By Lance Jenkinson
You are welcome to reserve judgment on Werribee until after it faces top-of-the-ladder St Bede’s in a Hockey Victorian men’s Vic League 2 blockbuster this Saturday, but they are showing all the signs of a team that will be a force to be reckoned with for the remainder of the campaign.
The Tigers have been in irresistible form over the past six games – their only dropped point coming in a nil-all draw with then top side MHSOB in round 12.
Take that game out of the equation and the Tigers have been untouchable, winning the other five games, all the while scoring 31 goals and conceding just three.
The Tigers maintained the rage with a 7-1 demolition of Croydon Ranges at the Werribee Hockey Centre on Saturday.
Tigers defender Ross Cowlishaw was pleased with the way his team negotiated a way past a defence-minded Croydon.
“They tried to bottle it up from the start,” he said. “We scored seven, but we probably could’ve got a few more goals.
“We missed a few open nets.
“To the boys’ credit, at least we’re getting to opportunities.”
Werribee’s mix of goals was spot on.
The Tigers scored four goals from short corners and three in open play.
“Last week we didn’t capitalise on our short corners and we didn’t get enough,” Cowlishaw said. “This week we tried working on getting more short corners, which we did, and I think we got four goals from short corners, which is a good result.
“It’s always good to get field goals too.”
The spread of Werribee goalscorers was pleasing for coach Andrew Purcell. Sam Huxtable, the team’s leading scorer with 18, fired in a double, while Daniel Manzie, Jamie Beamish, Jayden Street, Peter Nalder and Michael Gallo hit the back of the net.
Huxtable’s influence could be weighed more so in his unselfishness, which at times maybe even went too far.
“He passed a few off that he probably could’ve buried to be honest,” Cowlishaw said.
“That’s good on his behalf, he’s trying to get other people into the game.”
Nalder was Werribee’s standout player in the midfield.
He worked tirelessly up and back to provide defensive cover and an offensive weapon.
“He was always putting pressure on,” Cowlishaw said.
“He was able to create opportunities through our midfield and break their lines.”
There were also good signs from Street, who is working his way back to his best form after a long-term knee injury. Street did not waste his time on the sidelines, working as a bench coach and it has translated into his leadership on the field.
“His talk back there is important,” Cowlishaw said.
“He also really gives us confidence if he’s one-on-one in defence. He’s got the long reach with his stick and just seems to get that ball.
“He’s got that good delivery coming out of defence, where he can go left or right or can go 30 or 40 metres straight up and hit a guy right on his stick, so he’s been a big inclusion.”
Werribee’s battle with St Bede’s will take place at Mills Reserve in Dandenong.
In women’s Vic League 1, Holly Stewart scored a double in Werribee’s 5-2 win over Monash University.
