Goalie defies pain for title glory

Swifts player Bridget McLean (right) works hard to stop a Newtown attacker during the women’s intercity final on Saturday. Swifts shared the title with Rangeville after a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Rob Williams

WHEN Easts goalkeeper Andrew Woodford landed awkwardly on his left shoulder, his first A-grade final could have finished there and then.

But nothing was going to stop the team-minded player.

After a short break in play, Woodford soldiered on to help Easts successfully defend their intercity title at the Ipswich Hockey Complex on Saturday night.

Ipswich competition leaders Easts held out Toowoomba’s top A-grade side Newtown 3-1 in a spirited encounter.

The match finished early when tempers flared and the clock ran down as umpires tried to cool a late exchange.

However, the Tigers were deserved winners of the annual Cushing/Paterson Trophy for their incredible defence and goals at crucial times.

Woodford was central to Easts’ success, helping shut down a flurry of dangerous penalty corners.

However, he was unsure how he jarred his shoulder midway through the first half.

“I don’t know if it was just cramp or just my shoulder. It just tightened up,” Woodford said.

A shoulder massage from his brother Luke at half-time kept Woodford focused.

“I wasn’t going to go off. It’s the final,” the goalkeeper said.

“I wanted to hang out there and do my best.”

Woodford, 23, last played a final for Easts in Reserve grade six years ago.

He described winning a title in his first season of A-grade as “awesome”.

“We all pitched in,” Woodford said, proud of Easts’ mighty defensive effort against a powerful Newtown side.

“We’re going well. Last week against Wests was the best we played all year and tonight was even better.

“I think we’re starting to hit our straps at the right time of the year.”

Easts player/coach Nathan Hooper watched from outside the dugout, having sustained a recent hamstring injury.

“I’m absolutely rapt with the boys, it was a fantastic effort,” Hooper said.

“They (Newtown) had 23 corners and didn’t score a goal.”

Newtown’s field goal came in the second half after Tim Woodford and Daniel Mantell had put the Tigers 2-0 up in the 45th minute.

Steve Bayliss sealed victory with a deflection.

Luke Smith and Alec Sippel stepped up for Easts with speedy brothers Mark and David Llewelyn away on holidays.

Hooper guided the Tigers team that won last year’s intercity title – the first time finals were held under the combined competition format.

“It was good to win it outright and great to back up and be the best team out of the two comps,” Hooper said.

Men’s Combined Competition intercity final: Easts 3 (Tim Woodford, Daniel Mantell, Steve Bayliss) d Newtown 1 (Brent Garshke).