Hockey: Teen, veteran head thrilling win

On Sunday the South West Strikers showed heart and more than matched the big, physical Harlies on the Bunbury turf to win a thriller 3-2.

Two men, one from each end of the age spectrum, were largely responsible. Teenager Craig Leknys was thrust into the vital centre-half slot in place of absent senior Chris Neaves at work and showed his talent with a mature effort as one of the best on the field.

Veteran Matt Mellor, a life member of the Strikers and their former coach, added two goals on Sunday to spearhead the Strikers in their significant step up the ladder.

Backing them on Sunday were burly back Aaden Buck, Tom Payne, half-back Michael Nicoli and mobile Geoff Neaves as they fought back twice.

Harlies drew first blood with a counter attack finished with a copybook drive and deflection by Andrew Spencer in the 10th minute to lift their side into a frenzy of decibels and activity for a while before the Strikers settled into a rhythm to test the desperate Harlies’ defences.

A magnificent steal and charge through the centre midway through the first half by Leknys with Haig Colombera in support failed at the last minute with Colombera shooting wide.

But the howling Harlies keeper Bowron could not guard his patch indefinitely, with the Strikers biting back with a reverse stick sweep past Bowron by Elliott Barton from a protracted scramble in the circle.

The Strikers took control of the second half with the visitors reduced to sporadic raids and it was from one of these that Adrian Wilten rammed home a short corner shot in the 51st minute to put Harlies in front once more. Stung by that affront, Mellor hit his straps, the ball and anything in his path as he ripped into the visitors’ defences and was finally rewarded when his deft tomahawk shot beat Bowron to level at 2-all.

With just two minutes on the clock Mellor made it four personals from the past two matches with the winner.

Former Bunbury Exies and State Thundersticks spearhead Daniel Davison who helps coach Allan McGeoch from time to time said there were some great signs from his South West Strikers team.

‘‘When they click they will take all before them in this league’’ he said.