The Goulburn Valley Hockey Association senior semi-finals were played on Saturday, with the weather thankfully holding out during some evenly-matched games, while a Benalla junior was recognised for her outstanding achievements.

GVHA Junior Sportsperson - Female award winner

Benalla’s Amber Armstrong was a very worthy recipient of the Goulburn Valley Hockey Association Junior Sportsperson - Female award for 2025 on Saturday.

The award recognises a strong commitment to club volunteering, as well as positive on-field behaviour and playing representative hockey.

Amber ticks all these boxes and more as a great ambassador for hockey and fabulous asset to Benalla Hockey Club.

She has been involved in Benalla Hockey Club since about eight years of age, often playing with other junior teams in the GVHA competition as Benalla didn’t have junior teams in her age group.

She has competed in the Junior Country Championships for six years, again often with other regional associations due to low numbers from GVHA, but won gold with GVHA this year.

Amber has been selected for the Junior State Championship North-East Knights and North West Lightning teams for the past five years, and played in the Senior Country Championships for two years.

Amber’s Benalla Hockey ‘COACH’ jumper has been well earned, coaching at the Hockey Roadshow and leading the under 10s for Hook In2 Hockey and Stick 2 Hockey for the past five years.

In 2024 she stepped up to coaching the U12 competition team, and her positive encouragement and skills training have resulted in their considerable improvement to finish fifth on the ladder this year.

Amber’s off-field support includes fundraising, presenting at presentation night and her role as minutes secretary for the committee in 2024.

The Benalla Hockey Club congratulates and thanks Amber for all her positive assistance, and wishes her all the best for year 12 exams soon.

GVHA Leesa Purcell Memorial Rising Star Award

The GVHA Leesa Purcell Memorial Rising Star Award was also presented, in memory of Benalla’s Leesa who played with GVHA, the Victorian State Hockey team and Australian Defence Force.

It is awarded to an up-and-coming U18 female player who demonstrates the traits of fairness, determination, persistence, leadership and a strong club commitment.

The 2025 winner, Emme Cole, continues to improve, being selected this year for the U18 Girls Victorian State team and winning silver at the National Championships, as well as playing in the Vic League 2 competition in Melbourne.

Women’s Semi-Final

The SYC women went hard early against Strikers, but they fought well in an evenly-matched game not reflected by the 3:0 win to SYC, who meet Echuca Green in the grand final this Saturday.

Amber Armstrong was instrumental in preventing Strikers from scoring at all, tightly tagging players as a half-back and forcing some great turnovers at crucial moments.

B Men’s Semi-Final

Strikers B Men were also successful, with constant pressure overwhelming Echuca for a 3:0 win, to meet SYC in the Grand Final this week.

Angus Woodward’s speed and skill were much appreciated in the forward line as an inner. He also created some great momentum up into the circle as a centre forward, passing around defence and positioning well in space to keep pressing forwards.

Latham Carroll ran hard as a half back, holding up the ball carrier and tackling then sending some nice passes up to the wings.

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Monday, 20th February 2023

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