IN A nail-biting finish, Breakaways secured Hockey New England’s division one premiership against United.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After failing to qualify for semi-finals last year, Breakaways finished this year as undefeated minor premiers.
Sunday’s match saw the scoreboard see-saw with the lead changing several times.
Both sides finished regular time with three goals apiece.
Five minutes into golden goal time, the minor premiers sealed the victory with a penalty goal.
Breakaways coach Mark Lowe said it is been a phenomenal season for the club with plenty of youth and experience in the side providing the spark to win the title.
"We have been training really hard throughout the year and they are a happy team, they get on really well,” he said.
"It is just a great group to be involved with.
"The whole team worked really well together.
"There were a few weeks where we had key players missing and the rest of the team stood up and carried on.
"The young players have really come along this year.
"We have three or four 14 year olds in the side who have really stepped up to the grade this year so that was probably one of the big contributing factors.”
In what was described by spectators as the match of the weekend, the men’s B grade final went down to the wire with United claiming a last-minute win over City.
City held a 2-1 lead over United until three minutes out from full-time when United managed to nail an equaliser goal.
With 50 seconds left on the clock, United scored again to take out the match 3-2.
United’s captain Andrew Myhill said a team re-shuffle late in the match payed off to hand the side the win.
"It was all or nothing,” he said.
"It was either that or lose.
"It was a really good game and I take my hat off to the opposition, they have been an awesome team all year and it was magic.
"It was played in awesome spirit and it was super fast. It was excellent.”
In a tight finish to the season, all four sides were still in the race for grand final glory in the semi-finals.
"It has been a really good season, an awesome competition, very close, any of the four semi-final teams could have won it easily,” Myhill said.
"Very happy with my lads, they are all different ages.”
In the A grade men’s final, City Wasps were too good for City Hornets.
City defeated United in the C grade decider.
In the lower grade women’s matches, second grade was won by PLC prevailed over Breakaways 4-0, United defeated Harlies 1-0 in the third grade game and New England Girls’ School triumphed over United 5-0 in fourth grade.