QLD MINKIES AMBUSHED   The QLD over 35’s team travelled to Melbourne with high expectations for the inaugural Over 35 challenge series.  There were 3 opposition teams, NSW, Vic and a Barbarian side comprising players from QLD, NSW country, ACT and Vic. Saturday saw the Minkies beaten by Vic 5 - 2. The game was of a high standard and QLD earned a hard fought lead of 1 - 0 in the first 20 minutes. This lead was short lived and the VICS controlled the game for the last 10 minutes of the half scoring 3 goals. The second half was again very close but the Minkies could not pull back the 10 minutes they did not control the game. Sunday was the grudge game against NSW. The game was closer than the final score suggests of 6 - 3. Catch up hockey was the order of the day and with the score at 4 - 3 the Minkies were still in the game. With 10 minutes to go a missed chance resulted in a turnover for a 5 -  3 NSW lead, but the boys most certainly looked like coming back, but in the last 10 seconds NSW scored. Monday saw the toughest day with only 11 players available while the Barbarians only had 12.  The game was full of errors from both sides and with 4 minutes to go the boys were behind 4 - 2. Then 2 penalty corners slammed into the bottom right corner saw the scores leveled.  With 30 seconds to go the Barbarians were in full attack but they gave away a free in the circle.  The desperate free hit up field to free forwards would have seen a win but was pulled back by the umpire. The other game on the Monday saw NSW play Vic in what turned out to be a grand final as both sides had 2 wins each. This game also came down to the wire with NSW leading 2 - 1 with 5 minutes to go. Then VIC came back and scored 2 goals that according to NSW were some of the best they had seen. So VICTORIA are the inaugural champions and hold the shield (but not for long as far as we are concerned). During the weekend the Minkies were able to attend Sat and Sun of the Champions Trophy.  With seats in the grandstand out of the rain we witnessed some excellent hockey.  The new green card rule, the video challenge system and delays in defenders preparing for penalty corners will obviously be subject to review. The future for Minkies is being realized with commitment from VIC, NSW and Barbarian players who attended the weekend. The general comment was that a lot of players were not aware of the concept but now they had participated they were fully committed.  So it is up to us to let all other players in this age group know about the future of Minkie Vets.  Next year will probably see the games played in ACT at the end of the season.  The dates (yet to be confirmed) will be shortly after all grand finals are finished and not at the same time as the National Vets in Bunbury. Thanks go to Brett Connor (Rockhampton), John Creed (Warwick) and Tyrone Melrose (Gold Coast) for their participation in the Barbarian side and showing the other Barbarians how QLD play. Thanks to our last minute replacements Dion (duk duk) Phillips, Neil (astro) Shearer, David (lossie) Lossberg and David (hicksie) Hicks.  Special thanks for Jenny’s massage treatment over the weekend, but it was noticeable many of the boys were asleep during Monday’s treatment after a heavy night out.   Bill Tomkins (Wombat) - Manager

QLD MINKIE VETS DO IT AGAIN!!   On Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th our Minkie Vets played NSW in a 2 game competition at the Sunshine Coast. To win the trophy back NSW had to go for a win and a draw in the 2 games. They failed! The final scores for both games was Q4 NSW2 in each game.   The Saturday game saw the boys dominate for the first 10 minutes with little result and they went in at ½ time with the score at 2 - 1 down with NSW scoring just before the break. The second half saw the boys dominate for the whole half not allowing the NSW team to get into their flow.   The Sunday game saw NSW come out strongly with them believing it was the aggregate score for the weekend that would win them the trophy. By half time the score was NSW 2 QLD 0. The manager was worried but the boys were relaxed. After half time the game changed and 4 penalty corners were scored by QLD.   The quality of the hockey was excellent and the crowd that attended the game soon wanted the player list to pick out the stars of the future Over 40 sides. The comment made by the players was the games are a lot harder playing in your own age group. Don’t all Vets already know that!   Now for Melbourne where we play NSW, VIC and a Barbarian side over a 3 day competition. Most of the boys are staying on to play in Melbourne with only 2 players who cannot make the trip. The weekend is the first of the Champions Trophy week so if you are in Melbourne go to Fitzroy Hockey Centre (where the National Vets were played). The games will be played in the morning (time to be agreed). So if you are in town and want to watch some good hockey contact Wombat on 0413 236 527 to confirm the times.   Thanks to Warren Flower and the team on the Sunshine Coast for the provision of the ground for the weekend. The NSW guys expressed their admiration for the facility and commented on how well the carnival was run.   See you in Melbourne, Wombat     MINKIE VETS SUNSHINE COAST OCTOBER 2009   The players were Bruce Robertson, Rob Bullock, Kenny McCoombe, Tony Mahony, Lindsay Marsh, Gavin Hanscombe, Simon Martin, Brenden Eleison, Brent Nicholls, Grant Smith, Kent and Jordan Harle, Matt Riley with the goalies Stuart Darby, Tyrone Melrose. The coach is Grant Mapp, masseur (cook and mother) Jenny Tomkins and Manager (worry wart) Bill Tomkins.     06/11/09RDL

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