LGSHA 2024: Spencer Park men’s A-grade remain undefeated in title defence, women’s A-grade notch first win

Spencer Park stand alone as the only undefeated team through the opening two rounds of the Lower Great Southern Hockey Association Retravision men’s A-grade season after disposing of a weary Mt Barker side. After making light work of North Albany last week with a commanding 5-2 win, the premiers of the past two years continued their rocketing start to the season by thrashing Mt Barker 4-0 in Albany on Saturday. Park player-coach Darren Parkes netted a hat-trick in the strong showing while James Leiper chipped in with a goal. In the other men’s A-grade match, North Albany secured their first win of the 2024 campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Manypeaks. Jack Carlson scored a brace to lead the Redbacks who were pushed the whole way by their opponents in their nail-biting 2-1 win. In the Retravision women’s A-grade, Spencer Park claimed their first win of the season after emerging 3-2 victors over a determined Mt Barker in Albany on Saturday. Park did all their damage in the first half with goals from Tallulah Gouldthorp, Lousie Quartermaine and Anna Moffatt, but a goal from the stick of Mt Barker’s Brianna Cunningham on the stroke of half-time sparked the hope of a comeback. Clare King added Mt Barker’s second giving her side increased hope of a successful recovery but they were beaten by the final whistle. Meanwhile North Albany, who have won the past four women’s titles, secured a narrow win over Manypeaks in the other women’s A-grade fixture. Xanthe O’Neill opened the scoring in the opening five minutes of their 1-0 win before the two sides jostled for superiority but were unable to break through each other’s defences for the remainder of the game.