HOCKEY
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THE Renault Royals might still be leading the Orange Men’s Hockey Association John Davis Motors Hockey Superleague, but the Volvo Vikings stamped their authority and announced themselves as title contenders in Sunday’s second round.
The Vikings went through the day undefeated - the first side to do so in the competition - to jump from third to a share of first place on competition points, although the Royals claim top spot on goal difference.
The Vikings upset the Royals (2-nil), thumped the fourth-placed Suzuki Strikers (8-1) and thrashed the third-placed Mazda Maulers (10-5) on Sunday in a day full of fast-paced, high-scoring games - signalling the players’ successful adaptation to the competition’s adjusted rules.
“Everyone seemed to have a better grasp on the unique rules in the second round,” competition architect Scott Baker, also a Vikings gun, said.
“The scorelines showed that, we had a number of goals from outside the circle and the jokers scoring was a feature of the day.”
Captains nominate a joker from their opposition’s line-up, and if that player scores his goals are worth double.
With other unique rules, such as double goals during the last minute of each half and also for goals from outside the circle, the potential for huge scorelines was realised on Sunday, particularly by the competition’s youngest star in 14-year-old Brett Ridley, of the Royals.
Having been nominated as joker for his side’s match-up with the Strikers, Ridley bagged a hat-trick, equating to six of his side’s goals in the 10-nil win.
The Vikings’ Mark Maybin, Strikers’ Kyle Walker and Maulers’ Ben Cox all bagged at least one goal as the joker as well.
In the final game of the afternoon, the Royals and Maulers respective regular goal keepers in Daryl Kennewell and Jake Skelton were both forced to play on the field after being nominated as the jokers, with the former bagging a double and the latter one goal as the Royals ran out 4-3 victors.
The third and final round is scheduled for Sunday, October 16, with the presentation immediately following the final game.