The Tassie Tigers Women and Men have won on the same day for the first time since 2013, defeating the visiting Perth Thundersticks 5-3 and 4-0 respectively at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre in round 7 of the Sultana Bran Hockey One league.
The occasion also marks the first time the Tasmanian women have recorded a win on home soil since the same date in 2013, while it was also their first win anywhere since 2016.
They defeated the Perth Thundersticks 5-3 in the first game of the matchday. Perth took an early lead with Karri Sommerville slotting a 4th minute penalty corner in the first quarter, before a second quarter blitz saw the Tigers score three times to take an impressive half-time lead.
Sarah McCambridge was in the right place to finish off a wonderful attacking run and pass from Emily Donovan in the 25th minute, and then 17-year old rising star Sophie Rockefeller scored a field goal and a conversion in the 29th minute to give the Tigers a well-deserved lead.
A tense third quarter where no one scored gave way to a frantic final quarter with Renee Rockliff scoring for the Thundersticks in the 47th minute, but retiring Tassie goalkeeper Holly Bonde saved the conversion attempt to keep the Tigers ahead by one goal.
Phillida Bridley then sealed the win for the Tigers with a clever 57th minute goal and conversion before Jade Vanderzwan scored from a penalty corner on the final siren for Perth to make the final score 5-3 to Tassie.
The Tigers men then backed up the Women’s achievement with a comfortable 4-0 win over Perth Thundersticks Men.
The Tigers never looked phased, doing what was necessary in the first quarter to knock the Thundersticks out of finals contention.
Joshua Beltz, enjoying a brilliant Hockey One season after transitioning from defence to midfield, opened the scoring in just the 4th minute by finishing off a scramble in the circle.
That lead was extended in the 8th minute by Sam McCambridge, who scored after being left unmarked on the spot with team-mate Kieron Arthur providing the incisive pass. McCambridge then scored his 7th goal of the season with a conversion to give the Tigers an early 3-0 lead.
Gobin Gill scored a reverse-stick stunner in the 19th minute to leave the crowd purring and the Tigers 4-0 ahead.
In the second half young Tigers goalkeeper Henry Chambers made several strong saves to deny the Thundersticks any chance of getting back into the match, with the final score not changing from half-time.
The win cemented the Tigers men in third place on the Hockey One ladder and they will now travel to Brisbane next Saturday to take on the Blaze in a do-or-die Semi-Final.
Women’s Match Details:
Tassie Tigers 5 (McCambridge 25′, Rockefeller 29’/29′, Bridley 57’/57′)
Perth Thundersticks 3 (Sommerville 4′, Rockliff 47′, Vanderzwan 60′)
Saturday 2 November 2019
Tasmanian Hockey Centre, Hobart (TAS)
Men’s Match Details:
Tassie Tigers 4 (J. Beltz 4′, McCambridge 8’/8′, Gill 19′)
Perth Thundersticks 0
Saturday 2 November 2019
Tasmanian Hockey Centre, Hobart (TAS)