The Final round of the 2025 Hockey One regular season saw the NSW Pride take mixed results on the road against the Perth Thundersticks, but still claim the “One Hockey Cup” for the best performed club overall, in preparation for the finals series in Melbourne starting this Saturday.
The NSW Pride Men defeated the Perth Thundersticks 2-1 to finish the season in second place on 23 points, just one shy of minor premiers Brisbane Blaze, while Blake Govers secured the leading goalscorer award for the Men’s competition with 14 goals in his 6 games.
The NSW Pride Women suffered defeat against Perth in a high-scoring 6-5 result that, while it does not change their position on the ladder, could prove costly with the physical toll and some fresh injuries that may keep key players out once assessed by the doctors.
The Men’s match started heavily in favour of the home side, with NSW Pride goalkeeper Ash Thomas called in to action early and often, making some crucial saves under intense attacking pressure from the Thunderstick’s forwards. It wasn’t until late in the 2nd quarter that the deadlock was broken, with Govers scoring twice from penalty corners in quick succession to give his side a 2-0 lead at half time.
Perth pulled one back late in the third quarter through Brodee Foster, but it wasn’t enough to change the trajectory of the result, with the Pride’s desperate defensive performance seeing them over the line for the win.
NSW Pride Men Head Coach Kieran Govers said his side will learn a lot from the tough road trip and the scrappy win, and was full of praise for Goalkeeper Ash Thomas.
“A very tough game. They peppered us in the first quarter – thank God Ash was like a brick wall,” he said. “He’s instrumental in what we do. He’s a big vocal presence for us coming out of the back, and he can back it up with all his saves.”
On his return game in Hockey One, forward Kurt Lovett said it was an intense game and Perth caught them a little bit by surprise.
“I’ve been looking forward to this game for a long time, and it was good to get a win. It wasn’t the prettiest, but it’s good to get some momentum going into next week,” he said. “They were all over us in the first quarter to be honest, but we controlled the game for the rest of the game and shifted momentum, but it was intense out there.”
The Women’s match was a high-scoring, see-sawing thriller as both sides traded goals, with Perth needing the win to secure their spot in the finals series.
Madi Ratcliffe put on the display of a lifetime for Perth, scoring all six goals for her side (which included a first quarter hat-trick), while NSW shared the scoring among four players.
Chelsea Holmes and Grace Stewart both scored in the first 10 minutes to immediately cancel out Ratcliffe’s early goals, and Alana Kavanagh scored in the second quarter to send the teams into the main break tied 3-3.
Grace Young scored a double to start the 3rd quarter and give NSW the lead, But Ratcliffe equalised and, with 3 minutes remaining in the match scored her sixth to snatch all the points for the Thundersticks.
NSW Pride Women Head Coach Scott Barker was disappointed with the result but keen not to dwell, and to start the review process and learn from the match before the finals in Melbourne.
“It’s a tough road trip, and Perth are really good. They created pressure, in particular in that second and third quarter, and we just didn’t handle that momentum shift too well,” Barker said. “Ultimately, it was their grand final and they played like it.”
“It was one weird game of hockey. There were a couple of injuries and a couple of strokes missed,” he said. “It was a close game. The Girls still played well. It’s something to be proud of, and we had opportunities to win it.”
Captain and star midfielder Mariah Williams was bullish about her side’s ability to bounce back immediately after the close loss.
“We knew coming out today it wasn’t going to be an easy game. We put everything out on the field, and unfortunately we had a few girls sick, a few injuries, and those things take a bit of a toll on the team,” Williams said.
“I think it’s evident there’s things we need to clean up at the back,” she said. “We’ll see what we can fix technically and tactically, and then come back out in the Semi-Final and put it on show.”
The Pride Women will now face the Thundersticks again in the Semi-Final on Saturday in Melbourne, with the winner progressing through to the Gold Medal match. The Pride Men will have to beat HC Melbourne in their Semi-Final. For both NSW Pride teams to progress they will have to each beat the defending champions of their respective divisions, adding to the spice and drama expected on day one of the finals series at Parkville.
Results:
Men
Perth Thundersticks 1 – 2 NSW Pride
Goal scorers
23’ Blake Govers (NSW)
24’ Blake Govers (NSW)
45’ Brodee Foster (PTX)
Women
Perth Thundersticks 6 – 5 NSW Pride
Goal scorers
5’ Madi Ratcliffe (PTX)
6’ Madi Ratcliffe (PTX)
6’ Chelsea Holmes (NSW)
8’ Grace Stewart (NSW)
11’ Madi Ratcliffe (PTX)
23’ Alana Kavanagh (NSW)
35’ Grace Young (NSW)
35’ Grace Young (Conversion) (NSW)
39’ Madi Ratcliffe (PTX)
39’ Madi Ratcliffe (Conversion) (PTX)
57’ Madi Ratcliffe (PTX)