Wests Illawarra won this years men's South Coast Illawarra hockey competition beating Fairy Meadow 2-0 in the final at the Unanderra hockey stadium on Sunday afternoon.
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This was Wests first win in 16 years having last won it in 2004 beating the reigning premiers Albion Park in the final.
This years competition was slightly devalued due to the ongoing pandemic with only nine rounds played where at the end Wests emerged the minor premiers and the Meadow in second place.
Wests captain and NSW State player Tom Miotto was elated with the win and said it was a gutsy win over the Falcons and sealing the win with two brilliant goals from the top of the circle.
"We knew the opposition we were facing and had to counteract the long overhead balls and to avoid penalty corners from their marksman Kieran Govers," Miotto continued.
The Devils totally dominated play over the Falcons who lacked an attack and only provided a great midfield play from Dean Nealon and former Kookaburra Kieran Govers, rejoining his junior club from Albion Park.
The first quarter saw the Devils dominate play earning two penalty corners and Govers earning a chance for Meadow with a goal shot that went wide.
Wests had a goal disallowed in the second quarter for a high ball from their third penalty corner but went ahead in the 28th minute from a terrific back stick shot from the top of the circle from Joel Westblade.
The third quarter saw the Devils scoring their second goal five minutes into this period with another breakaway raid from Michael Arthur from the top of the circle completely beating Kyle Thompson between the posts.
Wests went on to pile the pressure in the final quarter with several sporadic raids with Meadow's only final opportunity coming from their first penalty corner which went wide.
In the semi-finals, Wests edged University 3-2 in a tight affair and Fairy Meadow beat the Park 3-1
In the women's grand final on Saturday, University beat Albion Park 3-1 with the goals from Maddison Rosser (2) and Helena Tobbe and the Park replying from Kiarra Marsh.
The University women enjoyed a successful afternoon, the club also taking out the women's second and third grade deciders.
A Megan O'Hea goal was enough to secure the side a 1-0 victory over Railway in reserve grade. University prevailed 2-0 over Flames in the third grade grand final, Claire Blayney and Ruby Fuller finding the back of the net in the win.
