Shoalhaven Hockey premiers will be decided this weekend.
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On paper, two tantalising grand finals clashes will entertain spectators at the Shoalhaven Regional Hockey Complex at the Bernie Regan Sporting Complex at North Nowra, this Saturday, September 21.
Men's minor premiers Berry, who are gunning for a third straight title, will face St Georges Basin in the first season decider at 1pm, while women's minor premiers Burrawang Banksians will also face Berry in the women's clash at 3pm.
Both games should be hard-fought, with plenty of talent across all four sides.
St Georges Basin men won through to the decider with a thrilling, albeit high scoring final win over Allsorts 6-4 in last Saturday's final.
Basin showed its strength across the field with six different scorers and will enter the match full of confidence.
They only lost the major semi-final to the Magpies in penalty one-on-ones 3-1, after the sides had been locked 1-all at fulltime and after two periods of golden goal extra time.
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Jacob Brookfield, Lachlan Butfield, Stephen Hopkins, Adam Norton, Troy Daniel and youngster Matt Rayner scored for the Basin last weekend and will be looking to continue that sharpshooting on Saturday.
Lachlan Butfield leads the side's scoring with 14 goals, while Jacob Brookfield has 12 and Brendan Gilmore 10.
Gilmore along with Tim Chard and brothers Jacob and Ryan Brookfield will play leading roles for the Basin.
Berry would have enjoyed the weekend off and will welcome back midfielder Will "Stretch" McConnell to the line-up for the decider who has been away on navy duty.
The Magpies will be looking to come up with a different plan from the semi where the Basin shut down many of their scoring opportunities.
Mark "Sticks" Croker is a regular goalscorer up front for the Magpies with 21 goals for the season along with Myles Burke who has 24 goals.
Matt Clarke and Shane Wheeler will also be prominent, while captain Tim Mather will control the game from the back in combination with Nick Simmons.
After the thrilling semi-final shoot outs, both keepers Luke Croker (Berry) and Scott Gee (Basin) will have to be right on their games. Both are in for busy afternoons.
The Magpies finished the regular season with 17 wins from 20 clashes, banging home 86 goals and conceding just 29.
The took out the minor premiership by 14 points.
The Basin scored 11 wins from its 20 clashes, suffered five losses and four draws, scoring 52 goals but conceding 45.
Berry hold the honours leading into the season decider having beaten Basin three out of four clashes in the regular season, 5-2 (round 3), 3-nil (round 13) and 4-nil (round 18). The Basin's one victory over Berry came in round eight 5-2.
And, of course, there was the thrilling 1-all semi-final showdown which Berry took 3-1 on penalties.
Burrawang Banksians claimed the women's minor premiership by 11 points over a fast-finishing Berry.
The Banksias have only lost one game all season, that was to the Magpies, 3-1 in round 15.
The Highlanders also scored three draws from their 20 clashes and have shown they are brutal in both attack and defence.
They scored a whopping 70 goals this year thanks to the talented Sam Badgery up front who scored 26 goals, but the side has conceded just 20.
Berry came home with a wet sail to claim second place on the table, completing a 12 win, six loss, two draw season.
They scored 46 goals and conceded 33.
The Magpies might have lost the major semi 3-1 but they can take solace from the fact they are the only team to lower the Banksias' colours all year.
The Banksias have been dominant, scoring a 6-1 win (round 5), 5-nil (round 10) and 6-nil (round 20).
The game has a real mother/daughter/sister feel.
Banksias' Renee Eccleston plays with her two daughters Pippy Martin and Emily Hewson, Lesley Daley plays with her daughter Penelope, while sisters Jaime and Jessica Tuddenham, Jacqui Lee and Jade Manning and Laura Temperali and Louise Byfield are also in the team.
Berry boasts mother and daughter Jodie and Elly Simms and Jodie Newman and her daughter Mikayla Elder.
Badgery has been in outstanding for the Bamnksias and she is one player you can't give any space too.
Penelope Daley (10) and Martin (8) are also regular goalscorers for Banksias, while Jacqui Lee has also scored six goals and will make her presence felt.
Berry has had numerous goalscorers across the season with Elle Dodd leading the way with eight, while youngsters Natty Sparkes (6) and Madeline Gaffney (5) are also dangerous.
At the conclusion of the grand finals, the Shoalhaven presentations will be held where along with awarding of the premiership trophies, the club champions and players of the year will be announced.
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