Old hands new state champs

Illawarra won the NSW state Over 55 veterans hockey championships when they beat Goulburn/ACT 1-0 in a tough final at Albion Park last Sunday.

The winning goal in extra time came from Russell Herringe when he collected a great pass from the left through Denis Cranston who ran the ball from the centre.

Before this, it was the Goulburn team who held the upper hand with several penalty corners but the Illawarra defence of goalkeeper John Williams and full back David Johnston held the fort with great force.

The semi-finals saw Illawarra beat Western Districts 3-1 after being a goal down at half-time, but the Illawarra team came back in the second half with the three goals from Herringe who scored two and the third from Rick McConnell.

In the other semi, Goulburn beat Central Coast 3-1.

Illawarra had a great tournament, winning all their pool matches, beating Grafton 5-0 and Manning Valley 2-0 on the first day and on the second day, Saturday, beat Central Coast 2-0 and Newcastle 3-1.

Illawarra's second team also had a good tournament finishing in sixth position drawing with Western Districts 1-1 and Southern Highlands 0-0, but losing to Sydney 2-1 to miss out on the semis.

Illawarra's winning team had five Albion Park players in John Williams, Keith and Brian Eastham, Denis Cranston and Mark Raftery.