All four of the club’s teams – three male, one female – made finals this season.

But it was the senior men’s team that had the most success, securing its first title in the association’s third grade.

The Hornets were up against University in the season decider on Saturday, September 16.

University had surprised the league.

They played their way from fourth place on the ladder into the grand final.

That determination did not dim in the final, with the side taking an early lead after a good period of possession and pressure applied to the Hornets defence.

The Hornets rallied and put themselves back in the game.

They were rewarded with a goal when skipper Paul Baxter was given too much time in the circle.

He was able to place the ball beyond the keeper and level the score 1-1 just before half time.

Player Chris Southall said the half time chat on the Hornets bench was all about playing the game the way they had played all year – the same style that saw them take out the minor premiership.

Early in the second half Baxter bagged his second of the game, this time from a penalty corner.

His shot went in off the University goalkeeper’s pads.

While leading 2-1, the Hornets found an extra gear.

Brad Willcocks intercepted a ball outside the ‘D’ and found himself one-on-one with the keeper.

He produced an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner to give the Hornets a 3-1 lead.

Brad Fletcher, a younger player on the Port team, stepped up and converted a penalty stroke to extend the Hornets’ lead out to 4-1, much to the delight of a vocal supporter crowd.

Moments later the result was secured.

Southall wound back the years to a time he used to play left wing, producing a cracking pass across the University goal line to Laurence Pomery who slid in and deflected the ball into the empty goal. 

The 5-1 result was just reward for the team who remained consistent all season.

“Under-18 players Brad Fletcher, Lucas McLeod and Jamie Whatman really stood out,” Southall said.

“The defence was superb.

“Goalkeeper Jeremy Miller showed why he is a valued member of the Hornets club, with the kind of skills that have seen premier league clubs interested in his services.

“Veteran Darren Stocks had another superb game at the back bossing people around.”

Fletcher received man of the match.

Meanwhile, in the Maitland Hockey Association A-grade competition, the Hornets women were beaten 1-0 to Green Machine in the grand final.

Seventh grade Hornets men bowed out in the minor semi final, going down 2-1 to the Tigers. 

The fourth grade men made it to the qualifying final but went down 4-2 to minor premiers West.