Adelaide Rush

After The Whistle – AWIHL Week Two

Week two brought us a split weekend in Adelaide and the opening exhibition games for the Melbourne Ducks, and what a weekend of hockey it was!

Adelaide Rush vs Perth Inferno

We were given a split weekend in Adelaide with the 5-3 victory in favour of Perth on Saturday and the 8-5 victory on Sunday in favour of Adelaide.

Hattrick Heros

Sara Sammons is a name I am very quickly becoming familiar with for her speed, skill and shooting. With THREE goals on Saturday night, including two on the breakaway, she was instrumental in Perth’s win.

On Sunday it was Elizabeth Scala with three for Inferno, another player synonymous with so much skill, someone I have quickly become a fan of and will be watching with great interest as the season progresses.

Battle of the Goalies

Saturday night saw Sasha King in net for Inferno and Emma Moonen in net for the Rush gave the fans an education in goal tending. Facing big shots both goalies impressed me immensely with their agility and hockey sense during the game.

Brisbane Lightning vs Melbourne Ducks

Brisbane Lightning took two victories in the exhibition series over the weekend, winning 4-2 on Saturday and 5-2 on Sunday.

While these games ‘didn’t matter’ in the scheme of the regulation season, they were still important for both teams for their own reasons.

Brisbane Lightning

With a low-pressure game that has no impact on the standings, the Lightning had an opportunity to put into practice all that they’d been working on.

It’s a chance to make adjustments to their systems and test line combinations and see what they need to work on when they welcome Adelaide Rush to Boondall on the 23rd & 24th of November.

Ducks

I was incredibly impressed with the Melbourne Ducks. The game had lots of high-intensity moments, and they showcased that they are a team ready for the AWIHL.

The Ducks played with no imports over the weekend and looked just as strong as the rest of the league.

With time to recruit imports and the development of players over the next twelve months, I look forward to seeing the Ducks at full strength in the 2025-26 season.

 

Next Week

There are just two games next weekend on the 15th and 16th of November, when the Sydney Sirens host the Melbourne Ice at Macquarie Ice Rink.

Feature Image sourced from the Adelaide Rush Facebook Page