Rovers through to Geraldton men’s hockey grand final after shootout, Australs through to women’s decider

Finals season is heating up in Geraldton hockey with one round to go before grand finals, with Rovers beating Cardinals in a tense second semifinal after normal and extra time failed to separate the combatants.

Rovers finally prevailed on Saturday to go through to the men’s A-grade decider, but Casuals pushed them all the way.

Rovers’ Kye McVee, Aiden McDowell and Riley McKoy put their one-on-ones away after the scoreline remained nil-all at the end of extra time.

Josh McGlynn and Jarrod Jupp scored for Casuals but it wasn’t enough, the game finishing 3-2.

Casuals will get a second chance in the preliminary final against Yacht Club, who beat Australs 3-1 in the first semifinal.

McVee, McDowell and Jayden Valenti were the best players for Rovers.

Jupp, Brent Allen and Clint Yeates were Casuals’ best.

Casuals captain Brent Allen and Rovers’ Jayden Valenti also showed strong leadership.

Denver Weldon, Kit Tapper and Keith Nock scored for Yacht Club and were their best players, while Craig Koltasz scored for Australs.

Austral’s best were Tim Negri, Amos Stieger and Matthew O’Neill.

In the women’s A grade, Murchison beat Cardinals in the second semifinal, 2-0. Lauren Martin and Zoe Rowcroft scored.

Brooke Elward, Ellie Rutter, Ash Morris were Murchison’s best while Luka Gray, Jess Giudice-Nairn and Alice Stieger were best for Cardinals.

Cardinals will play in the preliminary against Australs, who beat Saints 2-0 thanks to Hayley Halton and Eleasha Donovan.

Caitlin Mundy, Faye Drummond and Halton were best for Australs while Saints’ best were Belinda Burrow, Jaimee Wheatley and Pam Smeed.

Australs beat Saints 2-1 in the men’s A-reserve second semi on Friday. Brad Kingdon and Kyle Rania scored for Australs while Jack Hoskins replied for Saints.

Rovers beat Yacht Club 2-0 thanks to Travis Main and Ben Luscombe.

In the women’s A-reserves, Yacht Club Development beat Saints 1-0 in the second semifinal on Thursday, 1-0, as Alyssa Piper scored.

Bonnie Hughes scored as Cardinals beat Australs 1-0 in the first semifinal. Christy Rock scored the only goal as Murchison beat Swans 1-0 in the women’s A-reserves Bar Cup.