Above: Casey’s Shara Cousins, who played for the Bee Gees in the mixed division, launches an attack in the Casey Shoot-Out Cup.By Marc McGowan
SATURDAY’S third annual Casey Shoot-Out Cup was a raging success, with the home side Casey Cannons registering their first victory in the seven-a-side round robin hockey competition.
There were more teams and supporters than before after a mixed event was added this year to the four other divisions.
The Cannons won the men’s competitive grade 6-5 on penalty strokes in a thrilling contest over St Kilda/Powerhouse after the teams were tied at full-time.
There was a similar result in the women’s competitive division, with Frankston also needing to go to penalty strokes to defeat Casey 2-0.
The other winners on the day were Old Haileybury (men’s social), Jebahilly Marvals (women’s social) and the Gippy All-Stars (mixed).
Casey president Kevin Moore, a former head coach of the hockey program at the Tasmanian Institute of Sport, was ecstatic with the day’s proceedings and praised the quality that was on display.
“It went exceptionally well and we were very pleased with it. The standard was very, very good,” he said.
“We’ve only had our clubrooms since July last year and they suffered a lot of damage due to break-ins over the Christmas period.
“There was damage to a lot of windows and glass doors were broken, so we had to install camera systems and alarms.
“The outlay has been very high compared to last year, so a good return in the Shoot-Out Cup was vital.”
In their 20th year of existence, the Cannons are looking forward to a big 2008.
Several social events have been planned, culminating in a black tie dinner at the end of the year to celebrate the club’s anniversary.
But before then Casey’s focus is on the upcoming season, beginning on Sunday 20 April, and Moore believes the club’s Shoot-Out Cup performances augur well for their premiership hopes.
“Our men’s team has picked up a number of players over the off-season from outside the club and their performance at the moment is 60 to 70 per cent higher than last year,” he said.
“We’re looking very good this year. We have some practice matches over the next month and by the middle of April, when the season starts, we expect to have a very good idea on how they will go.
“We’re expecting them to make the finals – if not win the whole (State League Four) competition.”
Moore has similar expectations for the women’s senior side, which he coaches in State League Three.
“The women last won a premiership in State League Four two seasons ago, which put them up, and we’re looking at them as very positive finals contenders this year, too,” he said.
“This will be their second year in State League Three and they’re looking very good.”
Phil Wagg has been promoted to head coach of the men’s side after serving as its assistant last season.
The Cannons are expecting to field 24 teams this season – up from 21 last year – including 13 junior sides ranging from under nine to under 17.
Casey is holding a junior recruiting day at Casey Hockey Club, behind Berwick Secondary College off Manuka Road, Berwick, on Sunday from 12.30pm.
