Queechy Penguins remain second on the Greater Northern men’s hockey ladder after a come-from-behind draw against the Smithton Saints in Launceston, and surprise results between the coastal sides, leaves the ladder status quo.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Saints had their more fancied rivals on the back foot early with pressure on the Q’s defence headed by keeper Rob Myers repelling all for the first 20 minutes until Jason House found his way around with a field goal to give the visitors the advantage.
Close to the half-time call the Q’s levelled with a corner conversion for Ryan Horne sending them to the break level.
Early into the second half Horne again converted a penalty corner giving the home team the lead.
The Saints attack started from the back with solid defensive efforts from Dylan Jago and Joe Coombs sending the Saints into attack resulting in a penalty corner conversion for Coombs to level the score.
South Burnie and Devonport remain locked in third despite losing to City Marians and Baptist respectively.
City Marians Rhys Burgess was the difference between them and cross-town rivals South Burnie in the first half of their battle to remain in the four as he slotted one past keeper Jarrod Bomford.
The game settled into probe and repel hockey as they attacked and defended the scorelines at each end despite the best efforts of old heads Craig McCarthy for City Marians and the ever reliable Roger Ambrose for the Hawks.
Baptist led the charge in Devonport with stand in keeper Sam Williams covering well in the absence of Callum Poke.
Penalty corner specialist Rick Webb opened their account slotting a conversion past the Subbies Derrick Heathorn to add scoreboard pressure before the break.
The Subbies stepped up the pace in the second half in an attempt to level getting a result from the stick of Luke Hardy.
Baptist were again on the attack knowing that a win here was a must if they were to stay in touch with the top four when Jake Wolfe added another to his personal tally giving Baptist the win.
The late game in Launceston had the reigning premier against Tamar Churinga.
Tamar worked over the Suns defence finding keeper Jamie Pinner more than ready, with the rest of the battle between midfielders Kieran Dunning for Tamar and Al McBain for the Suns.
The Suns broke through the Tamar defence and keeper Dan James in the twenty seventh minute with a corner conversion for Brad Buchanan, to be followed minutes later when James Sexton added another to his tally.
Tamar fought on gamely in the second half threatening to score with constant attacks involving Rohan Foon, Dunning and Mark Lockwood.
Kurt Budgeon added the next to the scoreboard for the Suns with Keelan Beattie and Ben Walker rounding out the card.
Ladder: Suns 29, Q’s 18, Subbies/Hawks 16, Baptist/Bloods 15, Saints 7, Tamar 4
