By ROY WARD
GREATER Dandenong Warriors women almost missed the Hockey Victoria season due to a shortage of players.
Then coach Shane Hammond, assistant coach Kevin Jansz and a few other club volunteers put the word out to several past players, asking them to return to the Warriors and help field the side.
Those players took up the offer and the Warriors women claimed the Hockey Victoria state league 4 premiership, beating PEGS 3-0 in the grand final at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Parkville on Saturday.
CLICK HERE for a gallery of the big game.
After a tight first half left both sides scoreless, Jess Phillips opened the scoring for the Warriors early in the second half.
Phillips later spent time off the field after getting a yellow card for a mistimed tackle before returning to the field to help her side get a penalty corner, from which Katherine Barber scored to make it 2-0.
Jade Morrison got a late third goal to confirm the 3-0 victory.
Jansz said the side, which included two 12 year olds along with a mix of senior players, had relished their premiership.
“The girls were rapt,” he said. “At the start of the season it didn’t look like there would be a team but the club supported them and helped them recruit players.
“Some of our recruits were still involved with the club, others had moved away, but they all came back. “It’s a big club but very family oriented and people like to come back here.”
Jansz said the Warriors was already out looking for players for its women’s program next season. For more information, call president Gary Cake on 0400 234 298.
