Illawarra men’s hockey grand final captains, Albion Park’s Steve Mayo (left) and University’s Heath Ogilvie, will go head to head tomorrow. Picture: MELANIE RUSSELL
University will be chasing their fifth straight Illawarra men's hockey premiership when they clash with Albion Park in the grand final at the Illawarra Credit Union complex tomorrow.
This marks the fifth successive year these two clubs have played the decider.
University were easy winners in the major semi-final two weeks ago when they overcame a sluggish start, trailing 2-0 to defeat Park 8-3.
Both teams know each other's game and Uni player-coach Simon Beaton is expecting much of the same even though this is the most important clash of the year at Ross Robinson Field.
"I expect it will be physical at times," Beaton said.
"Hopefully we can limit their corners. It seems to be where their strength is at the moment.
"It's probably going to be a scrappier game compared to a free-flowing game which we normally have with those guys. "Everyone's on more of an edge, everyone's putting in that little bit extra effort," he said.
"There's usually only one of two goals between us in finals."
The week off will probably help Uni because the majority of their starting line-up have been involved in Sydney Premier League finals.
This week is no different as Uni will have most of their squad playing for Liverpool-Moorebank or Sutherland in the Sydney grand final today before backing up tomorrow in the Illawarra decider.
Grand finals are always torrid affairs and Park will have to again start well if they are to have any chance of scoring an upset.
Park will be boosted by the return of Bede Gillard.
For Uni it will be business as usual with Beaton and Tristan White in superb form, well supported by the three Ogilvie brothers captain Heath, Kurt and Flynn.
Park will be well led by Steve Mayo and Jason Kast.
The brilliance of Blake Govers and the drive and determination of Gillard will complement the guile of Mayo and the danger of left winger Jack Hayes who has the knack of being in the right place at the right time.
The big question will be, what did Albion Park learn from their semi-final loss and can they turn things around?
While Uni will go in as favourites, expect this game to be closer than the semi-final.
