Derwent Men & North West Women Win Cups

The first ever State Club Cup Finals have been played and North West Graduates Women and Derwent Men have emerged the inaugural winners of the new state-wide competition.

The Bulldogs proved too strong for the travelling South Launceston Suns winning the Women's Final 6-1. Grads had two goals on the board early, putting the Suns on the back foot from the start, and although South Launceston were good in patches and had their chances it was the finishing of the Bulldogs in their circle that proved the difference.

Josie Crowden led the lines all day and scored twice, while Ash Arthur, Grace Calvert, and Kelsey Lewis all were among Grads' best on the day. For the Suns goalkeeper Lynsey Shepherd-Blazley was phenomenal, while Kiah Williams and Nicole Symonds played brilliant games but were prevented from having their typical impact by some exceptional efforts by the Bulldogs' midfield and defence.

Derwent claimed "the double" and added the Men's State Club Cup to their 2021 list of silverware, coming from behind late to beat Canterbury 2-1.

The Lions had a gift of a chance in the opening minutes when Sam McCulloch stepped up to the penalty spot, but Derwent 'keeper Magnus McCausland guessed right and saved the stroke, with the two sides going into half-time tied 0-0. Shaun Redman broke the deadlock after Brenton Watson's brilliant steal to put the Lions up one-nil, but goals to Angus Boulton and Paul Ancher in the final quarter delivered Derwent the Cup.

If you want to relive all the action from the Finals head over to the Hockey Tasmania YouTube Channel for the replays!

Women: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1qDXc_kNAs

Men: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykR2_4BkkzQ