Strong week for the Gippsland Strikers

Although the rust from not playing for so long was apparent for the under 18 Strikers team, they still managed to add another win to their undefeated season on Friday night.
They defeated Hawthorn at Hawthorn, 2-1.
Hawthorn began the match with a vigour and determination which saw the play concentrated in the Strikers' defensive end.
As the first half progressed, the Strikers gradually evened up the flow of the match. However, goalkeeper Sarah Sutton-McLellan was kept on her toes in an effort to keep the opposition scoreless until half time.
Cal Thomas stood out for his defensive hustle and a particularly artful passage of midfield play which saw him take the ball away from the opposition, bustle his way straight past a defender on his way up the ground, eventually passing the ball forward to an open teammate.
However, this did not lead to a score.
The only score that could be managed in the first half for either team came off the stick of the Strikers' Jordan Oellermann in a piece of typical individual brilliance. Jordan gathered the ball just outside the defensive end and with compelling stickwork somehow wormed his way past a number of defenders to get his shot on goal, which he duly put away.
Hawthorn began the second half much like they did the first, their efforts rewarded with a goal to tie the game.
However, much like the first half, the Strikers managed to wrestle the momentum away from the opposition as the half wore on.
The Strikers defence stood up well, especially defending a multitude of short corners in which Hawthorn displayed a number of different looks.
Oellermann once again hit the back of the net to give the Strikers the lead they needed. The match finished just after Kara North demonstrated her talents by chasing down a ball heading out of bounds in the corner, swiveling around and successfully passing past a defender to a teammate closer to goal.
The other Friday night junior game saw the Strikers under 14s host the Cardinia Storm Hockey Club at Bellbird Park.
With so many recent forfeits at home, the Strikers appreciated Cardinia Storm turning up in the cold weather, even if they only had nine players and no goalkeeper.
As it was top versus bottom lineup, it was always going to be a one sided match, but with almost a goal every two minutes it was hard to watch.
The final score was 25-0, with all Strikers players making it onto the score board. Special mention to the Storm players and coach who showed tremendous enthusiasm despite the scoreline.
The Strikers women made the trek to Werribee for their Sunday clash.
The women began well, matching Werribee's intensity for the start of the game despite having only the required 11 players.
Werribee managed to score a late goal in the first quarter, taking the lead at quarter time.
Unfortunately, the Strikers were unable to match the play of the ladder leaders, although they held their own, matching Werribee's intensity and applying plenty of pressure in their defensive 25.
Werribee were the eventual victors 4-1. Charlotte Smith scored one.
The Strikers men travelled to Dandenong to take on the Dandenong Warriors on Sunday.
The first half was a tight tussle between the two teams, so tight and evenly poised that by the half time break the score was two apiece.
The third quarter started out a little like the first, but it was Dandenong who scored the first goal against the run of play.
It was not long before the Strikers scored the equaliser goal, taking control of play.
The last six minutes of the third quarter saw the Strikers have eight short corner attempts, with the Dandenong's defence somehow keeping the Strikers goalless despite the relentless attack.
The fourth quarter was an all-out assault by both teams, and it looked like the match was up for grabs by either side.
Midway through the quarter, the Strikers hit the backboard in a superb field goal by Matt Zurrer, putting them up by one.
It was a bit of a ding-dong battle closing out the match. With a couple of minutes left, Dandenong were subject to a Strikers corner which then lead to a stroke and a certain goal.
Final score 5-3 with three goals for Matthew Zurrer and one each for Leith Metcalf and Matt Taylor.
West Gippsland Hockey Association results:
Under 12s:
Aztecs 4 defeated Warriors 2.
Goal Scorers Aztecs: Tyler Boltong 2, Kyra Burke and Elizabeth Bleazby-Toby. Goal Scorers Warriors: Joshua Smorenburg.
Drouids 2 defeated Gulls 1.
Goal Scorers Drouids: Elisha and Bethany Maskell.
Goal Scorers Gulls: Benjamin Tepper.
Under 15s:
Warriors 3 defeated Aztecs 0.
Goal Scorers Warriors: Zach Coster, Zephaniah Marriott and Sam Pepper.
Gulls 3 defeated Drouids 2.
Goal Scorers Gulls: Caleb Ballantyne, James Duiker and Issac Graziotin.
Goal Scorers Drouids: Oscar Callanan.
Under 18s:
Warriors 8 defeated Aztecs 0:
Goal Scorers Warriors: Josiah Wells, Harry Coster 2. Lachlan Buchanan, Josh Pepper, Sam Pepper and William Stephens.
Gulls 8 defeated Drouids 6.
Goal Scorers Gulls: Nikita Conley 6. Bobby Haynes and Talitha Graziotin.
Goal Scorers Drouids: Caleb Van Der Marel, Leith Metcalf 2. Steven McNamara and Damian McNamara.
Women's:
Warriors 7 drew with Aztecs 7.
Goal Scorers Warriors: Tessa Martin 4, Alice Robjant 3.
Goal Scorers Aztecs: Charlotte Axtell, Ebonie McAskill 2, Lauren Austen, Monique McAskill and Eve Thorpe.
Drouids 9 drew with Gulls 9.
Goal Scorers Drouids: Hannah Van Breugel 4, Stephanie Selvaraj 2, Chloe Maskell, Justine Gooding and Nicki Cann.
Goal Scorers Gulls: Nikita Conley 4, Hannah Spragg 3, Miriam Indurain Blasco 2.
Men's:
Aztecs 6 defeated Warriors 4.
Goal Scorers Aztecs: Jordan Oellermann 2, Eli Gubbles, Aidan Lightfoot, Ebonie McAskill and Monique McAskill.
Goal Scorers Warriors: Zach Coster 2, James Belfield and Spencer Stephens.
Drouids 6 defeated Gulls 2.
Goal Scorers Drouids: Matt Zurrer 4, Chris Addison and Eli Rumble.
Goal Scorers Gulls: Sam Graziotin and Nathan Furphy.