Sport
8 July, 2026
Hockey heating up into finals
ST ARNAUD and Calder United are locked in a mighty battle for supremacy in North Central men’s hockey with seven rounds remaining.
ST ARNAUD and Calder United are locked in a mighty battle for supremacy in North Central men’s hockey with seven rounds remaining.
Both teams have seven wins, a draw and a single loss after nine rounds.
With seven rounds remaining before the finals, top spot is a toss-up, with the Lions ahead on goal difference.
However, in the only meeting between the teams this season, the Saints won 3-2 at St Arnaud.
NCHA administrator Brenton Henderson said it was hard to separate the two teams, but he said Charlton had been the season’s surprise packet after some tough years. The Navy Blues have won three, drawn two and lost four matches, and have a positive goal difference.
“Charlton has improved a lot – their losses have not been too bad, and they have been very competitive throughout”, Henderson said. “Until they played Boort (in round seven) they were in top four contention.”
The return clash between Calder and St Arnaud, in round 11 on July 18, will be crucial in deciding which team finishes on top, but the North Central’s fixture will also play its part.
Calder will play two teams a third time in the final two rounds – Wedderburn (now sixth) and Birchip Watchem, which is last and has not scored a goal for the year while conceding 103.
St Arnaud faces Charlton (fifth) and Donald (fourth) in the last two weeks, so you would think it is advantage Lions come the end of the home and away season.
Boort and Donald seem comfortable in third and fourth, two games and goal difference clear of the chasing pack.
Charlton is a runaway leader in the women’s competition, with a 9-0 record and a 48-6 goal difference. Wedderburn (7-2) is second, five points clear of Calder United and St Arnaud, both with 5-1-3 records, with the Lions four ahead on goal difference.
Boort (4-1-4) is nipping at their heels. Henderson said the Navies were a traditional power in women’s hockey, with a mix of experienced older players and up-and-coming juniors.
“Somehow they just keep doing things right,” he said.
In the Underage grade, St Arnaud is sweeping all before it.
The Saints are unbeaten after eight games, with 56 goals scored for and only two against. Charlton is next best with a 4-1-2 record after seven games.
Henderson said St Arnaud had been consistently strong at junior level for a number of years.
The Saints are second in the Under 12s, behind Birchip Watchem, with Calder and Charlton making up the top four.
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