The twenty-ninth year of Greater Northern League hockey heads to the coast this week for the first round of finals with four past winners in the fight.
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The North has won the title seventeen times and the North West twelve, making this important for the regions’ bragging rights.
City Marians and Queechy are five-time winners while South Burnie has claimed the accolade just once.
Burnie Baptist has been in the fight for the past four years since rejoining the competition, but has yet to take the gong.
Baptist topped the table with two losses and two draws, giving them fourteen wins for the season, and their best chance at the title.
They meet Queechy for the first semi-final, with the loser getting the second chance and the winner taking next week off.
Baptist will be relying heavily on their defensive unit led by keeper Jason Lynch with Rick Webb and Andrew Ollington in support to control the Q’s attack.
Braden Johnson, Sam Porteus-Smith and Jake Wolfe have shown deft skill around the circle figuring on the team score sheets with support from wise head Matt Selby, making the plays.
The Qs, like their opposition, have a solid defence led by Derrick Heathorn with Matt Franklin and Tom Moir in support.
This should be a low-scoring game fought hard across these lines.
Evan Lawrence found form last week taking a hat-trick of goals for his efforts with the Withington brothers Brett and Stuart adding to the team’s tally.
The Bloods are no strangers to the title fight and should be at full strength.
Plenty of firepower from both sides should make for an exciting, action-packed match for the spectators.
The elimination final has South Burnie up against cross-town rivals City Marians.
The Hawks took eleven wins from the home-and-away series, with the speedy duo of Stuart Bowles and Jordan Dart up front, and the wily veteran Roger Ambrose covering the back in front of keeper Jared Bomford keeping them in the title chase.
Tom Trevarthan and Isaac Woo are more than capable of scoring if the Bloods’ defence gives them room, as part of a multiple-pronged attack.
The Bloods are no strangers to the title fight and should be at full strength. Dave Townsend has earned his stripes as a keeper with Craig McCarthy and Rhys Burgess in support.
Simon Vandenberg covers the centre well, forcing sides to work the wings and in turn, sending the fleet-footed Will Gates to harass the circle.
Jason Birtwhistle is the rock personified with solid stick skills and an amazing read of the game stopping many forward forays. All will need to be at their best if they are to capture another crown.