Hockey: Four-star Bluebirds… comeback kings Upstarts

Women’s B Hockey League

Bluebirds 4-0 Canaries B

Bluebirds got on the scoreboard first through a long corner pass from Deborah Sagus to Kris Soares, who found Jo-Ann Smith in the circle. She in turn slipped the ball back to Kris Soares, who converted a field goal in the 23rd minute.

Canaries’ forwards played extremely well with their set plays but Bluebirds’ defence held them at bay and ended the first half 1-0 up.

Just two minutes into the second half, though, Bluebirds were awarded a penalty corner and got a quick goal from a strike by Paula Few, assisted by Lauren Pattersona.

A minute later and it was 3-0 to Bluebirds. A pass from Deborah Sagus found Nikki Murray-Mason just inside the circle and her shot went through the keeper’s legs.

No matter how strategic Canaries were, they were no match for Bluebirds’ defence and keeper Vicki Johnston and Jo-Ann Smith executed a penalty corner that flew past the keeper’s right to seal a 4-0 win.

Men’s hockey

Upstarts 4-2 Spartans

Spartans raced into the lead in the seventh minute through a field goal by Byron Rencken and, seven minutes later, they made it two thanks to a penalty corner from Spartans’ Dylan Pacheco.

Upstarts never gave up despite this poor start and the build-up of aggression by both teams saw Upstarts’ Julian Wheddon notch a field goal in the 24th minute to pull one back.

After the break, Upstarts’ Tyler Smith drew his side level and got on the scoresheet again in the 50th minute to put his team a goal up.

The weather took a turn for the worse but both teams kept applying the pressure with many chances created by Spartans’ Donovan Simmons, who narrowly missed with a quick reverse shot.

However, it was Upstarts’ Donnie Moniz who sealed victory for his team with a 64th-minute field goal.