Boyanup on path for league’s big prize

The Boyanup All Blacks continued their charge at the women’s South West Hockey League championship with a 2-1 win over Marist in the second semi-final at the Bunbury Hockey Stadium on Saturday.

Boyanup’s Allyce Sewell made a welcome return to the team, giving the All Blacks the lead midway through the first half with a tomahawk goal.

South West Strikers skipper Jenna Gmeiner doubled Boyanup’s tally early in the second period before Lisa Blee slotted a crisply-struck field goal to pull one back for Marist.

Veteran goalkeeper Marie Hadet was excellent for the All Blacks alongside her fellow defenders Anita Scott, Rosie McCaughan, Shonel Vuletich and Phoenix Green, holding the Blues at bay.

Collie eliminated the Busselton Robins thanks to goals from Pia Kirk in the 2-0 win in Collie on Sunday.

Marist will meet Collie in this weekend’s preliminary final, with the winner to face Boyanup in the grand final.

There was no surprises in the men’s league, with reigning premiers Wests defeating Marist by one goal in a high-scoring encounter in Busselton on Saturday.

Sam Pike dominated for the home side, slotting a hat-trick in the first half in their 5-4 win, putting them straight through to the grand final.

Alby Lawrence topped the performance, scoring all of Marist’s four goals, thanks to the efforts of Andrew Blee and youngster Alistair Bolhuis.

David Reid and Villiers Fourie scored the other two goals for the home side, while Brent Dancer, Nayton Colombera, Tom Payne and Russell Hartley all played well.

The first semi-final in Bunbury between former premiers Boyanup and Associates provided an entertaining contest, with the All Blacks claiming a 3-1 win.