The former “steel city” played its role in helping the NSW Pride men’s team return to the Hockey One League winner’s list.
Buoyed by a Blake Govers hat-trick, the state outfit toppled defending champions HC Melbourne 4-2 at a packed Newcastle International Hockey Centre on Friday night.
It enabled the side to get its season back on track, too, ironically during Pride Round no less.
Meanwhile, the women continued their perfect campaign with a 3-0 win against the Victorians.
NSW welcomed debutant goalkeeper Tegan Neowhouse, 23, to replace the injured Grace Jeffrey (broken hand).
But, any concerns proved to be misplaced, as she made a string of early saves and finished the match with a clean sheet.
The deadlock was broken after 10 minutes when Jenna-Rae McIntyre forced home a scrappy goal to settle any early nerves for the hosts.
While Melbourne created numerous chances, Neowhouse repelled their efforts with some inspired goalkeeping.
A brilliantly-worked penalty corner late in the second quarter gave the Pride the breathing space they were looking for, with triple-Olympian Grace Stewart scoring her first goal for 2025/26.
In the final term, Abby Wilson posted her sixth in three games with a low drag flick into the bottom corner from another penalty corner, sealing another comfortable victory that keeps NSW atop the women’s ladder.
Pride coach Scott Barker praised his defence and the efforts of Neowhouse on debut.
“It’s a relief,” he said.
“It’s about defence and to keep a clean sheet – it’s amazing.
“Tegan made critical saves in critical moments, so it’s actually very pleasing to keep them [Melbourne] to zero.
“We talk a lot about team-first mentality.
“As we saw with Grace [Jeffrey] – she’s been outstanding, as has been Tegan.
“And, ultimately, Joce Bartram is the world’s best ‘keeper in my eyes, so we’ve got plenty of stock there.”
In the men’s game, the difference was the clinical finishing in front of goal.
A trademark drag flick from Govers in the 10th minute for NSW’s first and, surprisingly, only penalty corner of the night, calmed some of the nerves and gave the home side the lead.
A brilliant, deflected goal from Jared Findley, assisted by recent Sultan of Johor Cup winner Toby Mallon, provided some breathing room going into the main break.
A Cooper Burns field goal and conversion early in the second half levelled the scores at 2-all.
It heralded a momentum shift that suggested the reigning champions would cause another late collapse for the Pride.
However, some fantastic defending from Dylan Downey, Dylan Martin and goalkeeper Ash Thomas kept things even.
Martin turned provider in the closing minutes of the third quarter, setting up what would be the winner with a pinpoint 25-metre aerial pass to Govers in the circle, which was hammered into the bottom corner by the leading all-time goal scorer in Hockey One.
He then converted the goal to complete his hat-trick and seal the stirring 4-2 triumph.
Afterwards, Govers said it was important to get the points but the team still had a lot of hard work to do.
“We dropped some easy points last week, so it was awesome to be able to get them here against the league favourites,” he added.
“I think now we can’t take the other sides lightly… and undo the hard work that we’ve done.”
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