Tales from the dug out
THE Donnybrook Razorbacks notched up an impressive 13-goal win over old enemies Associates on Sunday, August 8.
There has been no love lost between the Hogs and Soaks over the years so it felt good to dish out such a thrashing.
Donnybrook has struggled for numbers over recent weeks and fielded just 10 players for this game.
Todd Kirkpatrick’s return was timely and the arrival of veteran Chris Sharp to fill in gave the Hogs a strong line-up.
No young guns were available this week, so with eight veteran players and two over 30, the Donnybrook team held the advantage due to experience.
Associates also played with 10 players including some experienced vets and fast young players.
Both teams tested the other’s defence for the first five minutes with Donnybrook absorbing the early pressure through Big Don and Chooklotto.
Donnybrook’s passing became a feature with Todd Kirk, Roo Dog and Crusty Chapman taking control of the mid-field.
Doug Bignell — playing his best hockey in years — received an accurate shot from Todd which opened the account for Donnybrook with a back-stick tomahawk shot.
Chris Sharp caused headaches for Soaks with his speed on left wing. He found space to get onto a pass from Crusty to drill Donnybrook’s second goal.
Great forward defensive play from the Hogs had the ball trapped in the attacking 25-metre zone pressuring the Associate backs into error, giving up several penalty corners.
After two close shots, Doug Bignell found his range and scored Donnybrook’s third goal.
There was drama for Donnybrook when Kiwi Wishart strained a hamstring on one of his explosive charges off the half back line. He did not leave the field but remained limited to his dogged defensive role.
A spirited challenge from the youthful Soaks earned several penalty corners but the Hogs’ back men built a wall of defence keeping Associates goal less.
The Razorbacks quickly broke away into attack after deft stick work from Crusty. Sharpy picked off a neat pass from the Roo Dog to score the fourth goal and almost immediately deflected a blistering top spinning pass from Doug Bignell into the corner of the net right on the half-time whistle.
Being five-nil at half-time, the very tight-knit Razorback huddle resolved to increase the pressure and put the Associates to the sword.
True to their resolve, the Hogs attacked hard and passed truly.
Again the forwards earned a couple of penalty corners and missed a chance or two.
A text book piece of play saw Old Mounty sprint off the half back line to intercept a Soaks’ long pass. He dribbled the ball 25 metres past the full backs, then along the back line to pinpoint a pass to Roo Dog Cristaldi on top of the circle. Cristaldi duly drove the ball into the goal for the Razorbacks’ sixth goal.
Todd Kirk and Crusty again controlled the centre and Doug Bignell soon found himself on the end of a chain of passes to drive in goal number seven.
Sharpy quickly scored goal number eight from a brilliant one-timer at a ball that rebounded from the Soaks’ keeper’s pads.
Credit where credit is due, the Soaks young team battled valiantly and controlled play long enough to earn the odd penalty corner but Donnybrook’s defensive wall was impenetrable.
The Associates’ experienced back men attempted to hold firm against the onslaught but resistance was futile. Doug Bignell converted another great piece of combined field play for goal nine then flicked in a great shot from a penalty corner for goal 10.
The Razorbacks had total control at this stage. Over-exuberant Doug Bignell had an open chance for another goal but his shot went over the goals, over the fence and out of the park.
The last five minutes belonged to Chris “Sharp Shooter” Sharp who scored goals 11, 12 and 13 — all as a result of hard running and clinical passing from his team mates.
The Hogs had a opportunity for goal number 14 on the siren but missed.
Nobody was worried, this was Donnybrook’s greatest winning margin in memory.
It looks like the Razorbacks will probably finish fourth on the ladder with a slim possibility of third spot going into the finals.
Best players on the day: Chris “Sharp Shooter” Sharp three votes, Doug Bignell two votes, , Crusty Chapman one vote.
GOALS: The Sharp Shooter, seven; Bignell, five; and Roo Dog Cristaldi, one.
CLASSIC PLAY: Ian “Old Mounty” Mountford’s back line work
HIGHLIGHTS: take your pick.
LOWLIGHTS: hamstring problems for key player Kiwi.
COOD-A-BEEN-A-HERO: Doug Bignell for his nine-iron shot at an open goal.
BIG NEWS: the Donnybrook Razorbacks will be celebrating their 75th club anniversary and reunion at the Brookhampton Hall on Saturday, October 23. The evening will incorporate the season wind-up. Keep an eye out for details in this newspaper.
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