Victoria Park Xavier Prevails over Fighting Hale to Claim the Women's Premier Division Trophy for 2020

The 2020 Women's Premier Division 1 Grand Final match-up lived up to every last expectation, with a thrilling 3-2 win to Victoria Park in the dying seconds creating a memorable match-up for the ages.

After enduring a challenging finals campaign, it was only fitting to see Hale Hockey Club fighting with every last effort until the final minute in the Women's Premier Division 1 Grand Final; Victoria Park proved too strong and showed that they deserved the label of being the team to beat all season, with a  goal in extra time with 25 seconds to go proving the difference between the two sides.

Hale looked to stun the crowd at Perth Hockey Stadium from the get-go, opening the scoring for the game through a Sara Laidler goal in the 3rd minute of the match.

But it was Victoria Park who wanted to prove that the expectations set on them were to be met, scoring the next two goals in the 41st and 44th minutes of the match, to Harriet Collins and Amberley Abbott respectively.

It was a valiant effort from Victoria Park in the end, facing a Hale side that epitomised the "never say die" attitude, managing to draw level with the powerhouse Vic Park team through a Madonna Blyth goal in the 58th minute.

The mouth-watering  thought of an extra-time thriller delivered in all aspects, with both teams neck-and-neck through the extra period, but a hero was needed for either side to provide solace to each team's respective fans.

Enter Harriet Collins, Victoria Park's hero. After an impressive run from Karri Somerville through the middle with 35 seconds to go,  a cheeky deflection from Collins off of an attempt from Somerville with 25 seconds left proved to be the decider.

"It was a pretty hard-fought game, after coming back from 1-nil down to go in front,” Victoria Park’s captain Rachel Frusher said. “Hale, scoring another goal in the last quarter, put us in a tough position but being able to score in the last 20 seconds or so was amazing."

An enthralled crowd at Perth Hockey Stadium erupted in the moment, only sweetening Victoria Park's first Women's Premier Division 1 title win.

"It was a tough, strong game and so many players worked so hard – we’re thrilled with the performance and absolutely stoked to win the title," Frusher said.

After a year of uncertainty, it was most fitting to cap off the Women's Premier Division 1 in such style.

To relive all the action from the stunner at Perth Hockey Stadium, watch below: