Oxley’s Reid Gould is grounded by this challenge with a Grafton opponent during their quarter-final. Yesterday he was one of the five goal-scorers as Oxley accounted for Bathurst to collect the state title silverware. Photo: Grant Robertson 120912GRA05
OXLEY High produced another stunning and dominant first half to claim its second State CHS Boys’ Hockey Knockout title in six years at Newcastle yesterday.
The Tamworth school was a class above its opponents throughout the finals series and added to its 2006 success with a 5-2 win over Bathurst.
Like it did in its quarter and semi-finals, Oxley had the game won by half-time.
“It was all over after 12 minutes,” coach Richard Willis said.
They were up 3-nil by then after Blake Turner had scored in the third minute, Reid Gould the fourth and Joey Holt the 12th.
“They (Bathurst) didn’t get it over halfway in the first half,” Willis said.
It was continual attack from Oxley, with the ball movement superb.
“Our play out the back was outstanding,” Willis said.
“Luke Fox at centre fullback picked up Sam (Liles) or Andrew Finch and we rotated it sideways and created something from that.”
“The second half our goal was to have no goals scored against us.
“That wasn’t quite the case.”
But after scoring off a corner three minutes in, the intensity went out of the game a bit for Oxley.
It was the last hurrah for Lachlan Willis, Harry Moore and Fox after being part of the side since they were in Year 7.
Willis finished off on a great note, scoring Oxley’s final goal.
That’s also it for Richard, and he finishes having coached both sons in state title wins, with Matt in the 2006 side.
“They’re a dream bunch of young men to coach,” he said of the 2012 version.
He said everyone contributed yesterday.
“It was a real team show,” he said.
Several of the players will be backing up chasing more success this weekend in the local first grade grand final.
Liles, Alex McKenzie, Turner, Will Haywood and Moore will all line up for defending champions Services Workies, and Harry Lewin minor premiers Kiwi Diggers.
Earlier, Tamworth High girls finished their gallant campaign with a 2-1 loss to Murwillumbah.
“It was a much better game from the girls,” coach Greg Allen said.
They trailed 2-nil at half-time but probably should have been only down by a goal.
“We scored a goal but it was disallowed,” Allen said.
The umpire thought it hit one of the THS player’s feet.
“The second half we went out and basically attacked,” Allen said.
They managed to drag a goal back through Brittany King and had a couple of short corner opportunities after that but they couldn’t snag an equaliser.
“We had our chances and built up well in the second half,” Allen said.
He was more than happy with the way they played over the three games.
“There’s a lot of hope for the future,” he said.