Southern Senior Grand Finals Recap

DiamondBacks celebrated a highly successful Southern Senior Grand Finals campaign, claiming five premierships across an action-packed schedule at the Aurora Energy Tasmanian Hockey Centre.

Eleven premierships were decided across Friday and Saturday, with DiamondBacks winning the Men’s and Women’s First Grade titles, along with the Men’s Second Grade, Women’s Fourth Grade and Men’s Fifth Grade competitions.

University secured three premierships, including the Men’s Premier League crown, while OHA claimed two, highlighted by victory in the Women’s Premier League. North West Graduates also celebrated a premiership triumph in Women's Third Grade. 

Men’s Premier League: University 5–1 North West Graduates

University completed a successful premiership defence with a commanding 5–1 victory over North West Graduates in the Men’s Premier League Grand Final.

Player-coach Ben Read opened the scoring with an early penalty-corner drag flick, before NWG’s Ollie Stebbings responded almost immediately to restore parity. Competition leading goalscorer Oscar Sproule then struck twice in quick succession, giving University a 3–1 advantage at quarter-time.

The Bulldogs continued to create opportunities but were unable to break down a disciplined University defence. The reigning premiers added two more goals late in the contest via Ashby Bingham to seal back-to-back titles.

Read was rewarded for an influential performance with the Best on Ground Medal.

Women’s Premier League: OHA 2–1 DiamondBacks

OHA completed a remarkable finals campaign by defeating defending premiers DiamondBacks 2–1 in the Women’s Premier League Grand Final.

After finishing the regular season in third position, OHA took the longer route to the decider but carried the momentum of victories over University and minor premiers North West Graduates into the Grand Final.

A closely contested decider went down to the wire, with OHA holding firm to secure the premiership and prevent DiamondBacks from completing a third consecutive title.

OHA’s Zayna Jackson was recognised for her outstanding performance with the Best on Ground Medal.

Check out an in-depth recap of the Women's and Men's Premier League Grand Finals here. 

Men’s First Grade: DiamondBacks 5–4 University

DiamondBacks prevailed in a nine-goal thriller to claim the Men’s First Grade premiership, defeating University 5–4.

Joshua Walker delivered a match-winning hat-trick for DiamondBacks, opening the scoring before adding two further goals as the contest developed into a gripping battle. Patrick Donegan and Hamish Cheeseman also found the net for the eventual premiers.

University remained in the contest throughout, with James Dick scoring twice and Luis Cordero-Monks and William Roehrer also getting on the scoresheet. Roehrer’s late goal reduced the margin to one, but DiamondBacks held firm to secure a memorable Grand Final victory.

Goals: DiamondBacks – Joshua Walker 3, Patrick Donegan, Hamish Cheeseman. University – James Dick 2, Luis Cordero-Monks, William Roehrer.

Women’s First Grade: DiamondBacks 3–1 OHA

DiamondBacks completed the First Grade double with a 3–1 victory over OHA in the Women’s decider.

Rosie Salmon opened the scoring before Rebecca Payne and Ella Berresford extended the advantage to three goals. Julia Reid pulled one back for OHA, but DiamondBacks saw out the contest to claim the premiership.

Goals: DiamondBacks – Rosie Salmon, Rebecca Payne, Ella Berresford. OHA – Julia Reid.

Men’s Second Grade: DiamondBacks 5–2 OHA

DiamondBacks produced another strong attacking performance to defeat OHA 5–2 in the Men’s Second Grade Grand Final.

Michael Smith and Liam Smith both scored twice for the premiers, with Michael Stevenson adding the fifth. Alex Clifford scored both of OHA’s goals.

Goals: DiamondBacks – Michael Smith 2, Liam Smith 2, Michael Stevenson. OHA – Alex Clifford 2.

Women’s Second Grade: University Red 3–0 NWG

University Red kept a clean sheet on their way to the Women’s Second Grade premiership, defeating North West Graduates 3–0.

Miriam Macgregor opened the scoring, with Anna Ashworth and Lucy Gillespie also finding the net to complete the victory.

Goals: University Red – Miriam Macgregor, Anna Ashworth, Lucy Gillespie.

Men’s Third Grade: OHA Red 5–2 OHA Blue

The Men’s Third Grade title was decided by an all-OHA contest, with OHA Red overcoming OHA Blue 5–2.

Nick Hey led the way with a hat-trick, while Anthony Southwell scored twice. Gernot Roehrer and Hamish Dunbabin were the goalscorers for OHA Blue.

Goals: OHA Red – Nick Hey 3, Anthony Southwell 2. OHA Blue – Gernot Roehrer, Hamish Dunbabin.

Women’s Third Grade: NWG 4–2 University Black

North West Graduates claimed the Women’s Third Grade premiership with a 4–2 win over University Black.

Chloe Holland and Emma Archer put NWG in control before Sarah Townsend struck twice. University Black responded through Fiona Ellis and Lesley Tompson, but NWG’s early advantage proved decisive.

Goals: NWG – Sarah Townsend 2, Chloe Holland, Emma Archer. University Black – Fiona Ellis, Lesley Tompson.

Men’s Fourth Grade: University 3–2 DiamondBacks

University held off a DiamondBacks fightback to secure the Men’s Fourth Grade premiership with a 3–2 victory.

William Coomber opened the scoring before William Anders struck twice to give University a three-goal advantage. Stephen Lloyd Oliver and Scott Thompson brought DiamondBacks back into the contest, but University held on to claim the title.

Goals: University – William Anders 2, William Coomber. DiamondBacks – Stephen Lloyd Oliver, Scott Thompson.

Women’s Fourth Grade: DiamondBacks 4–1 Canterbury

DiamondBacks defeated Canterbury 4–1 to claim the Women’s Fourth Grade premiership.

Rebecca Nichols scored twice to establish an early advantage before Allison Black and Bronwen Pinkard added further goals. Karen Demangone was Canterbury’s goalscorer.

Goals: DiamondBacks – Rebecca Nichols 2, Allison Black, Bronwen Pinkard. Canterbury – Karen Demangone.

Men’s Fifth Grade: DiamondBacks 4–2 University

DiamondBacks rounded out their outstanding Grand Finals Day with a 4–2 victory over University in the Men’s Fifth Grade decider.

University opened the scoring through David Bingham and doubled its advantage through Simon Louis, but DiamondBacks responded with four unanswered goals. Lewis Drury, Jeff Tongs, Craig Gardner and Chris Rigby were all on target as DiamondBacks completed the comeback.

Goals: DiamondBacks – Lewis Drury, Jeff Tongs, Craig Gardner, Chris Rigby. University – David Bingham, Simon Louis.