Bin Chicken FC's Mason Hamilton winds up a shot in his side’s quarter-final win.
Photo by
Sandra Michalitsis
The Shepparton Super Sevens tournament is down to the final four after a whirlwind group stage weekend followed by surprising quarter-final results.
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After the opening weekend saw 12 teams across three groups battle for the top eight knockout qualification, Saturday’s quarter-finals at Shepparton Hockey Complex delivered do-or-die desperation on the pitch.
With seven-a-side, and rules such as offside and traditional penalties and corners thrown out the window, there isn’t a minute of action without something game-changing putting each team to the sword.
Saturday saw the one-win, one-loss and one-draw Bin Chickens FC enter the quarter-final as one of the lower ranked sides in the top eight, but the Ibis-named club plucked out a victory from the depths of the rubbish can.
Defeating the unbeaten Avengers in a game that featured 13 goals between the teams, the most in a match so far this tournament, the Bin Chickens stunned the Group B ladder-leaders 8-5 to move on to the semi-finals.
In the second quarter-final, Group C’s second-place finisher Mosaic United dominantly surpassed Group B’s Babylon Warriors, 6-1.
Mosaic United will face GV United after the Group A table toppers passed Shepparton SC 8-3.
The final contest Saturday may have been the best saved until last, however, as Golden Troops FC narrowly squeezed by Dream IX 6-4 in a tense back-and-forth affair.
Played with speed and attacking flair, the close yet high-scoring match set the bar for what’s to come as the remaining four clubs look as evenly talented opponents.
GV United will play Mosaic United at 7pm on Saturday at Shepparton Hockey Courts, followed by the Golden Troops tackling the Bin Chickens at 8.30pm, with the consequences as clear as ever - win, and book a spot in the grand final; lose, and the chance for the $2000 prize goes begging.
News photographer Sandra Michalitsis was pitch side for the Bin Chickens’ upset quarter-final victory over the Avengers.
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