Sport

Goulburn Valley Hockey Association kicks into gear after opening round

Apr 23, 2024

Asserting control: Strikers’ Xavier McBain remains one of the region’s more potent threats on the hockey pitch. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

How sweet it is for hockey to head back onto the Goulburn Valley pitches.

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Goulburn Valley Hockey Association is back and evidently better than ever with an additional team in A-grade and multiple junior incomings.

One thing has remained the same, however — Shepparton-based Strikers will loom as the side to beat once more.

Strikers wasted no time making a commanding statement and, in particular, usual suspect Xavier McBain fired up at the first opportunity in a Friday night meeting with SYC.

McBain produced a round one hat-trick to ensure his name would again be one to watch in 2024 — but he wasn’t alone.

Also putting three past SYC was Sam Holland, complemented by a Max Cole double as Strikers ruthlessly overpowered their foes in an 8-2 win.

Axel Irwin and Liam Caiafa, to their credit, produced the goals for SYC on a tough night, one that could have been quite different according to McBain.

“It wasn’t a blow away early on with SYC scoring the first goal; we had to pull it together after that,” McBain said.

“We came out pretty strong in the second half and overall it was a good way to kick off the season.

“It’s fantastic that the league has another side going in Mooroopna. It should be a challenge again, but that makes it better for local guys.

“Everyone gets to play a lot more often now instead of having a bye every second week.”

Up north, Echuca-Moama welcomed the debuting Mooroopna outfit to A-grade competition, but goals from William Kerr, Ashley Phipps and Brodie Mulcahy sealed a 3-1 win for the host.

B-grade competition got started on Friday night and Saturday afternoon as well, with SYC significantly more competitive in snatching a 2-1 win over Strikers.

Benalla provided an explosive start to its campaign, riding a hat-trick from David McIntyre and a Noah Gillies double en route to an 8-1 belting of Echuca-Moama.

Strikers asserted total dominance in the women’s division as play got started Saturday, with the four goals from star Amy Winter at the forefront in their massive 11-1 win over SYC.

The Benalla women found themselves undone by a lone Sally Thompson strike at home to Echuca-Moama, with Euroa traveling to the border for its first game this Saturday after a round one bye.