Thundersticks raring to get back on winners list in final home clash

The Perth Thundersticks have one more chance to put on a show for their home fans when they take on the Tassie Tigers on Saturday for their last home game of the 2022 Sultana Bran Hockey One season.

The Thundersticks will host the Tigers at 6pm on Saturday night at Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University and will be looking to get back on the winners' list after recording their first loss of the year against NSW at the weekend.

The second-placed Perth went down 4-3 in Sydney against the powerhouse NSW Pride in a back-and-forth match that provided plenty of highlights.

Thundersticks star Tim Geers said whilst the result was disappointing, the side had still played some of their best hockey of the campaign.

Geers believed the showcase at Sydney Olympic Park was the best hockey to date in this year’s tournament.

“Obviously it was a little setback on the weekend against NSW Pride, but I think it was the best hockey we have played as a team,” Geers said.

“It was probably the best Hockey One game of the tournament in my opinion.

“We have identified a few areas throughout the week that we have been working on and trying to improve on heading into this match and we believe we will bounce back this weekend.”

The Thundersticks will host the fifth-placed Tassie Tigers on Saturday who will have extra motivation for the match as the finals window begins to close on them.

The Tigers have recorded just one win for the tournament – a 5-0 victory against the Adelaide Fire – and have been beaten by Brisbane and Canberra.

Thundersticks’ Geers said he knew the Tigers were a massive threat this weekend because they have a number of players who have been performing in the Hockey WA Premier League for many years.

“They have a number of guys that play or have played here in Perth, so we know a lot of them quite well and are familiar with their threats,” Geers said.

“They have some damaging players like Eddie Ockenden and Joshua Beltz, as well as some experience at the back with Jeremy Edwards and Tim Deavin.

“We are definitely not underestimating them and head into the match knowing it will be a challenge.

“But at the same time, we are really confident we can get back on the winners' list.”

The Thundersticks are close to booking their ticket to the 2022 Hockey One finals series in Bendigo, but Geers said there was still more work to do before they could start thinking about that.

“We have put ourselves in a really good position so far in the tournament but there is more work to be done before the finals,” Geers said.

“All along our focus has been about trying to get better each week.

“We believe if we keep doing that we will put ourselves in a good position to have a crack during the finals in Bendigo.”

The Thundersticks will host the Tigers at 6pm on Saturday night at Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University. Get tickets.