By Tara Murray
Craigieburn Falcons Hockey Club is rising through the Hockey Victoria ranks.
After a strong first season in which the club’s two men’s sides played-off in the men’s metro B north grand final, both teams have been promoted.
Their top team is this season competing in Vic League 3, while their second side is playing in metro B north-west.
Falcons’ Sikander Sharma said it was exciting for the club to have stepped up into Vic League in just its second season.
“Last year, we had two teams in the same competition and they were too good for that competition,” he said.
“They were winning 15-0, 17-0.
“The club and Hockey Victoria spoke and said we should be playing in Vic League.
“We want to be playing in Vic League.”
Sharma said that with the teams stepping up, there had been an influx of players at the club.
This year the club has four senior men’s team, a women’s team and a large number of junior teams.
He said the club fell just short of having the numbers for a second women’s side.
“The club has at least doubled, if not tripled in size from last year.”
Sharma said early signs were that the club would have a good season.
The top men’s side started the season with a 4-3 win against St Bernards, before backing it up with a 10-0 win against Maccabi Hockey Club on Saturday.
“We want to at least make the grand final, if not win i,” he said.
In other results, the men’s pennant G side had a 3-2 win against Hume, the men’s metro B north-west side had a 4-4 win over another Craigieburn-based side, United Khalsa, while the Falcon’s women had a 3-0 win against Footscray.
