Sport
Gallery | Halfway mark of the GVHA season sees goals aplenty, while a former River Rat returns to national fold
Blink and you miss it, we’ve crossed the halfway Rubicon in the Goulburn Valley Hockey Association season.
While it only seems like a moment ago that sticks, shin guards and strips were donned for the first time this year, four rounds have already passed of the eight slated home and away set of fixtures.
And just like always, the weekend’s action had goals — net-loads of them.
The sole A-grade men’s clash between Echuca-Moama and Shepparton Youth Club swung the latter’s way, with Joel Hamill and Alex Dowe bagging braces in a 6-1 rout.
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Echuca-Moama White’s Amy Coshan dishes off a flick pass. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROWImage 2 of 5
SYC’s Jacinta Woodward keeps the ball under control at the end of her stick. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROWImage 3 of 5
SYC’s Ineke Walsh looks to hold off her marker. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROWImage 4 of 5
Echuca-Moama White’s Amy Coshan and SYC’s Jess Travaskis. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROWImage 5 of 5
Echuca-Moama White’s Lauren Forsythe breaks away from SYC’s Kim Starkey. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROWIn B-grade, Strikers stole a 2-1 triumph over Mooroopna, while SYC ousted Echuca Moama 2-0.
Saturday’s game of the round was won by SYC in a tense women’s clash against Echuca-Moama White, the former coming out grinning following a five-goal thriller.
Kim Starkey put in a best afield display, drilling one of her side’s three goals, while fellow SYC warriors Jess Trevaskis and Dakora Graham also struck truly.
In the later fixture, Echuca-Moama Green pummelled Euroa 7-0 with Courtney Thompson’s four-piece shooting her atop the league’s scoring charts.
Women’s Vic League Two action had Mooroopna locked in a scoreless draw with Melbourne High School Old Boys, having the Cats bump inside the top four.
The draw tees up a tantalising third versus fourth clash against Greater Dandenong Warriors this weekend.
On the export front, Echuca hockey product Sam Lowndes has levelled up his game to the national stage, selected as part of Australia’s under-21 national team.
Lowndes, 20, is no stranger to the elite set-up, having previously represented the Burras.
And in the coming months, he’ll again have the chance to strut his stuff in the green and gold.
“We’ve selected a wide variety of talented athletes, who all tick a lot of boxes, and a group that we know will complement each other on the pitch,” Burras coach Jay Stacy said.
“The squad will be a highly competitive environment, particularly as we announce our European Tour team, have the Johor Cup in October and then select the best possible Australian team to contest the Junior World Cup in December.”