal when their centre forward broke away with most of the WA players forward, to score a fine individual goal. 
Best for WA on the oppositions vote was Ralph Untersteiner while Dudley Evans gained the team vote. 

Game 6: WA vs TAS(1) - Tuesday 5th October

On the first days play in the second half of the tournament, the Grey Ducks continued on their winning way with a dogged 5-2 defeat of Tasmania 1. 
In the windy environs of Devonport the Tassie team surprised the Grey Ducks early with some fine controlled play which resulted in an early goal for them. 
However the Grey Ducks fought back quickly and a rapid series of passes between Eddie Bartnik, Butch Worth and Ray Norton saw Eddie flick the ball past the surprised Tassie goalie. Ray Norton then quickly followed this up with a penalty corner pass back from Dennis Baker. 
Before half time came, Dudley Evans finished off another penalty corner when the ball had rebounded from the Tassie keeper and then through a quick series of accurate passes landed back on Dudley's stick and he flicked the ball into the net. 
In the second half, the Grey Ducks had the wind behind them and wanted to use it to their advantage. However, Tassie fought back to score a penalty corner to make their score 3-2. The Ducks then lifted another level and two further goals, one to Dudley Evans and another to Ralph Untersteiner sealed the game for the WA team. 
Ray Norton was voted Man of the Match by his peers and the opposition.

Game 7: WA vs NSW(1) - Wednesday 6th October

The Grey Ducks suffered their first defeat of the tournament when they went down 1-0 to the NSW No. 1 team. However, the result of this game, although somewhat dependant on results of other O/50 games, should still see both WA and NSW fight out the Gold Medal match on Saturday. 
The game was evenly poised for the bulk of the match with both sides creating chances. Some fine goalkeeping by Max Viner kept the NSW forwards out to see a 0-0 result at half time. Both sides were rotating players quite frequently and this was probably important today as the weather was quite hot and the result of the game was probably not going to be that important apart from the psychological impact of defeating your opponent. 
NSW scored a deflection goal in the second half to seal the result. However, as the Grey Ducks felt the goal was a lucky one they continued to apply some pressure and created some further chances late in the game. Dudley Evans hit a shot over the top of the goal and a shot from Dennis Baker was saved with a spectacular dive from the NSW goalie. 
Final score 1-0 to NSW. 
Alan Chesney was named man of the match by the opposition while Max Viner gained his peers votes for best for WA.

Game 8: WA vs NSW(3) - Friday 8th October, 8:30am

The Grey Ducks consolidated their position at the top of the table and a place in the Grand Final with a convincing 5-0 victory over NSW(3). 
A hat trick to Len Collier (which of course means a carton of beer), and a further two goals to Robbie Lawson saw the Grey Ducks cruise from a 2-0 half-time result to a final 5-0 scoreline. 
Collier scored two tip-ins from the left post in the first half to allow the Ducks to go into half-time comfortably in front. 
With a better second half and some great controlled passing around the ground, a further goal to Collier and two to Robbie Lawson saw the Ducks seal the match. NSW made a concerted effort late in the game but rarely tested custodian, Max Viner. 
What was even more memorable about this game was that a number of players were rested, thus ensuring a fit, full complement for Saturday's Grand Final against NSW(1). 
Coach Ray Norton may have some selection problems on his mind with all players fired up and ready to go. Not a bad position to be in leading into a Grand Final. 
NSW(3) nominated Len Collier as man of the match as did his peers in their own best on ground selections.

Game 9: WA vs NSW(1) - Final - Saturday 9th October

The Grey Ducks faltered at the final hurdle when they were defeated 1-0 by NSW(1) in the Over 50's grand final in Launceston today. 
The NSW team struck early when their first penalty corner was deflected onto Butch Worth's foot in the goal. Fortunately the resulting penalty stroke was saved by Max Viner. Unfortunately, about 10 minutes later, a defensive lapse in the circle by WA saw another penalty stroke given and this time NSW striker Peter Sweeney did not miss flicking the ball low and to the left of Max Viner. 
The Grey Ducks then took control of the game and maintained pressure on NSW for much of the remainder of the game. 
Unfortunately they were unable to put their chances away and the game finished with NSW maintaining their one goal lead. 
The WA side had no one but themselves to blame for their defeat as they had the bulk of the play in terms of possession; they had had 19 penalty corners, none of which resulted in the tying goal. 
Alan Chesney was voted best for his team for the duration of the tounament.