LGSHA 2024: Class finish from captain Darren Parkes guides Spencer Park to third straight men’s A-grade title

Spencer Park have completed a premiership hat-trick to continue their recent dominance of the Lower Great Southern Hockey Association men’s A-grade competition. Park were made to fight tooth and nail for their third straight title and fourth in five years on Saturday, with star Darren Parkes netting the winner in a tight final term with North Albany. The Redbacks trailed by a goal at three-quarter time but they rallied hard and an early penalty corner helped them equalise. Hamish Wilkes scrambled the ball over the line after an initial save from the penalty corner just three minutes into the fourth quarter. The Redbacks were pressing hard and earned a third penalty corner but that seemed to jolt Park into another gear. Parkes, the WA Country captain, stepped up when his side needed it most with a classy field goal with less than 10 minutes to play. The Redbacks lost Reuben Law-Davis to a green card late in the game but they mustered one last opportunity as Wilkes stole the ball inside his attacking half and then beat Park goalkeeper Simon Whitfort. However as he cracked the ball towards goal, Park’s desperate efforts on the last line saved a certain goal as their defenders stood firm to prevent another equaliser. The hard-fought 3-2 grand final victory ensured Park secured a third successive premiership. Parkes was named player of the final for his class performance, scoring the winner and setting up his side’s second major as James Leiper scored inside the first two minutes of the third. The Redbacks’ bid for an upset result were dealt a blow when star Simon Philpott copped a nasty blow to the face, sending him to hospital, and he played no further part. Jack Carlson opened the scoring via a penalty stroke awarded seconds before quarter-time and Josh Dallimore hit back early in the second with a penalty corner conversion for Park.