WERRIBEE has come back to earth with a thud in Hockey Victoria men’s Vic League 1.
The Tigers were mauled 6-2 on Saturday by the Brunswick Magpies the result a stark contrast to their hot streak during the previous month.
Tigers captain Ross Cowlishaw said his players did not perform with their usual discipline in defence and were wasteful in attack.
“We take it as a bit of a reality check,” he said. “We had a good string of wins and were playing someone below us on the ladder and we probably took it for granted.”
The signs were good for the Tigers early, Darren Wale pouncing on a rebound off the Magpie goalkeeper to score.
The lead was maintained until the last 30 seconds of the half when the Magpies equalised from a short corner.
The second half was a disaster for the Tigers, who conceded three ‘own’ goals.
“It’s a new rule this year,” Cowlishaw said. “Normally when you’re shooting, you’ve got to touch the ball inside the circle. But now they’ve changed it – you can score from outside the circle, as long as it touches anyone’s part of their body it’s classed as a goal.
“It was brought in because sometimes it’s hard for the umpire to determine who touched it.”
The Tigers’ second goal would prove a mere consolation, but it was a bottler. Peter Nalder slid in bravely to deflect a cross from Wale into the net.
It was the highlight on an otherwise disappointing day for the finals-chasing Tigers.
“We’re trying to put that game behind us now and move forward to this week,” Cowlishaw said.
“The teams above us and below us, they lost as well so we didn’t move anywhere on the table and no one moved away from us, which was good.”
The Tigers remain four points outside the top four with a crucial double-header this weekend.
They meet La Trobe University away on Saturday, before returning home to face Greater Dandenong Warriors on Sunday.
Werribee has surrendered its top-four position in the Hockey Victoria women’s Vic League 2.
The Tigers were hammered 5-1 by ladder leader Brunswick on Saturday.
Brittany McIntyre posted her ninth goal of the season for the Tigers.
