By Tara Murray
All four Caroline Springs senior sides will play finals in Hockey Victoria’s winter competition this year.
While the regular season is still under way, the Springers have already sealed finals’ berths for their two women’s and two men’s sides.
Women’s coach Ron Shadbolt said they were a little bit surprised to have all four teams in finals.
Last year, the club’s first year, the two women’s sides won premierships, but the men’s side missed finals.
“The bottom line is everyone in the club is rapt,” he said.
“To have four teams in finals is a great effort.”
On the women’s side, their top side in Vic League 2 is second with two rounds remaining.
They can’t drop any lower and have secured a double chance come finals time. On Saturday they defeated Gippsland Bulls 4-2.
Their second side, in Women’s Metro B west, sits on top of the ladder one point clear of Sunshine, which they drew with 1-1 at the weekend.
Shadbolt said this season had been a lot more difficult than last year.
“We have done exceptionally well,” he said.
“The ladies are over the moon and we’ve done it under duress.
“We’ve had a huge number of injuries, with five of our best players out.”
Shadbolt said Holly Azzopardi, Narelle Shadbolt and Lucy Steele were all out of the season. He said he hoped Laura Brown would return in the next few weeks.
With the injuries, Shadbolt was realistic about the top side’s chances come finals time.
He said with a tough run home, those players stepping up would have to quickly adjust.
This weekend they face the top team, MHSOB.
“We will be competitive, but I think we might struggle against the top team without having our core players,” he said.
“We’ve still got five or six players who have finals’ experience and have played at a higher level. We will work hard and give a good account of ourselves.”
While unsure how the top side will go, Shadbolt was confident that the Metro side would perform well. Many players have been playing across both sides due to the injury count.
“The Metro side has lifted their work rate and looking forward to finals,” he said.
“I think Metros is our best chance.”
The men’s Metro A North West had a 4-3 win against MHSOB on Sunday. The win has them sitting third, three points behind second.
Meanwhile, the Metro B West team sits third.
In other results, Melton’s men’s team had a 2-1 loss against Collegians- X in Vic League 3.
The Mustangs sit fifth, one point outside the top four.
In Vic League Women’s 2, Melton lost to ECHO 8-3.
Tara Murray
