Perth Thundersticks open Hockey One campaign in thilling double-header victory

WA's number one hockey franchise, the Perth Thundersticks, have kick-started season 2 of the Sultana Bran Hockey One League in style, claiming victories in both the men's and women's matches against the Adelaide Fire at Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University.

The Thundersticks women's team secured a 3-1 victory in a professional outing for the side, rebounding from a slow start to hold the lead for the majority of the second half.

South African Line Malan put on a show for the crowd, scoring a scintillating tomahawk and then the penalty conversion to put her side in good stead until the final buzzer.

“We started a bit rusty but got there in the end and it was a good win. It’s such an honour to play with WA. It’s always good to get out with the girls and play in this team,” Malan said.

In the men's match, Kookaburras and Thundersticks skipper Aran Zalewski proved to be the hero for his side, scoring a hat-trick in a thrilling 5-2 victory.

In a tight tussle, the Thundersticks were unable to capitalise on their many first-half goal-scoring chances, heading into the main break at nil-all.

The Thundersticks quickly claimed the lead in third quarter but the Adelaide Fire responded to take a 2-1 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of the match.

In a mammoth effort by the Thundersticks, the side piled on four unanswered goals, with Zalewski bagging two and Cam Geddes and Tom Wickham also finding goal to take home the win.

"It was a bit of a grind. It was always going to be as Adelaide Fire play a tough brand,” Zalewski said.

“When you get thirteen short corners and only put a couple away, with these rules it was putting us under a bit of pressure, particularly when they got their conversion and we didn’t.”

“But we were happy to get that fourth quarter under our belt and put our chances away when we needed to.”

Match Details
WOMEN'S MATCH
Perth Thundersticks 3 (Somerville 21’, Malan 34’/34’)

Adelaide Fire 1 (Appleyard 44’)

MEN'S MATCH

Match Details

Perth Thundersticks 5 (Zalewski 45’/58’/58’, Geddes 51’, Wikckham 53’)

Adelaide Fire 2 (Fry 46’/46’)