Extra-time goal secures upper school premiership for Vultures in grand final weekend of UGSHA

A thrilling goal in extra time decided the winner of the Upper Great Southern Hockey Association upper school division grand final on Friday night.

The Triple M middle and upper school grand finals were contested on the night, displaying great skill, teamwork and goals as Pumas claimed middle school honours and Vultures prevailed in a thrilling finish to the upper school decider.

Ag Rangers came up against Vultures for the upper school title.

A great field goal from Ag Rangers’ Boyd Ferrier got the crowd involved before teammate Ryan Johnson found the back of the net in the second quarter for their second goal, as they led 2-0 at half-time.

In the third quarter, Vultures started to get some passes working and they were rewarded with a great field goal from Noah Logie.

Both teams had chances to score in the final term but the defence was holding strong.

Late in the quarter Morne Van der Riet coolly converted a penalty corner attempt to level scores for Vultures.

With both teams locked at 2-2 with a few minutes remaining, each side kept on attacking until the final siren sounded but the match went to golden goal extra time.

Both teams had good use of the ball but a quick turnover late in the first period of extra time created a shot on goal that was saved.

Logie pounced on the rebound, however, slamming home the conversion to win the game for the Vultures, 3-2.

Logie was awarded the grand final most valuable player.

In the middle school decider, Pumas took on Lions.

The Lions started well with the first goal coming through some skilful work by George Kilpatrick who slotted the ball into the net to open the advantage for the Lions.

Pumas received a penalty corner and Jacob Oats fired home a precise hit to level scores.

But some good teamwork led to Aiden Rawlings scoring for Pumas to put them in front 2-1 and the score didn’t change for the rest of the first half.

In the third quarter both teams enjoyed patches of possession but they could not get a meaningful shot on goals and this continued in the final quarter with both teams producing superb defence.

Pumas were not to be denied, securing a 2-1 premiership triumph with Oats named grand final MVP.

Meanwhile the Edwards Isuzu women’s B-grade grand final was between Williams and Warriors on Saturday, who finished first and second on the ladder.

Jo Phelps got the first goal for Williams from some good field play to lead at quarter-time.

The second half had Williams controlling the ball and this led to a great penalty corner conversion from Tracey Price to put her side 2-0 up at half-time.

Both teams executed several attacking moves in the third term but neither could find the net.

The last quarter was a quick-paced game with many turnovers in midfield and both teams’ defences playing strong hockey.

Neither squad could score and Williams were crowned the women’s B-grade premiers with a 2-0 victory and Price was named grand final MVP.

In the Edwards Isuzu men’s B-grade, Woodanilling took on Dumbleyung in a highly anticipated rematch of last year’s grand final.

Dumbleyung jumped out of the blocks quickly and scored a penalty corner goal from Orson Bairstow’s stick.

Then early in the second quarter, Dumbleyung scored again from James Hesse through a penalty corner.

Woodanilling tried valiantly to get back into the game but Dumbleyung’s defence held strong and it was still 2-0 at the main break.

In the third quarter, Dumbleyung once again broke through after Hesse converted from a penalty corner with a skilful drag flick.

However, Woodanilling got a goal back late in the quarter from a Kurt Wise penalty corner attempt.

Going into the final quarter, Woodanilling had their tails up early after Shawn Shackley slammed home a field goal to bring the margin back to one goal.

Both teams played great team hockey to try and find the goal that would change the game, but time ran out as Dumbelyung held on to record back-to-back premierships with a 3-2 triumph.

The grand final MVP was awarded to Blake Watkins of Dumbleyung.