Goals shower down during the weekend’s Goulburn Valley Hockey Association action

By Liam Nash

Jul 23, 2024

Xavier McBain struck a hat-trick as the Strikers sent 18 goals past Mooroopna on Friday. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

The Goulburn Valley Hockey Association A-grade men’s sprint is fast becoming a two-horse race.

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After the last round’s performance, Strikers have to be regarded as the GVHA’s Winx after completing an 18-0 demo job on Mooroopna under the Friday night lights to push three points clear of the pack.

Close behind is SYC, which skittled Echuca-Moama 4-1 to create a five-point divide from second spot to third halfway through the regular season.

A Strikers-SYC grand final in September seems all but imminent and spectators will get a taste of what it may look like when the two sides meet in this Sunday’s slobber knocker.

But after Friday’s raid on Mooroopna’s goal, a betting man’s money would surely be on Strikers.

Youngster Max Cole was in a ridiculous vein of form, netting seven goals in the 18-0 victory, while Xavier McBain followed with a hat-trick.

Duncan Moodie, Ben Costa and Declan Nabbs doubled up for Strikers, while Josiah Moore put in an admirable shift on the losing side.

Meanwhile, SYC’s 4-1 victory over the River Rats holds it in good stead to overturn the 2-0 defeat to Strikers last time the outfits went head to head in June.

In Women’s Vic League Two action, Mooroopna returned to winning ways by knocking down RMIT Hockey Club 3-1 on the road.

Kim Starkey, Lauren Varapodio and Alicia Cornelius all struck the back of the net as Mooroopna kept its fourth-place position with five rounds remaining.