Yorke Peninsula February Tournament
12 & 13 Feb 2005

The weather was perfect for the tournament this weekend. Nine games were played on Saturday followed by another four games on Sunday before the finals were played. Everyone enjoyed the weekend including the Saturday night dinner which was provide by the club under the guidance of Vanessa Germein - chief caterer, President & player.

The first final started at 1.00pm on Sunday with the 'C' grade played between YP (Bert Lange, Lindsay Germein, Scott Parsons-Slape, Sarah Goodes-Bubner, Nadine Parsons and Jessica Liddiard) all junior players with the exception of Lindsay, who was riding a green horse and Adelaide (James Pritchard, Ian, Paul Pritchard, Ebony Sherriff, Steven Sewell and Maria Lucy). YP came into the final winning all their games for the weekend and Adelaide reaching the final by a narrow percentage, edging out the other YP team (Amanda Loechel, Milton Bubner Tricia Hoare, Holly Newbold, Sandra Constantine and Louise Newbold).

The last time these two finalists met, it was a close match with YP winning by a small margin; this final was not going to be any different. It was a hard tussle to begin with, goals was not easy to get in the first chukka with each team showing determination in winning the ball. Bert (No 1) was finding it hard to score against his opponent in Paul and Scott was doing his job down the other end giving James little opportunity to score.

The second chukka was just intense as the first with the YP girls applying pressure when ever possible. Ebony was playing well for Adelaide, but Jessica was determined to make her earn any goals she threw. The game was neck and neck throughout and the scores was level at the half way mark, 5 all. The YP juniors were playing well against Adelaide. Both the No. 2's from each section for YP (Lindsay and Nadine) were doing their part in the game, gaining possession and then hand the ball over to their teammates.

It was only after the fifth chukka that YP took the lead but it was only by a goal, all the girls needed to do is to gain possession and keep it. It wasn't easy. A minute into the final chukka, Sarah fell off her horse, so play had stopped until it was ascertained that she was fit to finish the game off. When she was back on board it was still anybody's game, but the fall didn't knock Sarah's confidence and went on to score a buffer for her team. With a minute and a half to go, Sarah received an injury (accident bump into her knee) this time Scott from the Boys chukka took over from Sarah playing a No 2 with Jessica going to No1 and Nadine to No 3. Jessica was in possession of the ball when play resumed taking the ball down to the goal area and avoiding her opposition on the way down and in the end scoring the goal. Final Score YP 10 Adelaide 8.

Presentations for the 'C' grade:

• Best No 1 Bert Lange
• Best No 2 Milty Bubner
• Best No 3 Scott Parsons-Slape
• Best Horse Tom (Sarah Goodes Bubner)

The 'B' grade final was played between the 2 YP Sides. YP 2 (Michael McSkimmings, Vanessa Germein, Luke Liddiard, Bob Slape, Josh Liddiard and Anne Shepley) which came into the final undefeated, and YP 1 (Anthony Liddiard, Dan and Donna Dunstone, Stephen Lange, Gaye Jolly and Noel Parsons).

YP1 took their opponents completely unaware in the final by changing the positions of the players completely from the last time when the met in the round. In the first chukka Anthony playing in the position of no1 was up against his son Luke, not an easy task for Luke but Luke was not going to let that upset him. Luke wore Anthony like a glove in the area but the experience of his father won out in the end throwing 3 straight goals putting YP1 in front after the first chukka.

In the second chukka, again a change, with Stephen going to No1 after playing the defensive role all weekend. But this was no pushover with Bob taking the snap out of the middle and scoring the first gaol of the chukka. The chukka was even and with the determination of both sides goals were hard to get. Scores at the half way mark showed YP1 up by 3 goals.

YP2 started the second half with a vengence, outscoring YP1 for the first time in the chukka making it a close match going into the last. It has been a long weekend of polocrosse and going into the last the horses and players were starting to feel it. Still it was anybody's game.

YP1 fought hard, they had the lead and they wanted to keep it. The was not easy to snatch out of the centre and had to be fought for on the ground, not easy when 6 players all looking for it and who ever picked it up knew to had to get going before their opponent would knock it out of their racquet. Both Brenton Hoare and Gary Gurney doing a great job umpiring this match. YP 1 eventually wins the game. Final scores YP1 10 - YP2 8.

Presentations for the 'B' grade:

• Best no 1 Tony Asbury (Casterton)
• Best no 2 Kelly Allen-Gurney (Casterton)
• Best no 3 Tricia Hoare (Playing for Casterton)
• Best Horse Snake (Luke Liddiard)
• Best Junior overall Luke Liddiard

Overall it was a great weekend and Vanessa thanked all players for travelling and helpers on the days and all the sponsors for the weekend.

Regards,
Judith Lange

Jessica Liddiard (YP) and Ebony Sherriff (Adelaide) having a go 'C' grade


Nadine Parsons & Sarah Goodes-Bubner taking the ball to the area C grade


Michael McSkimming (YP2) heads towards goal in 'B' Grade


'B' Grade action in Final