HOCKEY

By Shelby Brooks

FRANKSTON Hockey Club celebrated 49 years of play at its annual past and present members day on 13 August.

Around 50 past members turned out to catch up. There were stories shared, with the passage of time not dulling the feelings from past moments of triumph or defeat. President Chris Wall said one past player had travelled internationally to attend the day. “It’s a truly remarkable spectacle to witness members, who played in the inaugural 1973 grand final, come together and reminisce about the days past and watch the future of the club they started play the sport they’ve loved for a lifetime,” he said.

“Familiar faces from decades past filled the pavilion saturated the air with echoes of laughter as old memories were called upon and stories re-told with more hype than ever before.

“All of this was surrounded by an energetic atmosphere with the senior teams securing four wins from five matches.”

Last weekend was the first week of finals for the 2022 winter season of hockey. One Frankston Hockey Club team won their way straight through to the grand final in two weeks.

The men’s firsts won 4-2 against RMIT at the Peninsula Hockey Centre.

The Vic League 3 side dominated from 2-0 up in the first quarter. They will play in the grand final at the State Hockey Centre in Yarraville in two weeks.

The men’s thirds won in a nail-biting penalty shoot out after drawing 1-1 at full time.  They play again in a preliminary final next weekend for their spot in the grand final.

The women’s firsts are off to the preliminary final next weekend after going down to Casey in the semifinal 0-4.  The Vic League 2 side went in as the underdogs and was up against a loud Casey home ground crowd. They will play Melbourne High School Old Boys Hockey Club next weekend to try to earn their position in the grand final.

First published in the Mornington News – 30 August 2022