Minkey
Two teams of excited minkey players started the day’s proceedings on the hockey field at Sea Lake on Saturday and both games were played in the spirit minkey hockey is expected to be played. Everyone had fun, and parents got involved as coaches and umpires, to ensure that two minkey games be played and that clubs can develop umpires and coaches to ensure the progression of their children into higher grades.
Hamish Noonan showed lots of promise in his first game for the Bulls and he had lots of support from his cousins Imogen Noonan and Harper Noonan, with Imogen showing lots of determination in goals and Harper running to space on the wing. Remi Bowen, Jaylah Haslam and Charlie McAuliffe were also actively involved in game one, having lots of fun contesting the play and trying to score. 
In the second game there was lots of improvement from all players as the game progressed and the players were well supported by De Ferrier as coach and Steve Haslam as umpire. Thanks to the parents who are stepping up each week to help coaches Julie McClelland, Frances McClelland and Archie Tyler. 
Birchip-Watchem awards Imogen Noonan (Troy & Brooke Morris), Olive McLoughlan (BWHC Canteen).
Sea Lake-Nandaly awards: players of the day, Tessa and Lacey; other awards, Lara and Milo. 
Under-12s
The under-12 Birchip-Watchem hockey team ran out full of zest for their game against Sea Lake-Nandaly. The Tigers were undermanned and undersized, but to the Bulls’ credit three players, Ivy Bourke, Jett Hinds and Addison Hamilton were loaned to Sea Lake-Nandaly to ensure a game could proceed.
It was not long into the game before the attacking prowess of the Bulls was demonstrated and it remained on show time and time 
again. At half-time, Birchip-Watchem had scored 4 goals to Sea Lake-Nandaly 0.
At half-time, coach Tim McClelland praised his team but also outlined strategies for easier goal scoring, which included passing off to team mates when the goal keeper had been drawn, more sharing of the ball and running away from the ball to create space.
Within the first minute of the second half, Tim was rapt that his coaching instructions had been followed by the Bulls and an impressive passage of attacking play was observed. Oscar Sharp won the ball in attack, passed it off to Denley Tyler who then drew the defence and then he passed off to Lucy Coffey who scored a well-timed goal.
Goal scoring reigned supreme in the final half with another 8 goals being scored and the final scores saw Birchip-Watchem 12 defeat Sea Lake-Nandaly 0.
Birchip-Watchem awards: Jakoby Saggers (TMC Enviro) and Jude Mcloughlan (Birchip Hardware).
Sea Lake-Nandaly awards: Ormonde Farms Cash Award, Charli. 
Underage 
In round 3 of the home-and-away season the Bulls lent Sea Lake-Nandaly some players to allow a 9-a-side game to proceed, which made for an open game and lots of goals.  
The Tigers stared off strongly with a few short corners and a couple of quick goals by 
Benjamin Barbary and Elise Barry, who were able to wrong foot the Bulls’ defence despite their best efforts.
The Bulls rebounded and rearranged, with several valiant attempts to even the score. 
With Birchip down three, the second half opened with tight competition between each team’s refreshed midfield. For Birchip, Elise Cox and Grace McAuliffe defanged key Tigers, forcing play out wide and along the edge of the field. Their strategy allowed a much-needed morale boost, coming through the combined efforts of Archie Tyler, Max Field and Michael Darby. 
The game progressed with a fierce back-and-forth. For Birchip, Archie Tyler hammered a decisive hit that arched just too high of the backboard and went unscored, and some tight opportunities by goal-side wings went unsecured. For Sea Lake, the offensive play was polished in the D, but showed some positioning weaknesses outside. By the close, both sides had reluctantly relinquished a pair more goals to short corners and quick advances.
Birchip-Watchem’s Frances McClelland and Jed Coffey demonstrated exceptional conduct, doing their best playing for the Tigers, on loan to ensure that a game could be played due to thin player numbers and injuries. It was highly encouraging to see some new players starting to find their positions on the field and supportive team play being implemented.  
Birchip-Watchem and Sea Lake-Nandaly fought hard all game, challenging each other with some nice cross-field passes and great turnovers with the final score seeing Sea Lake-Nandaly 7 defeat Birchip-Watchem 3.  
Birchip-Watchem awards: Elise Cox (Andy & Sarah Barber) and Max Field (Birchip Hardware).
Sea Lake-Nandaly awards: Ormonde Farms Cash, Dean; Daytrap Ag Cash, Ben.