WA Over 60's - 2012 Match Reports

WA vs TAS - Monday, October 1, 2012

The 2012 campaign began with selection trials in May. Unfortunately, Ray Norton required open heart surgery and had to declare his unavailability to participate, but we could look forward to him assisting from the bench in the second week of competition. We were also unlucky to lose Peter Aylmore with a torn calf muscle suffered in the last pre-tour training session. 

Most of us flew to Hobart on AFL Grand Final day. We awoke the following morning to a snow covered Mt Wellington as viewed from our hotel windows. The sun however soon warmed things up as we trained at the excellently appointed Tasmania Hockey Centre. 

Our first game was against the host State at 8:00am EST on Monday. Pre-game, Phil the physio performed his magic on those requiring his assistance and Pete F took us through the warm-up preparations. As the game got underway, it became apparent that most of us at first were still operating on WST as we recovered from jet lag. The standard of our play at the start of the match was what coach Pesty bluntly later observed to be a "misspelt shirt". Our hosts scored at the third minute mark. 

However, there was no panic and we just continued to work away controlling the ball, executing shorter passes and taking control such that at about the 25 minute mark, we scored twice through Dudley and Ted giving us the lead at half time, when the coach delivered some more wisdom to the gathered few. 

Then into the second half we had the play of the day. Right full back, to centre half, then to Ted in the circle. A turn.A twist. The ball hit with the reverse stick. A goal and 3.1 up. Heath then got into the action with a fourth goal. Along the way, we missed a few opportunities that could have seen a higher score, but the Tassie Devils were putting up resistance and as with all sport (at this level, query elite), we were just a moment away from being scored against and that duly occurred towards the end of the match. 4.2 and that was the final score. 

We then retired to the well appointed change rooms for a mixture of hot and cold showers, and then, more importantly, a few drinks with our friendly hosts in the pleasant Tassie spring sun.  

Later in the evening at a team BBQ, Dudley became the inaugural winner of the Denis Baker drinking vessel. This award is for our best player and will be highly sought after by us all as we remember Denis and his delightful hockey skills, wishing that he could be here with us and playing in the tournament as we all, and as many of his interstate friends here remarked, wish him well with his health. 


Result: WA 4 – TAS 2 

Goal scorers: Greg Allen (2), Dudley Evans, Heath Tyrrell 
Best player as voted by WA and TAS: Dudley Evans 
Cards: Yellow – nil. Green – nil.

WA vs VIC - Tuesday, October 2, 2012 

Our second match was against Victoria. This was at the more sensible time of 3.30 p.m, which was a far better time than match 1 at 8.00 a.m. So we had a sleep in and a full breakfast after the previous evenings team BBQ in the penthouse suite at our hotel. 

But to the game. 

We began with a team meeting during which coach Pesty laid down the game plan and Captain Chappy also provided some words of advice. Thus inspired, we drove out to the game which was played in warm sunshine, but we had a strong headwind in the first half. Notwithstanding that, we couldn't have asked for a better start. Charlie ran the ball high into the top left corner and passed a beauty across to the centre. The goalie must have thought it would go over to hit the side of the goal. Or perhaps it just beat him. Whatever! It hit the front of the left side upright and ricocheted off at the same angle (such is the law of physics) across to the far side upright where Pete Fogels was in the perfect position to pop it in and we were 1.0 up at the 3 minute mark. 

This goal was a large boost to our confidence and we kept the pressure up. At the 20 minute mark, team play lead to another goal after a pass from centre half to right half and then a cross into the circle to Ted, who pushed the score out to 2 nil, which remained the score at half time, when Captain Chappy reminded us of his pre-match remarks. 

The second half saw our opponents come out fighting. That was to be expected. But we had a tail wind and were ble to see off their attack and resistance. The wind assisted our running with the ball, the pressure we were able to apply and the press, so as to lock the ball in. But we needed to convert that pressure into score board pressure. 

A Vic defender then sought to help us out by putting his leg into the path of a goal bound hit from us. The resulting penalty flick was not successful. This was the subject of some later discussion. However, Team Manager Len then stepped up and rattled the backboard and so too did our youngest player, the youthful Peter K. With the score at 4.0 and the game closing, it was time for Simon Thomson from the 65's to manage the interchange bench by bringing off the Coach and then the Captain. But the coach had other ideas deciding to take a different kind of rest - the non-interchange kind imposed by a green shirt. 

We then saw out the game and retired for a lemonade with our opponents, who despite the score, are still the big V. They awarded the best player award to Dudley, who in turn nominated Peter M as our best player and provided him with the Denis Baker Trophy. Later in the evening at a team dinner in a local fish restaurant, Captain Chappy shared and shared and then again later shared, some comments with the team which, in case we missed it, he shared once more and then again. But what happens on tour, stays on tour. 

Result: WA 4 – VIC 0 

Goal scorers: Pete Fogels, Len Collier, Peter Komyshan, Greg Allen 
Best player as voted by WA: Peter Morgan 
Best player as voted by opposition: John Chapman 
Cards: Yellow – Ian Pestana. Green – Peter Komyshan.

WA vs SA - Thursday, October 4, 2012 

This fixture was against South Australia. Although it was a lovely spring day with sunshine, the wind was terrible. So bad that the bridge across the Derwent was closed to traffic. 

We started well with plenty of ball. There were good passes forwards, sideways and backwards to retain control, but our finishing was not effective. We didn't score in the first half, but SA didn't even look like scoring to that point. Perhaps it was the strong wind. 

After the half time break, we continued to move the ball around, but could not crack a goal until Manager Len rattled the back board at about the 20 minute mark. 

SA wouldn't be denied. They came at us and nearly scored, but Harps got his pads to the ball resulting in a long corner which was succefully defended. 

The end result was a 1.0 win, which left us as the only undefeated team after 3 rounds. However, there is a long way to go with other teams improving as we move to the end of week 1 in a 2 week competition. 

One highlight of the day was when one SA player decked the man made mountain called Hud. An observer in the crowd was heard to say "I've never seen that. You have to be good to do that". Luckily for this observer, Hud was subsequently decked by one of the umpires who shepherded an SA layer attempting to pass Hud. The umpire had moved between the 2 players, colliding with Hud who then went down, again. The observer referred to previously simply said "he's good, that umpire". 

The SA team voted Captain Chappie as our best player and the Denis Baker award also went to Chappy. 

Result: WA 1 – SA 0 

Goal scorers: Len Collier 
Best player as voted by WA and SA: John Chapman 
Cards: Yellow – nil. Green – nil.

WA vs WAC - Friday, October 5, 2012 

This match against Western Austraia Country was anticipated much like a Fremantle Dockers/WCE Derby. Players from both sides had been playing the oral tackle on each other all week. Luckily our over 65's weren't fixtured to play that day and they allowed Simon to run the bench for us. Another 65 player, Brian, from Lennies and Pete F's team,watched. Thus there was an audience of 1. From the very outset, we controlled the game, the feature of which was the backward and sideways passing by us when the path forward was blocked. Unforturnely, we couldn't put the ball in the net until coach Pesty slotted a short corner at the 20 miute mark in the first half. Perhaps it was because of the very strong wind and cool conditions that the game didn't move to a higher level with much more scoring. We had all the opportuities, but failed to capitalise. Luckily, WAC too failed to score, but then they really didn't have too many opportunities. 

WAC voted Charlie as our best player and the team put forward Bill the cougar as the recipient of the Denis Baker trophy. 

There were plenty of jokes shared in the hospitality tent after the game. The B S was washed down with a few beers and WAC were not able to say where the C in WAC begins, given the number of city boys who have never driven beyond Fremantle, Gosnells and Scarborough. Huonville and 

Result: WA 2 – WAC 0 

Goal scorers: Dudley Evans, Ian Pestana 
Best player as voted by WA : Bill Campbell 
Best player as voted by WAC: Charles Hulbert 
Cards: Yellow – nil. Green – nil.

WA vs QLD - Sunday, October 7, 2012 

After a day off with a trip to Huonville for morning tea and Dover for lunch, we took on Queensland in sunny conditions and a bit of wind that dropped off late in the first half. Ray Norton had joined us to control the interchange bench and Brownie had left us to return to Perth for an MRI on his injured left leg. 

At first, the team was unbalanced but then Ray the tactician called for some positional changes which brought immediate results putting us in the driving seat and in control with plenty of backward and sideways passing until the gaps were there to go forwards and there was plenty of that. But at the 28 minute mark QLD scored the first goal from a short corner. Not to be outdone the reply came 3 minutes later when Pesty put away a short corner and we were back on a square ledger. Pesty added to his tally of cards with a green before half-time. No-one seems to remember what it was earned for. 

The second half went our way. Peter K could well have been charged with stealing for taking a number of balls from the opposition. He kept coming and coming, putting the pressure on. Then came a second goal from Dudley which was the final score. However, it could have been more but for missed oportunities and a brilliant shot from Ted which most would say was a goal, but the umpire disagreed and awarded a 16 yard hit to QLD. 

QLD however did not give up and kept on doing their best to score, but the defence held up and prevented that from occuring.  

QLD awarded Hud with the best player award and the Denis Baker trophy went to Peter K for his hard work in going forwards and for all his 2nd and 3rd efforts. Pete then gave us a glimpse of his determination by downing the contents of the mug in one big gulp. Who says we are ageing? 

Result: WA 2 – QLD 1 

Goal scorers: Dudley Evans, Ian Pestana 
Best player as voted by WA: Peter Komyshan 
Best player as voted by QLD: Charles Hulbert 
Cards: Yellow – nil. Green – Ian Pestana

WA vs ACT - Monday, October 8, 2012 

The forecast was for some rain, but the Tassie weather was perfect once more. Bright sunshine and little breeze, if any. But it was an early 11.00 a.m. start and so we met at 9.15 a.m. in the hotel to discuss tactics for today's match versus the ACT who last year caused us a few headaches with draws in the round robin and finals. Their through passing from the backline is renowned and needed to be countered in order to win. 

It was a tough game, as they all have been. After running on, we had trouble in the first half - plenty of forward thrusting without success and ACT did their best to defeat our backward and sideways passing. Neither side however could break through, although we had our chances. A number of positional changes were made to try and achieve the right balance. 

The second half was better. Dudley opened the scoring and from then on things began to fall into place. He just ran into the circle and went long to the goalies left hand side. Ted who had played in all lines of attack and defence, scored the second goal after Peter F had been attacking the goalies pads and the ball fell Ted's way. The third came from coach Pesty who was close in on the net when the ball was struck and ricocheted. Pesty tried to escape being hit, but the ball struck his stick and went straight in. Easy really! 

ACT awarded Ted with the best player award. Charles was awarded the Denis Baker trophy for strong consistent defiance in defence, making himself available for sideways and backwards passes. Harps was a worry before the game when he went down with a back spasm from which he recovered after a jelly bean to keep out all forward thrusts for the opposition. Hud and Billy were resolute in defence with a number of players running through the half back line and swapping into the forward line as required. 

After the game we had some enjoyable cool drinks with our opponents whilst watching the NSW versus Vic game, the highlight of which was a NSW player waving goodbye to a Vic player who had been sent off. Cranston v Peebles! Laughs for all, enough said. Next up we meet NSW in the battle for the top spot before the finals. 

Result: WA 3 – ACT 0 

Goal scorers: Dudley Evans, Ian Pestana, Greg Allen 
Best player as voted by WA : Charles Hulbert 
Best player as voted by ACT: Greg Allen 
Cards: Yellow – nil. Green – nil.

WA vs NSW - Wednesday, October 10, 2012 

After a much needed day off, on which a bus load of us visited Port Arthur and the rest did their own touring or just rested and we had been to the WA State Teams dinner, we awoke bright and early to a sunny, wind free day for the last of the round robin matches which, this time was against NSW. 

The tension was high. We had won 6 games from 6 starts and NSW had won 5 and drawn one. 
The Team met at 7.45 a.m. when coach Pesty calmly took us through the game plan and then boarded our buses and went out to the ground under the care of our trusty drivers, Harps and Lenny the Manager. After the warm up lead by Peter F, the team ran out onto the ground to execute the game plan, which all players followed as instructed. 

An early concern was Captain Chappy who left the field for a treatment session with Phil the physio, before returning but only to declare himself unfit shortly thereafter. By this stage, we had control and also a few missed scoring opportunities. However, everyone kept working, looking to retain possession and only passing to a mate in the clear. 
The result was a goal from Heath of the family Ty-rill at about the 20 minute mark. 

NSW would not lie down and kept coming, as we knew they would. Some great efforts from the forwards, including Peter M who worked the ball the length of the field and Peter K who drove us deep into attack time after time. Peter F kept plugging away and presenting. Manager Len kept the ball moving forwards. 

At half-time the score remained 1-0. Dudley, now playing at right half-back, kept working with the forwards who were rotating from the right side for rest purposes. Billy the Cougar at right fullback, on the receiving end of backwards and sideways passes and feeding Dudley who in turn fed the forwards, worked hard and played perhaps his best game this tournament under instruction and guidance from Harps and Hud. 

Harps made sure that NSW failed to score and Hud and Charles worked well on the left side in defence, neutralising many forward thrusts by NSW. Pesty at centre half gave instructions and defended and attacked well. 

The pace of the match in the last 20 minutes dropped off as NSW began to wilt under the strain of a hard fought, but fair, match in which we held on, to record a 1-0 win. 

It was an entertaining game and was won by a team effort. 

After the match the two teams enjoyed pleasantries in the Hobart sunshine. NSW awarded Peter M with the best player award and Harps won the coveted Denis Baker trophy. Both were popular decisions. Charles announced his reasons for passing Denis' trophy to Harps, including the fact that he, Charlie, is the team 'virgin' and that Harps had been very helpful in issuing instructions to him when he was thrust into positions on the field he was not used to. 

As for send-off orders, it can only be said that the number of those exceeded the number of goals scored. 

Result: WA 1 – NSW 0 

Goal scorers: 
Best player as voted by WA : John Harper 
Best player as voted by NSW: Peter Morgan 
Cards: Yellow – nil. Green – Ian Pestana (2)

Semi-Final WA vs TAS (1st vs 4th) - Friday, October 12, 2012 

The semi finals finals today were elimination finals. We finished unbeaten and on to of the ladder after the round robin, but that meant nothing to our opponents the Tasmanian players who finished in fourth position.  
We played them in round 1, but as we thought we had improved over the past 12 days, too we knew that Tasmania had also improved and that they would be keen to make amends and beat us this time. 

The weather was not too good - cold, with a mild breeze with light rain as we drove out to the stadium following coach Pesty's delivery of his pre match tactics and game plan.  
Then, in the change rooms Pesty had further advice for us and so the team went off to play in the continuing rain. 

We started well for the first few minutes and then Tasmania came at us. Although we had some excellent opportunities to gain score board pressure, it was those Tassie Devils who got the scoreboard attendant working to record the opening goal. And try as we did, we couldn't equalize. The poor weather continued throughout the first half as it had been at the start. Nonetheless, we remained quietly confident that if we kept our cool and got the game play going, then we could come from behind and win. 

And so, into the second half. It took some doing but at the 15 minute mark, Dudley equalized.  
Then, some five minutes later, we had a short corner. Pesty trapped the ball, pushed it forward and Peter F put us in front with a second goal. 

We needed a third goal to have the advantage of a buffer in case Tasmania scored an equalizer, but we could not find a way into the net despite a number of opportuities to do so.  
Peter K kept plugging away pushing us forward as did Ted.  
Dudley, Manager Len and Heath put through a number of passes for others to run on to.  
Charlie showed us many midfield delightful passes and Chappie too got into the action; Pete F had some brilliant runs and Pete M continues to dazzle the opposition with his dribbling skills which frequently got him out of trouble.  
Up the back, the Cougar and Hud were towers of strength and Harps kept up his instructions and showed more solid goal work. 

The end result was a 2 - 1 win. We'll take it but it was not the most convincing win. However, it is done and we now meet NSW tomorrow in the Grand Final. 

Result: WA 2 – TAS 1 

Goal scorers: D. Evans, P. Fogels

Final WA vs NSW - Saturday, October 13, 2012 

In two words, we lost. The score was 2 - 3. It was a hard fought win for NSW. 

NSW took command of the first 15 minutes and after the second short corner were 1- 0.  
However, we fought back into it and Dudley popped one in at the 25 minute mark. The score at half time was 1 - 1. 

Then, in the second half, the game was closely contested. NSW broke through first and scored. Then we equalized on a short corner from Pesty.  

Still, it was anyone's game until at the 30 minute mark, NSW again scored to lead 3 - 2, which they held on to. 

We thought we could win but we didn't. There were some niggling injuries after the two week campaign, plus some general soreness all round. However, no excuses. It was a good game. The better team won on the day and our congratulations go to NSW.  

Time for a beer! 

Result: WA 2 – NSW 3 

Goal scorers: