H1 MATCH REPORT: Perth Thundersticks Finals

The Perth Thundersticks Women’s team have struck gold to claim their first Hockey One premiership, while the Men’s team fell heartbreakingly short in their bronze medal match.

Women: Grand Final vs Brisbane Blaze

The Perth Thundersticks have pulled off a dominant tournament run, defeating 2023 champions Brisbane Blaze 4-1 to claim their first Liberty Hockey One premiership, without dropping a game.

The Thundersticks put it all on the line against the Brisbane Blaze in the Women’s Grand Final of the 2024 Liberty Hockey One season at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre on Sunday 1 December.

Both sides mounted the pressure on one another in an even start to the final match of the 2024 Liberty Hockey One season with plenty of back and forth in the opening minutes.

Despite several circle entries, neither side were able to break through each other’s defence to slot in a goal, leaving the contest in a deadlock at quarter time.

The deadlock would be broken early in the second quarter with Liné Malan scoring an impressive field goal under pressure and successfully converting to put the Thundersticks in front.

As the Blaze looked to make a quick response, Aleisha Power was brave in her many saves at the last line of defence.

At half time, the Thundersticks held the two-goal advantage over the Blaze.

The third quarter was off to a hot start with plenty of back and forth, but the Blaze would get themselves on the board with a field goal via Stephanie Kershaw, but Power would put her body on the line to prevent the subsequent conversion.

The high-pressure contest soon reached a stalemate once again as both sides continued to make a hard press towards goal, but the Thundersticks would hold on to lead 2-1 at three-quarter time.

Brisbane Blaze made a fast start to the final quarter of the season, making a charge towards goal although the Thundersticks continued to mount the pressure on them.

Amid the high-pressure contest, Saysha Pillay did well to earn a much-needed penalty corner, where captain Penny Squibb was able to slot in a goal to extend the Thundersticks’ lead.

The Thundersticks would continue their onslaught with Georgia Wilson scoring a field goal in a bid to seal the championship.

Although the Blaze threw everything out of desperation, the Perth Thundersticks held strong to win the championship 4-1, with Power named the Liberty Player of the Match for her instrumental efforts in goals.

Squibb said the team did a lot of work to stay calm and composed to stick to the game plan.

“[Brisbane] are a quality side but we sticked to our structures and our processes and the scoreboard showed that,” she said.

“[The team] is a quality group of humans, I’m pretty proud of the group and how we’ve all got together.

“It’s a little family over in WA and I’m so proud of this group.”

Coach Phil Hulbert said he was very proud of the team to pull off their first Hockey One championship.

“I think we played particularly well throughout all the tournament,” he said.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the girls.”

Match Details
Perth Thundersticks 4 (Malan 16’/16’, Squibb 52’, Wilson 55’)
Brisbane Blaze 1 (Kershaw 34’)

Perth Thundersticks team: 1. Pippa Morgan, 3. Neasa Flynn, 5. Courtney Schonell, 6. Lexie Pickering, 7. Penny Squibb (C), 10. Jesse Reid, 12. Liné Malan (VC), 14. Elizabeth Duguid (GK), 15. Bellé Ramshaw, 17. Annie Gibbs, 18. Kaitlin Nobbs, 19. Aleisha Power (GK), 20. Karri Somerville, 21. Saysha Pillay, 22. Jolie Sertorio, 24. Eva Drummond, 28. Georgia Wilson.
Brisbane Blaze team: 1. Savannah Fitzpatrick, 2. Ambrosia Malone, 3. Kendra Fitzpatrick, 4. Claire Colwill, 5. Morgan Gallagher (C), 8. Dayle Dolkens, 9. Casey Dolkens, 10. Madison Fitzpatrick, 11. Morgan Mathison, 12. Jade Smith, 13. Karissa Van Der Wath, 14. Stephanie Kershaw, 15. Jade Reid, 20. Jamie-Lee Surha, 21. Renee Taylor, 75. Emily Crump (GK), 88. Jordan Bliss (GK).

Men: Bronze Medal vs Brisbane Blaze

Despite throwing everything at the Brisbane Blaze, the Perth Thundersticks have fallen agonisingly short of securing the bronze medal.

The Thundersticks faced off against the Brisbane Blaze to claim the Men’s Bronze Medal in the final day of the 2024 Liberty Hockey One season at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre on Sunday 1 December.

It was an even start as both sides look to make the first scoring opportunity.

Although the Blaze would be the first to be awarded a penalty corner, the opportunity went begging.

The Thundersticks would be the first to hit the scoreboard thanks to Coby Green scoring off the rebound.

The contest would soon reach a stalemate as it picked up pace, with the Brisbane Blaze going high risk, high reward by sending their penalty corner outside the circle to secure a field goal via Scott Boyde.

Ben Rennie would prevent the subsequent conversion to keep the scores at 1-1 at quarter time.

The Blaze would quickly storm through to take the lead with a hard and fast shot by Corey Weyer, followed by a successful conversion early in the second quarter.

Not willing to give up easily, the Thundersticks started mounting the defensive pressure on the Blaze to stay in the contest.

However, the Blaze would maintain composure and score off another penalty corner via Tim Howard to extend their lead to 4-1 by half time.

As the Thundersticks looked to stage a comeback, it seemed the Blaze were two steps ahead during the third quarter.

However, Brodee Foster would bring the Perth side back into the contest, diving through for a field goal and successfully converting to bring the margin back down to one goal.

Amid the high-pressure contest, the Blaze stayed in front 4-3 at three-quarter time.

The final quarter saw plenty of back and forth with both teams throwing everything at each other and many close shots on goal.

However, the Blaze were able to hold on amid a chaotic finish to claim the bronze medal 4-3.

Match Details
Perth Thundersticks 3 (Green 7’, Foster 34’/34’)
Brisbane Blaze 4 (Boyde 15’, Weyer 17’/17’, Howard 27’)

Perth Thundersticks team: 2. Will Battistessa, 3. Brayden King, 4. Jake Harvie (C), 5. Tom Wickham (C), 8. Coby Green, 9. James Day, 10. Josh Bowen, 11. Tom Harvie (VC), 13. Sam Ashton, 14. Chaz Davies, 15. Matt Bird, 16. Brodee Foster, 18. Ben Rennie (GK), 22. Max Freedman, 24. Matt Willis, 25. Fraser Heigh, 26. James Collins (VC).
Brisbane Blaze team: 2. Shane Kenny (C), 3. Corey Weyer, 4. Noah Fahy, 6. Kyle Jeffrey-Prestwich, 9. Jacob Anderson, 10. Daykin Stanger, 11. Michael Francis, 12. Jacob Whetton, 13. David Hubbard, 15. Jayden Atkinson, 16. Tim Howard, 17. Scott Boyde, 21. Max Harding, 22. Matthew Finn (GK), 23. Daniel Beale, 25. Hayden Pease, 32. Mitchell Nicholson (GK).

The Perth Thundersticks is proudly supported by Sharp EIT Solutions, Bravo Apples, ERM High Voltage Asset Specialists, Polytan, Session Equity, and Project Innovations.

The Perth Thundersticks Women’s program is also proudly supported by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.