Premier League Semi Finals Review

In the first Men’s Semi-Final, North West Graduates produced a dominant performance to defeat Derwent 6–0 and advance to the Preliminary Final.

Harvey Bessell opened the scoring for the Bulldogs before Oliver Stebbings doubled their advantage. Cruze Gray then added a third as NWG took control of the contest.

Derwent adopted an aggressive approach with 10 minutes remaining, withdrawing goalkeeper Magnus McCausland, who had made a surprise appearance for the Strikers. However, the move didn't pay off as Angus McMullen, Tyson Bessell and Oliver Arnold each scored into the empty net to complete an emphatic victory.

The second Men’s Semi-Final was an instant classic, with University advancing to the Grand Final after Oscar Sproule struck in the final minute of extra time to settle an unforgettable 4–3 contest against DiamondBacks.

The Snakes made the perfect start when George Oliver scored in the opening minute, but Sproule responded to bring University level.

Oscar Pritchard restored DiamondBacks’ advantage before Ashby Bingham equalised for University at 2–2. Ben Read then put the minor premiers ahead for the first time when he converted a penalty corner, leaving them on the verge of securing a Grand Final berth.

However, Pritchard produced a dramatic last-minute equaliser from a penalty corner to make it 3–3 and force the match into extra time.

DiamondBacks dictated much of the extra-time period and appeared the more likely side to score. But with a shootout looming, University delivered the decisive moment. Keenan Johnson pounced on a turnover at the back and set up Sproule, who arrived at the back post to score his second goal of the match in the final minute to send University into the premiership decider.

In the Women’s Semi-Finals, OHA maintained their unbeaten record against University this season with a 3–0 victory in the sudden-death clash.

Zayna Jackson opened the scoring in the fifth minute, scrambling the ball home after an incisive move through the middle created by Taylor Brooks.

The score remained 1–0 until midway through the final quarter, with the young Students outfit testing OHA throughout the contest.

Once again, it was a piece of brilliance from Brooks in midfield that created the opportunity, with the ball eventually falling to Julia Gunn, who made no mistake.

Gunn then sealed the result with her second goal, finishing a counterattack with two minutes remaining as University pushed forward in search of a way back into the contest.

In the second Semi Final, defending champions DiamondBacks booked their place in the Women’s Grand Final after Evie Tucker’s late goal secured a dramatic 1–0 victory over minor premiers North West Graduates.

Little had separated the sides across their four regular-season encounters, which produced two victories apiece, and their Semi-Final clash proved equally tight.

The teams remained locked at 0–0 deep into the contest as both defences held firm in a match that produced few clear-cut scoring opportunities.

Tucker finally broke the deadlock with 10 minutes remaining, redirecting a ball into the circle and sneaking it inside the near post to give her side the lead.

That proved enough, with DiamondBacks professionally seeing out the closing stages to progress directly to the Grand Final.

NWG will have another opportunity to reach the premiership decider when they meet OHA in next weekend’s Preliminary Final.