REGION - Round three of the Grampians Hockey Association season produced some close contests and provided spectators with quality games.
The action commenced last Friday evening with the Grampians Pumas playing the Grampians Cougars in the Ballarat Under 15 Boys Competition.
The Pumas have been building gradually and are developing in to a strong unit.
Most of the players are under 13 and were pitted against the older and physically stronger Cougars.
The match was tight with the Pumas defence holding firm against persistent attacks from the Cougars.
Josh Schwab was outstanding for Pumas across half back and repelled many attacks.
The Cougars however, proved a little too strong on the evening and ran out winners 3-1.
In the other junior matches, Mafeking have been threatening to be the dominant team in the competition but as yet have not been able to put the score on the board.
They were handicapped again last week, with key playmaker Joe Gibson unavailable.
However, Reece Jenkins made a great replacement and caused the Cathcart side headaches all day.
With Josh Davidson holding firm in the backline, Cathcart struggled to score, but found avenues to goal through Jesse Vella and Shylee Corrigan.
Dun Rilloraza was lively for Mafeking and he and Georgette Baker created sufficient opportunities for Reece Jenkins to tie the game up.
In the end, Mafeking and Cathcart recorded a two all draw.
Langi Ghiran continued their high scoring run with Ben Toogood scoring seven goals in a powerful display against Rhymney.
Liam Cosgriff, and Joel Hughes were multiple goal scorers for Langi Ghiran, while the dangerous Marcus Johnston scored three for Rhymney.
It was Langi Ghiran's defensive efforts that proved the difference, with Jake and Zoe Mckew combining well with Blake Moore to keep Rhymney to just four goals.
Dana Murphy, Nina Murphy and Yvenne Cosgriff continued to show sound improvement for Rhymney.
Final scores were Langi Ghiran 13 to Rhymney 4
The women's match was a keenly fought affair with Black triumphant over Purple.
Jocelyn Cosgriff and Paige Mills were among the scorers for Black, while Sara Vella scored for Purple.
Jodi Gemmel, fresh from a hat trick last week contributed strongly again, while Ashley Davis caused plenty of problems for the opposition with her speed and agility.
In the first senior match, Rhymney took on Langi Ghiran.
Rhymney opened strongly with Richard McCutcheon, Russell Pearse and Robert Starick adding some much needed leadership and direction for their promising younger teammates.
Brigitta Hodgetts was able to deflect a cross in from Russell Pearse to open the scoring, stinging Langi Ghiran in to action.
Brayden and Joel Hughes created many opportunities for the Langi Ghiran forwards and after a series of short corners, Ben Lewis scored a trademark goal that left the goalkeeper stranded.
The game became an arm wrestle for supremacy with Bessie and Magnus Baker refusing to give ground to the Langi Ghiran attacks.
It was left to Lewis to embark on a long solo run, beating five defenders in the process to break the deadlock.
Rhymney were not to be denied and Brigitta Hodgetts again swooped on a cross to level the scores.
The match became tense as both sides had many chances to break the deadlock.
Again Ben Lewis beat the defence and slotted home the winning goal to leave Rhymney winless after three matches.
In the other match, Cathcart went head to head with Mafeking.
Mafeking welcomed gun midfielder Luke Rudolph to the team and immediately looked to be sharper and more dangerous than they have been in recent weeks.
However, early season premiership favourites, Cathcart are a slick unit and set about dismantling the Mafeking defence.
Two goals to David Cosgriff and another to the mercurial Nick Toogood seemed to put the game beyond doubt, but Mafeking came storming back with goals to Rudolph and Kathy Mcnab.
Cathcart's overall evenness proved the decisive factor and they were able to hold on for a hard fought 3-2 victory.
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