WERRIBEE remains on the outer in Hockey Victoria men’s Vic League 1, despite being presented with a golden opportunity to gatecrash the top four.
The Tigers earned a weekend split in a double header, but had they managed to beat the two sides they faced below them on the ladder, favourable results at other grounds would have seen them move into fourth.
Tigers coach Cam Whyatt told the Weekly he was not impressed by the outcome.
“No, to be honest,” he said when asked if three points of a possible six was acceptable. “With the results that went our way yesterday, if we’d won both of these games, it would have had us in the four. Three points today is better than none, but it would’ve been ideal to have six to apply the pressure to third and fourth positions, who are easily chaseable.”
The Tigers could be made to rue their 3-2 loss to La Trobe University on Saturday.
They produced some of their best hockey of the year in the first half to race to a 2-0 lead after goals to Sam Huxtable and Josh Pace, but the scoreline could easily have been five or six but for wasting a bevy of chances. La Trobe fought back, getting the game back on level terms before a late winner.
“We had a goal disallowed, which changed the whole game,” Whyatt said. “That would’ve got us up to 3-2 and from that ensuing free hit, they went down the other end and scored.”
On Sunday, it was about redemption for the Tigers, and they got that with a 5-3 win over Greater Dandenong Warriors.
Jayden Street fired in a double, while there were also goals to Pace, Huxtable and Michael Condon.
Condon, the game’s MVP, fired in a ripper.
“One of the best goals I’ve seen for the year,” Whyatt said. “It was an absolute cracker.
“He received the ball on the right- hand side, cut back in towards the centre of the circle, eliminated three or four of the defenders and smashed the ball into the roof of the net.”
Fourth spot is opening up for up to five teams.
Werribee, Brunswick and the occupier of fourth place, Melbourne University, are all on 22 points with seven games remaining.
The Tigers’ destiny could be shaped in the next two weeks, facing top-two sides Powerhouse-St Kilda and Kew.
“I think we can [make the finals],” Whyatt said.
“The next two weeks will really show us that because we’re playing the top two teams.”
In women’s Vic League 2, Werribee has closed to within two points of the top four after a 6-0 whitewash of PEGS.
Laura Baker, the Tigers’ leading goalscorer with 10, and Jenna Howley, who has eight, both scored doubles.
