Season opener promises blockbuster

The Bunbury and Districts Hockey Association and South West Hockey League have set up a scintillating start to the season tomorrow night.

Arch rivals Boyanup and Marist will go head to head on the Bunbury Stadium in a repeat of last season’s grand final, with an A2 League fixture for dessert.

The fixturing program has been tightened on the opening night with the light failing on the Bunbury Hockey Stadium’s turf two pitch.

However, the big clashes are still in place, with top umpires Jenny Buchanan and Donna Nelson to call the first game between All Blacks and the Blues at 6.35pm followed by Dwayne Cousens and Paul Skippings taking charge of the men’s match at 8.05pm.

Well recruited Towns-South and Associates have been moved to Saturday afternoon, the women at 1.45pm and the men at 3.15pm.

Major league matches scheduled for Sunday pit rivals Wests and Robins against each other at Busselton at 1.30pm, while Exies and Collie men and women clash at Bunbury at 1.45pm and 3.15pm.

Lack of numbers have forced Countrys to withdraw from the South West Hockey League, leaving a bye in the women’s league.

“These fixtures are in place of a no show for Turf 2, but if we are lucky enough to get light before Friday night the fixtures could change,” Lomax said.

The State League teams will play scratch matches for the next two weeks leading up to their season, which starts later this month.