Saturday, September 2 saw the Mount Isa Hockey Association grand final matches contested in perfect weather conditions before a large and enthusiastic crowd of players and supporters.
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The Ladies A Grade match was played between hot favourites Pirates, and Aces Hockey club.
The first half saw dogged defending by Aces making it extremely difficult for the Pirates to establish their trademark free flowing style of play, seeing the score tied at nil all at half-time.
Excellent play by Aces’ keeper kept them in the game but as the second half wore on, Pirates’ superior numbers and fitness enabled them to finally crack Aces’ defence, eventually running out comfortable winners three goals to nil.
Pirates’ goal scorers were Jackie Peat, Julie Bartolo and Jess Glossop.
The Men's A Grade game saw T-Birds take on last year's Runners-up Pirates in what turned out to be an absolutely cracking game.
As Minor Premiers, some expected T-Birds to easily account for the Pirates, but it wasn't to be, as the Black and Whites found an extra gear.
After a contested send-off that rattled the Birdies defence, the Pirates combined superbly to score first.
Not to be outdone, T-Birds struck back through Brendan Alchin and Lachy Liddle, who managed to slide his shot under the Pirates custodian scarcely a minute later.
With the scores level at half time, both teams gave their all in the second 35 minutes, but the full time siren saw the outcome deadlocked.
We now move into a shootout scenario to decide the outcome, with each side taking turns to score, one on one, striker versus keeper, for five shots.
The result was still deadlocked at two goals apiece, sending the match into the Sudden Death phase. Now, whoever fails to score loses the game.
With the excited crowd on its feet, the scoring went two from two before T-Birds strikers claimed a third goal, while a shot rattled off the post and out for Pirates, sealing their fate.
T-Birds celebrated their first Grand Final victory since 2002 in magnificent style with Pirates remaining ever gracious in defeat.
To say the day was merely successful would be to sell it short. Music, food and good company were enjoyed by all until the wee hours. MIHA look forward to an even more successful year in 2018.
