Perth Thundersticks too strong for Adelaide Fire in clean-sheet victories

The Perth Thundersticks women's side are officially the first team through to the JDH Hockey One Finals after recording their fourth straight victory, while the men's side have begun their journey towards getting back into the top four.

Women's

The Perth Thundersticks have continued their meteoric rise towards the JDH Hockey One Finals, extending their undefeated streak with a 4-0 win over Adelaide Fire.

The Thundersticks travelled to MATE Stadium to take on the Fire to close out round five of the season on Sunday 5 November.

The Thundersticks were quick to move the ball forward, looking to create early opportunities to score.

However, Adelaide Fire, who were out to prove themselves as contenders were just as quick to thwart those early opportunities with plenty of defensive pressure.

Just as it looked as though it would be a stalemate for the opening term, Liné Malan opened up the tally for the Thundersticks with a field goal and conversion to put the visitors in front.

While the Fire made a measured attempt to respond via penalty corners, the Thundersticks held on to lead 2-0 at quarter time.

The second quarter saw the contest reach a stalemate as the Fire mounted the defensive pressure on.

However, the Thundersticks continued to have an answer for everything, shutting down the Fire’s opportunities and holding strong to maintain their two-goal lead at the main break.

The dynamic contest continued into the third term with the Fire still striving to get themselves on the board.

But the Thundersticks would quickly storm through to extend their lead with an early penalty corner goal via Lexie Pickering.

As the Fire attempted to throw everything at the Thundersticks, the visitors put up a strong defensive front and quickly drove the ball forward as debutant Elyssa Melville fired through for a goal on debut.

By the final change, the Thundersticks led 4-0.

Although the Fire continued to put up a solid effort and try to make opportunities, the Thundersticks held strong to extend their undefeated streak by another week.

Following the match, Shanea Tonkin said she has noticed a positive change within the squad throughout the season.

"Every game is a fight and every game has a bit more pressure but the girls are really stepping up to the challenge," she said.

"There's been a change this year where everyone's really eager, really in it and we're so competitive and it's so nice to be a part of it."

Debutant Melville was named the JDH Player of the Match for her strong showing during her first outing as a Perth Thunderstick.

The Perth Thundersticks will return home to Perth Hockey Stadium to take on the NSW Pride on Sunday 12 November.

Match Details
Perth Thundersticks 4 (Liné Malan 11'/11', Lexie Pickering 33', Elyssa Melville 39')
Adelaide Fire 0 (TBA)

Perth Thundersticks team: 1. Pippa Morgan, 4. Elyssa Melville, 6. Sarah Byrnes, 7. Penny Squibb, 8. Georgia Wilson, 9. Shanea Tonkin, 10. Jesse Reid, 11. Rachel Frusher (C), 12. Liné Malan, 13. Lexie Pickering, 14. Elizabeth Duguid (GK), 17. Annie Gibbs, 18. Renee Rockliff, 19. Georgina Dowd, 20. Karri Somerville.

Adelaide Fire team: 2. Brittany Wang, 3. Sherilyn Cass, 5. Holly Evans-Gill, 6. Euleena Maclachlan (C), 8. Miki Spano, 11. Lucy Sharman, 12. Erin Cameron, 13. Hattie Shand, 15. Brooke Peris, 17. Katie Sharkey, 18. Anna Crowley, 22. Zoe Newman (GK), 25. Jane Claxton, 26. Linzi Appleyard, 27. Gabriella Mitreska.

Men's

The Perth Thundersticks have roared back into finals contention, breaking their field goal drought to record an emphatic 3-0 victory over Adelaide Fire.

The Thundersticks went head to head with the Adelaide Fire at MATE Stadium to close out round five of the JDH Hockey One season on Sunday 5 November.

As the Thundersticks looked to salvage their 2023 campaign, they were quick to drive the ball forward early.

However, their opportunities to score seemed few and far between as the Fire put up a strong defensive front and thwarted entries into the D.

Amid plenty of back and forth up and down the field, neither side let up as the score remained at 0-0 at quarter time.

As the Thundersticks continued trying to break through the Fire’s defence, they found themselves hitting a wall early in the second term.

It wasn’t until the 19^th minute that Matt Willis managed to pull off what the Thundersticks had been unable to do during the season so far, scoring a field goal and successfully converting to put the visitors in front.

The field goal and conversion seemed to breathe new life into the Thundersticks, who mounted the defensive pressure on the Fire as they looked to respond.

By half time, the Thundersticks held a 2-0 lead.

The contest reached another deadlock during the third period as both sides continued to mount the pressure on one another.

As Adelaide looked to bring themselves back from the brink, the Thundersticks held strong to maintain their two-goal advantage at three-quarter time.

The deadlock seemed to continue into the final term as both sides continued to throw everything at each other.

However, the Perth Thundersticks held strong with a last-second penalty corner goal via James Day sealing the deal 3-0 to bring the Thundersticks back into finals contention with two matches to go.

Following the match, JDH Player of the Match Jake Harvie said it was fantastic to see how competitive the 2023 JDH Hockey One season has been so far.

"There's been no easy games and today was no exception," he said.

"It was a quality game and it was tough work for sure.

"Adelaide made it really difficult for us.

"It was very much a team effort and I thought a lot of the guys had really solid games and I think that's what every team is trying to do - put a solid team performance out and that will give you the best chance to put a good result out."

The Thundersticks will continue looking to bring themselves into finals contention when they take on the NSW Pride at Perth Hockey Stadium on Sunday 12 November.


Match Details
Perth Thundersticks 3 (Matt Willis 19'/19', James Day 60)
Adelaide Fire 0 

Perth Thundersticks team: 1. Matt Bird,3. Tim Geers, 4. Jake Harvie, 5. Tom Wickham, 6. Bryn De Bes, 9. James Day, 11. Tom Harvie, 12. Alistair Murray, 13. Brayden King, 14. Matt Willis, 15. Liam Flynn, 17. Aran Zalewski (C), 18. Ben Rennie (GK), 20. Frank Main, 26. James Collins.

Adelaide Fire team: 1. Kieran Govers, 2. Connor Richmond-Spouse, 4. Jakc Holland, 6. Matthew Magann, 7. Peter Scott, 9. Fred Gray (C), 10. Lachlan Arnell, 11. Kyton Rayner, 12. Mitchell Dell, 13. Alastair Oliver, 14. Fraser Heigh, 16. Hugh Snowden, 17. Charli Ulrich, 21. Jed Snowden (GK), 25. Jethro Eustice.