Werribee has capped a dominant season in the Hockey Victoria women’s Vic League 2 with a premiership.
The Tigers were nearly unbeatable en route to the flag, losing just once all season.
Even though the Tigers went into the grand final against PEGS at the State Netball and Hockey Centre on Sunday as overwhelming favourites, coach Les McAlinden breathed a sigh of relief after securing the 3-1 victory that delivered the title.
“I can breathe now,” he said. “Everyone has been saying you’ve been on top all year and the teams underneath will come at you like the Western Bulldogs did in the AFL last year.
“We were on top all year and to finish it with a premiership today, words can’t describe it.”
Werribee did not feel comfortable in the grand final until the dying seconds.
The Tigers had a two-goal buffer at half-time, but PEGS refused to go quietly, forcing Tigers goalkeeper Rachel Catania into making some impressive saves.
Catania was far and away the best goalkeeper in the division and was even better on the big stage of the finals.
“Rachel could’ve played premier league, but it’s just that she’s been loyal to Werribee for so long. Today and all year, she’s been outstanding,” McAlinden said.
Goals from captain Chloe Pickersgill, Claudia Beamish and Holly Stewart were enough to see off a persistent PEGS.
Pickersgill was praised for her on-field leadership of the Tigers, while Beamish, Stewart and Catherine Munro were among the best players. But McAlinden was reticent to single out individuals on a day when Werribee’s firsts and seconds won premierships.
Werribee’s Vic League 2 reserves team beat MHSOB 2-1 in their grand final to complete a fairytale day for the club.
“It’s a phenomenal effort to win your ones and twos grand finals,” McAlinden said. “It was a team effort, a good effort all round.”
Werribee will be promoted to Vic League 1 in 2018.
McAlinden is confident his team will make a smooth transition to Victorian hockey’s second tier.
“We’re moving forward,” he said.
