Footscray has retained the Western Derby Cup as the match up with Altona again went down to the wire in the Hockey Victoria premier league competition.
The two western suburbs clubs in the premier league have played for the cup the past two seasons which is decided on the results of the four premier league matches
Being played for the fourth time, the two sides split the matches with two wins apiece.
It came down to goal difference, with Footscray winning by two goals.
Footscray president Nicole Virtuoso said it was a big day for both clubs.
“We were able to keep the cup,” she said. “It was a really exciting day with Altona hosting at their new pavilion open. It’s the first premier league games at the venue this year.
“There were a lot of people there.”
Footscray won the men’s premier league 4-2 and the women’s reserves match 6-0.
Altona won the women’s premier league 3-0 and the men’s reserves 3-0.
Virtuoso said the results of the senior games weren’t what they were expecting heading into the day and thought it might have been the other way round.
“It’s more tricky to win it [the cup] away from home,” she said. “Altona won it the first time and we’ve won it the next three times.”
She said with national championships on currently that they were missing some players from their sides.
The men’s side is on track to play finals this year, currently sitting in fourth spot.
“We’re really pleased with the men’s side under Daniel Mitchell,” she said.
“We want to go deep into finals. We’ve had an extremely solid season so far.”
The women’s side sits in eighth spot and still mathematically in the relegation battle.
Virtuoso said they were focused on the future with that group.
“We have a really young side,” she said. “The average age of the team this year is the youngest we’ve ever fielded in the premier league in 12 or 13 years.
“It’s exciting for the future. We have to hold while we are developing.
“We’re aiming to finish the season strongly.”
Virtuoso said their program continued to attract players from interstate and internationally and they’ve been able to have three internationals in their women’s side this season.
Numbers have been strong across the board with the men’s program adding an extra side this year and set to increase to eight next season, the same as the women’s.
It’s a busy week for the Bulldogs, as they share the hosting duties of the junior state titles this week.
