Echuca-Moama men’s player Ashley Phipps looks for a teammate against Shepparton Youth Club Blue. Photos: Jazzy Johal
Echuca-Moama Hockey Club’s men’s side was only a goal away from scraping into the Goulburn Valley Hockey Association finals series in its last regular season match.
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The River Rats entered their clash against Shepparton Youth Club Blue knowing that only victory would secure them fourth on the ladder and a semi-final spot.
They were above fifth-placed Shepparton Strikers Blue going into round 14 due to having a better win ratio, with the Strikers serving the bye on the final weekend.
But a win was required in the final match, as a defeat would have dropped Echuca-Moama’s ratio below the Strikers’.
A draw was also not enough, as though that result would have evened the two sides’ ratios, the Strikers would finish higher by having a stronger goal difference.
Echuca-Moama fell agonisingly short of meeting its objective, drawing 2-2 to an SYC Blue side that ended up second and was favoured in the fixture.
As a result, the River Rats and Strikers swapped places due to the latter’s -3 goal difference being significantly better than Echuca-Moama’s -15.
The men putting themselves in the finals conversation to begin with was impressive, considering they did not win their first game of the season until round nine.
Echuca-Moama only lost one of its last five matches, a run that included three wins, launching itself into contention, but ultimately missing out.
Adam Thompson with possession.
Meanwhile, the women’s side played the penultimate game of its regular season, where it took on minor premier Mooroopna in a likely grand final preview.
Echuca-Moama went down 2-1, meaning it has lost four of the five meetings between the sides in 2026.
The River Rats have one more match before finals, taking on bottom-placed Shepparton Youth Club.
They will then prepare for a semi-final against Shepparton Strikers, taking place at Shepparton Regional Hockey Complex on Saturday, September 5.
In the juniors, the under-16s had a bye, with their last regular season game coming against a combined Shepparton Christian College-Mooroopna outfit.
Meanwhile, the under-13s cruised to a comfortable 9-0 win over Shepparton Christian College in their last regular season outing and will also play finals this year.
Echuca-Moama’s semi-final will be against Mooroopna on Saturday, August 29 at Shepparton Regional Hockey Complex, with the match starting at 10.45am.
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