Experience leads Park to the finals

Spencer Park secured their place in the finals with a pulsating 2-1 win over Manypeaks in round 17 of the Albany Retravision Lower Great Southern Hockey Association women’s A-grade competition last Saturday.

Led by experienced pair Annie Judd and Chloe Westerberg, Park were able to find the back of the net twice on the way to their fifth win of the season.

Jayne McTaggert and Westerberg scored in the triumph, which leaves Park sitting in third place on the standings with three rounds of the normal season to go.

Again, as she has done throughout this season, youngster Sarah Hearle was strong on the ball, helping set up Park going forward.

Renae Parsons was superb for Peaks along with rising talent Charlotte Edwards, who scored their only goal.

The result assured Park a finals berth given they were six points clear of the fifth-placed Tigers.

Tigers have only one game remaining, however, after playing a double-header over the weekend.

They were beaten 4-0 by premiership fancies North Albany on Saturday night and in a clash with Peaks, brought forward from this coming weekend, they were able to record their fourth win.

Isabelle Plowman scored twice for Tigers in their 3-0 victory over Peaks with Charlotte Powis and Renae Hordyk also valuable contributors.

The win, though combined with a loss to Redbacks, still leaves them out of the finals equation.

Dangerous goal scorers Cionne Fage and Tallulah Gouldthorp were at their best in the win over Tigers, both netting a brace while fellow teenager Parris Kittow was also highly influential.

It was Redbacks’ 12th win of the season and they are well clear on top as they prepare for next month’s second semifinal but their opponent is yet to be determined.

Second-placed Mt Barker are three points ahead of Park on the ladder with Barker up against Redbacks in the only remaining game in round 18 on Sunday.

After a general bye last weekend, the men’s A-grade returns with round 12, starting with Peaks and Redbacks in Albany on Saturday before Mt Barker host Park on Sunday.