By Jonty Ralphsmith
The Casey Cannons men’s side have their first win of the season, getting it done 4-1 over Werribee.
Young striker Nick McPhee scored the last two crucial goals to make a certainty of the result.
Those were his first two scores of the season after he emerged as an impressive prospect last year and it’s hoped the weekend game can turbocharge the remainder of his campaign.
Goal keeper Adam Wadley was outstanding in the last period, leading the defence in the last quarter as Werribee came hard.
Among the 10 circle entries were six penalty corners but the hosts were unable to close the margin.
It’s a result that the Cannons have been confident is around the corner despite the difficult start to the season.
Having shown glimpses in recent weeks, they were able to keep it together for longer on the day which gave Elliott Stephens, Gurpreet Singh and Harry Coster their first win with the club.
The returning Josh Watson also had his first win since being back.
The Cannons came in with an emphasis on process over outcome, the coach instilling confidence they were playing well and would be able to turn it into a positive result if they didn’t force the issue.
Skipper Matt Light found the back of the net 10 minutes in to allow the visitors to be frontrunners for the entire afternoon.
Craig Moore followed suit early in the second period with a tomahawk before Werribee closed the margin.
But McPhee pounced just minutes later to keep the margin at an arm’s length.
Lachie Daniel was productive in the backline, playing with an attacking flair, while Blake Edwards and Craig Moore provided leadership up forward.
Meanwhile, the women were led to a 4-0 win by Emma Harris, who scored three goals.
Werribee came out physically, as anticipated, but once the game settled into a rhythm, it was on the Cannons’ terms.
Third quarter turnovers forced a reset at the final break, but renewed poise and composure ensured Casey maintained the ascendancy.
As well as Harris, who could have had even more than her three goals, Gippsland’s Leandra McLauchlan started fullback and rotated into the middle and Bec Cheater also stood out in the win.
CANNONS WOMEN
Results: WestVic 3 v PEGS 1, North West Lightning 1 v Knox 4, Yarra Valley 5 v Brunswick 1, Casey 4 v Werribee 0, Mornington Peninsula 1 v Monash University 1.
Ladder: Mornington Peninsula 16, Yarra Valley 15, Casey 15, Monash University 14, WestVic 10, PEGS 9, Knox 9, Werribee 9, Brunswick 3, North West 0.
Fixture: WestVic v Werribee, Brunswick v Mornington Peninsula, Knox v Casey, Monash University v North West Lightning, PEGS v Yarra Valley.
CANNONS MEN
Results: Casey 4 v Werribee 1, North West Lightning 4 v Eastern Christian Hockey Organisation 3, Yarra Valley 1 v Brunswick 2, Old Xaverians 3 v PEGS 1, Melbourne Sikhs United 4 v Monash University 1.
Ladder: Melbourne Sikhs United 18, North West Lightning 16, Old Xaverians 16, Brunswick 13, PEGS 12, Monash University 10, Werribee 5, Eastern Christian Hockey Organisation 4, Casey 3, Yarra Valley 3.
Fixture: Brunswick v Melbourne Sikhs United, Eastern Christian Hockey Organisation v Casey, Monash University v North West Lightning, PEGS v Yarra Valley, Old Xaverians v Werribee.
