By Jonty Ralphsmith
Missing a host of usual starters, Casey was still able to overcome WestVic 3-2 in a tight encounter.
Star April Picton, sisters Mikayla and Skye McDonald are three of Casey’s most critical players in attack but others were able to step up in their absence.
In a show of depth as the home and away season reaches its pointy end, Emma Harris, Michaela Bullock and Jess Rowland all scored, well set up by a productive midfield.
It’s the women’s seventh win in a row, with the weekend’s results seeing them move to top spot on the Vic League one ladder.
It’s a remarkable achievement for a team in its first season at the level and following an undefeated 2022 when it faced no evenly matched opposition teams.
Casey’s men, meanwhile, have gone down 3-0 to second-placed Old Xaverians.
Women
Results: North West 0 v Yarra Valley 4, Casey 3 v West Vic 2, Knox 4 v PEGS 2, Werribee 2 v Mornington Peninsula 2, Monash University 0 v Brunswick 1
Ladder: Casey 30, Mornington Peninsula 29, Yarra Valley 28, Monash University 23, Knox 15, WestVic 13, PEGS 10, Werribee 10, Brunswick 9, North West Lightning 9
Fixture: Brunswick v Werribee, Mornington Peninsula v North West Lightning, West Vic v Knox, PEGS v Monash University, Yarra Valley v Casey
Men
Results: Eastern Christian Hockey Organisation 1 v PEGS 5, Monash University 0 v Brunswick 1, North West 1 v Yarra Valley 0, Casey 0 v Old Xaverians 3, Werribee 4 v Melbourne Sikhs 8
Ladder: Melbourne Sikhs 27, Old Xaverians 26, Brunswick 25, PEGS 22, Monash 22, North West 22, Werribee 12, Eastern Christian Hockey Organisation 8, Yarra Valley 4, Casey 3
Fixture: Brunswick v Werribee, PEGS v Monash University, Old Xaverians v Eastern Christian Hockey Organisation, Melbourne Sikhs v North West Lightning, Yarra Valley v Casey
