LGSHA 2024: Mt Barker and North Albany share the points in round nine, Manypeaks go clear on top beating Park

Mt Barker missed a golden opportunity to close the gap to third place and strengthen their finals hopes, sharing the points in their home clash with North Albany on Saturday. With six rounds left in the Lower Great Southern Hockey Association men’s A-grade competition, Mt Barker sit last of the four teams and are still five points adrift of Redbacks after the two-all draw in round nine. Redbacks entered the clash without young star Jack Carlson and recently announced State country player Reagan Watson, but they managed to emerge with one point. Mt Barker had an early penalty corner chance but then were forced to play one short when JP Swart came off with blood from his mouth, having lost a tooth in a collision. Goals from Mt Barker star Paul Stobie and Ollie Ritchie were cancelled out by the strikes from Robert Stan Bishop and Dean Schoof as the two sides finished locked together. In the absence of Carlson and Watson, Mt Barker had a golden opportunity to pinch their second win of the season and get within two points of Redbacks on the ladder. The top three teams qualify for the finals and the second-placed Spencer Park and third-placed Redbacks still have a game in hand. Mt Barker faces a crucial fortnight ahead in their bid to remain in the hunt to play finals. Meanwhile Manypeaks moved three points clear on top of the ladder after beating Spencer Park on Saturday in Albany. Park were without key pair Brodie Sarre and Darren Parkes and they went down to an impressive Peaks outfit. Peaks, who were missing Hayden Mills, finished 4-1 winners in the end to all but guarantee a top-two finish. Mitch Bradbury scored a brace while Jack Mills and Riley Scott also got on the scoresheet.