Scotch College

Back to back APS hockey premierships

Scotch continues its domination of APS hockey with an even better year than its 2008 premiership season.

WORDS: MR JOHN FLYNN – TEAM MANAGER

The Scotch College 1st hockey team continued its convincing domination of the APS competition over the past two seasons by winning its second consecutive premiership trophy. The team did it in fine style, accumulating enough points over the opposition to afford not to play the last round. In two seasons the team has not lost a match. The statistics say most of it: 46 goals for and 10 against in season 2009, and 44 goals for and 13 against in season 2008. Scotch has dominated the Bob Grant Challenge Cup since the competition began in 1991 with Scotch College being listed for 10 of the 19 years.

This year’s team began the season with most of the boys attending our biennial overseas tour. The tour party embarked on an adventurous itinerary in Argentina. The hockey was strongly competitive, and the food, sights, sounds, smells and language all rather foreign. It was an excellent preparation for boys keen to improve their hockey.

Improve is exactly what our Firsts did over the season. Our last two rounds were against the teams ranked third and second. It was especially pleasing to see Scotch defeat previously unbeaten Haileybury 5-0 at Keysborough and Caulfield 6-0 at home. Goalkeeper Charlie Altson (Year 11) deserves a special mention as he has improved dramatically over the season. The team has been very ably led by captain Tom Sinclair and vice-captain Tom Ryan and the other seven Year 12 players. These boys have welcomed our talented younger players and nurtured the upcoming players of the future. Coach Zac Hawes has developed tactics, emphasised fitness and assisted the development of our team to play the best passing team game in the competition. Congratulations on a spectacular season. GS

The victorious Scotch Hockey Team

Tom Ryan

Tom Sinclair