Under-16A vs GVGS
Benalla under 16As suffered their first loss of the season against GVGS, 11-13.
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The team had a very evenly matched game with both teams locked at 11 all, with two minutes remaining, and all players getting on the scoreboard.
The whole team used the boards well this week to move the ball around the field and to deflect the ball around the goal line, and goalie, looking for better scoring position.
GVGS took full advantage of a penalty that saw Benalla lose a player for the final two minutes of the game to secure the win.
This week the team farewelled Erin Jenkins for the remaining of the season as she heads off to school for student leadership.
Benalla Hockey Club wishes her all the best and looks forward to hearing about her adventures on her return.
Next week, local competition will take a pause while under-16A’s Noah, Olly and Zander Gillies represent North-West Lighting Zone in the 2024 Junior State Championships.
Goals: Olly Gillies (4), Jacinta and Angus Woodward (2), Erin Jenkins (1), Zander and Caleb Gillies (1)
Votes: Erin Jenkins (3), Jacinta Woodward (2), Caleb Gillies (1)
Under-10 vs SYC
Benalla’s under-10s and SYC had a great game in Shepparton, and Benalla is proving to be a hard-to-beat team. Siblings Rhett and Emma proved to be an amazing duo on the field, with Emma making some great passes to Rhett in the forward line. Flynn was a rock in defence, making solid tackles against the opposition.
Sophie made stellar runs up and around the other team. Phoenix was hard to defeat, stealing the ball off the opposition players multiple times. Overall, the team has made so much progression over the season, and the club looks forward to seeing the players further develop their skills.
Goals: Sophie Littler (2)
Under-12 vs SYC
Benalla’s under-12s had a fantastic game against SYC this week in Shepparton. Captain Bella Gillies was a great leader on the field, scoring the first goal of the game. Hayden Littler played another game as goalkeeper, keeping many of SYC’s shots at bay. He was joined by his little sister, Sophie Littler, who stepped up from under-10s and had a stellar game.
Will Keen was a fantastic team motivator from the sidelines and kept up the determination for his team on the field. Leading goal scorer Brodie Rawlings was a great addition to the team, making a great duo with Steele Admas who helped create many scoring opportunities.
Rachael Erickson and Finn Thompson made a great team in the back line, making great tackles against SYC.
Under-16B Orange vs Echuca
A spirited Echuca team kept within reach in the first-half as Benalla took a 5-1 lead into half-time.
Benalla came out in the second half with great determination and teamwork to prove too good for the young Echuca team, winning 16-1.
Kobe Rawlings led the way with five goals on his birthday and Alida Ferguson chipped in with her first two goals of the year, also earning herself a team vote for a determined performance.
Goals: Kobe Rawlings (5), Xaiver Kramer (4), Brodie Rawlings (3), Alida Ferguson (2), Liam Carrol (1), Amity Hurd (1)
Votes: Kobe Rawlings (3), Xaiver Kramer (2), Alida Ferguson (1)
Benalla women vs Euroa women
The women played another stellar game of hockey this week, leaving with a win, 2-0.
In the defensive side of the team, Bella Gillies stepped into goals this week as usual goalie Prue White is still injured.
Bella Gillies played amazingly out there not letting a single goal through from Euroa’s attack.
She made some lovely stops and kicked out a lot of balls from the circle very strongly.
Along the half-line, Amber Armstrong became like a barricade throughout the middle of the field to minimise the attack of Euroa and forced some turnovers in the midfield.
They were able to reverse the attack and turn in Benalla’s favour. In the back line this week, Niki and Mel Gillies were able to work together to remove the ball from the goal circle to help goalie Bella. Lee Manning, Mel Gillies and Bec Littler intercepted as half-backs and forced some movements of Euroa to the wings and out off the sidelines.
In attack, Katrina Brown kept the goalscoring tradition up this week putting in another two goals. The forwards tried their hardest multiple times to infiltrate the opposition’s goal circle resulting in two goals and multiple close attempts of scoring more goals as well. Erin Jenkins played a fantastic game as inner and centre forward, travelling the ball up through the centre. Also, in the forward line Bec Littler raced across the field heaps of times to intercept the attack of Euroa. Jacinta Woodward, Siobhan Higgins, and Eloise played a marvellous game. They all ran hard, supporting Katrina Brown and Heidi Perry on the wings for a couple shots on gaol.
The women worked well together again this week and demonstrated a lot of lovely moves resulting in an amazing result this week.
Goals: Katrina Brown (2)
Votes: Mel Gillies (3), Bec Littler (2), Amber Armstrong (1)
B-Men vs SYC
Rain came down for this soggy game for top-of-the-ladder Tigers and second-placed SYC.
The game was a very tightly fought, evenly matched affair with SYC claiming the first goal of the game early.
Benalla fought back with the next two goals with some great forward work from Dave McIntyre, Noah Gillies,Tim Halligan, Ollie Gillies, Joel Hamill and Marty Gillies.
Half-backs James Black and Latham Carroll provided a lot of forward run off the half-line to keep pressure on the SYC attackers.
Full-backs Dave Chittick, Charlie Grimwade and goalie Cam Gillies kept many SYC attacks at bay.
The game was fought right until the very end when SYC scored off a penalty corner to finish the game with a 2-2 tie.
Goals: Angus Woodward (2)
Votes: Noah Gillies (3), David McIntyre (2), James Black (1)
Round 10
GV Hockey is having a break until July 20, but next week GV Hockey is hosting the Junior State Championship. Benalla Hockey Club wishes its selected players Noah Gillies, Olly Gillies, Zander Gillies, Bella Gilles, and Joel Hamill good luck for next week.
Hockey in Shepparton will return on July 20.
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