| Woodville Lacrosse Club 1998 Lacrosse SA State League Premiers |
BACK: Asst Coach Noel Speck, Peter Inge, Simon Darling, Ben Zammit, Simon Retallick, Anthony Feleppa, Michael Santi, David Rowley, Coach Peter Brown, Richard Feleppa, Brett Howe, Dominic Vorrasi, Manager Peter Coggins.
FRONT: Dan Arcenas, Ignazio Marchesan, Aaron Sargeant, James Inge, Jason Vorrasi, Craig Schicker, Paul Zammit.
Findon Oval, 19 September, 1998
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | FINAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodville | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 1 0 | 14 |
| West Torrens | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 0 | 13 |
Goals:
WDV: Brett Howe 5, Anthony Feleppa 2, Peter Inge 2, Jason Vorrasi 2, James Inge 1-2, Ignazio Marchesan 1-1, Paul Zammit 1.
WT: Tony Sellan 4, Shane Harley 3, Paul Larwood 2-2, Jim Mihelios 2-1, Steve Reppucci 1, John Kernaghan 1.
President's Medal for Best on Ground: Brett Howe
From The History of Port Adelaide and Woodville Lacrosse Club by Alex McLeod:
After the disappointment of '97 a more measured approach by the men, maturing in the game, allowed the Club to cover the absence of the Inge brothers, James and Peter, to the Australian 1998 Men's World Cup Team. American players were still a feature of local clubs' make-up and defender Dan Arcenas made a return visit to Woodville. Among the five playing representatives in the 1998 Australian Championships, (Brett Howe [State Captain], Craig Schicker, Jason Vorrasi, Michael Santi), goalkeeper Aaron Sargent, achieved honour as the Championship's Best and Fairest Player.
As Woodville finished second in the minor round to West Torrens, and lost to that club in the Semi Final, a most desperate challenge faced them as they met once more, in the Grand Final. The humbling loss to West Torrens in 1997 was still in the spectators' memories, as the score blew out to 11-6 against Woodville during the last quarter.
| "Woodville were not deterred and Brett Howe gives an indication of things to come with a big outside shot, which rips into the back of the net. Peter Inge picks up a rebound shot and fires it back past the keeper, and W.T. lead is cut back to 3. Brett Howe drives across top right and lets loose another cannon shot which brings Woodville closer ... The ball bounces in (another) goal ... Jason Vorrasi ties the game moments later and Woodville is beginning to look the goods ... The crowd is going mad ... chanting out 'Warriors, Warriors', and 'Eagles, Eagles', everybody is on their feet." (Lacrosse SA Vol 5, Issue 4, September 1998) |
Spectators, estimated about 600, were on an emotional edge. West Torrens replied with two goals which should have been enough to hold on to win, but replies from Brett Howe and Peter Inge equalised again, and great defence led the game into 8 minutes of overtime. President's Medal winner (best afield), Brett Howe, scored the only goal of overtime to allow Woodville to hold onto the ball until the final whistle.
The joy of victory swept the past 39 years into a memorable warm embrace:
| "We deserved to win. The team, the club, everyone associated with the Woodville Lacrosse Club was rewarded for their strong work ethic ... We didn't necessarily work harder, but smarter ... Along with the arrival of the Premiership to this club, comes a far more valuable commodity - belief." (Peter Brown, League Coach, Club Newsletter, October 1998) |
It is a remarkable happening, but no fairy tale, that Woodville enters its Centenary in 1999 as reigning 'League Premiers'.
From "The Advertiser" 21 September 1998:
"Inge stars in thriller"
Woodville broke a 39-year drought to defeat West Torrens 14-13 in a thrilling over-time men's State League lacrosse grand final on Saturday.
Nikki Tugwell
Woodville's Brett Howe passed West Torrens goal keeper Greg Larwood to find the back of the net in the first half of extra time.
The Warriors held on to the one-goal lead to claim its long-awaited title.
Earlier, Peter Inge scored the tieing goal with less than 30 seconds remaining to force the game into overtime. Brett Howe top-scored for Woodville with 5 goals, while West Torrens Tony Sellan scored four.
