Geraldton hockey season returns as defending champs take on Yacht Club to open A-grade season

The Geraldton Hockey Association will return this week as defending champions Rovers take on Yacht Club in the opening match of the 2023 season. At Friday at 6.30pm Rovers will be looking to get the defence of their drought-breaking title off on the right foot against a Yacht Club side who finished fifth with only four wins last year but upset the Rovers when they last met in the penultimate round last year 5-0. Murchison who took the wooden spoon but showed improvement towards the end of the season will take on Australs. The minor premier Casuals will want to quickly re-establish themselves as the benchmark against Saints at 5.30pm on April 22 after their shock loss in last year’s grand final. Cardinals will look to extend their unbeaten run from last year’s perfect season as they eye an unprecedented eighth straight premiership beginning with their Yacht Club clash on Friday at 8.10 pm. Australs will play Murchison in the early fixture while the Swans and Saints battle on Saturday with the Swans hoping to improve from their one point last season. Men’s reserves take place on Saturday with fixtures mirroring their A-grade counterparts while the women’s reserves will be the first to play this season with all games on Thursday night. Defending champions Saints Black played Yacht Club as Cardinals took on Vets, Swans battled Australs as Saints Gold faced the newly formed Yacht Club 2 side with Murchison taking a bye.