MOST women’s Premier League Hockey pundits wouldn’t have picked Confederates to be the best-performed Orange outfit following the opening round of the 2014 season, especially given the draw they were dealt.
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But a 2-all result with defending premiers Bathurst St Pat’s on the road will have the red and blues full of confidence for today’s clash with Lithgow Zig Zag.
Faced with the Lithgow outfit at the Orange Hockey Centre today, Feds coach Mark Pengilly is hopeful of another strong performance.
“We’ve had a really good week this week at training,” he said, with Orange Ex-Services and Kinross-CYMS both suffering first round losses.
“I think last week gave the group plenty of confidence. Psychologically, I couldn’t have asked for a better start from them, particularly after the way they’ve gone in the last couple of seasons.
“It’s a great start.”
Since being reinstated into the women’s PLH competition in 2012, Feds have tasted success just the once in two years.
Courtesy of last week’s draw, there’s a distinct belief Confederates will be drinking out of the winners’ cup on more than once this winter.
And it’ll be on the back of the team’s younger players.
Pengilly highlighted the influence of young gun Grace Evans on last week’s drawn result, while the return of Lucy Rheinberger and Teagan Carpini today will add much-needed depth to the talent already on deck.
“If we can produce a few more performances like that it’ll be fantastic,” Pengilly continued.
“To come away with a result like last week ... we probably should have won as well. I think the younger group of girls have really stood up.”
Feds play Lithgow Zig Zag at 2.35pm in Orange today.
