After a long drought (2002 was the last win) the Division 1 Men took out the HAW Grand Final in warm conditions. An exciting, hard game against Wodonga, Norths won 3-1. Wodonga scored first, then the men put the pressure back on. At half time, the score was Wodonga 1 – Norths 0 and an inspiring speech by dual coaches Jeremy Payne and Jordan Thorneycroft lifted the blue and white team.
Norths started strongly with a tonne of pressure on Wodonga and a series of precise passes put Ian Beath into the scoring spot. He converted and Norths drew level. Shortly thereafter, Ian scored again with a bobbly bouncy ball off a Wodonga defender’s backside that popped in.
The final goal was a deflection by Larry Simpson off a short corner – a set move practiced often and executed when it really needed to be done.
Norths 3 – 1 victors at the close of play. Jeremy Payne announced as Best on Ground for the final.
Best on Ground: Jeremy Payne
Norths Div 1 Men’s Premiers 2017
Action shots from the final:
Norths Hockey 