The Margaret River Hockey Club participated in the Cheeky 9‘s competition in Bunbury on the weekend.
The fun weekend of hockey raises money for Brain Cancer Research and is named after a well-known Bunbury Hockey player, Brian Cheek, who lost his battle to brain cancer a few years ago.
The games are played 9 a side with a goal keeper and each team must have 5 junior or female players on the pitch at all times.
Margaret River competed in the second division, playing 6 games over the two days.
Juniors Asha Altmann, Chloe Altmann and Ashlee Jarvis ran hard all weekend and along with goal keeper Pete Wright and defender Blake Smith formed the backbone of the team.
Day one also saw club president, Colin Fox, and Michael Jones (MJ) and junior Sam Carter fill out the team. With Ben Van-Overdijk playing the first game before travelling to Perth for State Hockey training.
First game Margaret River played a very strong Boyanup side (who fielded some of their SWL players) losing 6 – 0.
The next game was against Exies Pink, without Van-Overdijk and with the possibility of playing one person short Jeanette Smith pulled on a shirt in her hockey debut.
The game was more evenly matched even through Exies Pink were also fielding some of their SWL players. Margaret River went down in this game 3 – 0.
Final game of the day saw a very even match against Exies Green with the final score 1 – 0 to Exies Green.
Day two, Fox was not available due to work commitments, MJ’s knee injury flared up and young gun Carter was unavailable.
New player to the club Kieren (Kiwi) who only arrived from Queensland 3 days ago joined the side and will be a great member of our ladies side this season.
Courtney Callow who had been filling in as a goal keeper for another team the day previously joined the side but Margaret River were still two players down for the day.
Smith pulled on a shirt and the team borrowed one of the opposition players for the first game against Exies. In an evenly matched game Margaret River scored its first win in the competition 1 - 0.
With Chloe Altmann putting the ball in the back of the net off a great pass into the circle from Jarvis. Margaret River had many scoring opportunities during the game but the balls were either pushed slightly wide or saved by the keeper.
In the final two games of the day Margaret River were assisted by two junior players from Exies Green, Indi and Rory.
The second game of the day saw Margaret River take on Exies Black resulting in a draw 1 – 1. The final game of the day Margaret River played Melville.
The game started serious but when Melville fielded a very young girl in their attack the Margaret River defence let her get the ball and have a number of shots on goal with keeper Wright playing softly so she could have a go.
All the players agreed this was the best game of the day and was really what the day is about hockey families getting together having fun playing the game they love whilst raising money for a worthy cause.
Margaret River are looking forward to next year’s competition and hoping to have more club members involved.
Margaret River Hockey club caters for all ages PP – seniors and all levels of hockey from complete beginners to experienced players.
If you are interested in playing hockey please check out our Facebook page or contact admin@margaretriverhockey.org.au or club president Colin Fox 0400 294 737.
