Karratha get choccies over rivals

The heated rivalry between hockey players in two major Pilbara towns certainly did not fizzle out on Saturday.

Karratha got the better of Port Hedland at the McGregor Street Sporting Precinct in an annual match-up to test which is the superior hockey town.

The game was split into four 10-minute quarters with Karratha proving too strong for Hedland Hockey Club.

Karratha led the game early and had some luck go their way with a goal being scored after the ball rebounded off the goal post into a Hedland player’s shoe and back into the goals.

A late fightback from Hedland Hockey was not enough to secure the win with Karratha leading 7-3.

The heat also proved a factor with players from both sides struggling in the midday haze.

Hedland Hockey club vice-president Eloise Host said the games began in 2017 with three full teams of 11 facing off against each other.

“Once we get more numbers, we’ll be able to do it more often,” she said.

Host said the games offered an intensity that was missing in their regular practice matches.

“In our training, we know each other, we get to play with each other all the time, so it's really nice to play an opposition that is completely different,” she said.

“It’s nice to have more structure and play with your own team.”

Karratha player Alex Walter said the game was a great chance for the players to get in a competitive game. “To be able to get out and stretch the legs on a full court with other teams and players in the Pilbara is fantastic,” he said.

Walter said that Karratha would be hosting a game against Hedland in three weeks time.

“It’s going to be a similar sort of thing, and we’re going to try and get players from other Pilbara towns and see how we go with numbers,” he said.