Gumprich and Bransby put on a show in prelims

The Upper Great Southern Hockey Association’s preliminary finals were a true display of skills last weekend.

The first clash of the day was Sportspower men’s A-grade game between Riffs and Warriors.

Warriors’ Trent Gumprich scored first from some great field play, and Riffs’ Corey Lutz converted a goal in the second quarter to tie the score.

But the Warriors got ahead through a penalty corner by Regan Blyth and another field goal through Gumprich.

The final score saw Warriors win 3-1.

Better players were Nick Corner, Trent Gumprich and Mathew Hough for Warriors, and Rhys Angwin, Brock Francis and Chloe Blight for Riffs.

The Sportspower women’s A-grade game between Williams and Wagin showed more impressive skills.

Williams scored first through some great field hockey by Kristy Medlen, followed by Wagin scoring an equaliser through Emily Holt.

Wagin’s Holt scored another goal in the second quarter from a quick turn over, making the score 2-1 at half-time.

Renae Bransby then scored a great goal early in the third quarter for Williams, tying the game once again.

In the final quarter, Bransby scored again for Williams giving them the lead.

Wagin tried to level but the time ran out, making Williams the winners with 3-2 final score.

Williams’ best on turf were Bransby, Brooke Duff and Alana Ford with Holt, Leah Kellow and Takayla Pense as Wagin’s best.

Dumbleyung took on Wagin in the Edwards Holden men’s B-grade game.

Wagin scored early in the first quarter through Daniel Zadow and again in the second quarter through Dwight Kellow.

Jamie Stephens later converted a goal for Dumbleyung, making the score 2-1 to Wagin at half-time.

The game stayed this way until late in the final quarter when Wagin’s Ty Cook scored, giving Wagin a further lead and a 3-1 win at final time.

Jack South, Will Tan and Ashley Robinson were Wagin’s best, and Mark Smith, Scott Angwin and Courtney Bairstow were best for Dumbleyung.

Pingelly played Warriors in an intense Edwards Holden women’s B-grade game.

Pingelly’s Charris Thompson got the first goal in the first quarter, only to see Amiee Perkins score the equaliser for Warriors.

Kiesha Thompson then scored for Pingelly from a penalty corner, and again in the second quarter through some great field play, giving Pingelly a 3-1 half time lead.

In the final quarter Warriors’ Kellie Atherton reduced the lead by one goal. In the final minutes both teams had chances but none where successful, with Pingelly taking out the final 3-2 win.

Pingelly’s favourites were Thompson, Jodie Broun and Alyssa Lee, with Sarah Hennessey-Parks, Maddi West and Sarah Corner as Warriors’ favourite.