LOOKING after a team that’s looked after itself for so long might seem like a pretty plum gig, but Orange A coach Trini Allen admits her side’s 2014 Central West State League campaign has, at times, been quite challenging.
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Gunning for an unprecedented 19 straight titles when the finals of the 2014 tournament reach a crescendo on Sunday afternoon at Anzac Park, Orange’s season has been far from plain sailing, not by the lofty standards set in previous campaigns anyway.
A 28-27 loss to Dubbo in round one stung.
And injury and unavailability have also played a part in bringing a side previously garnered untouchable somewhat back to the field this winter.
“It has been (challenging),” Allen said, Orange A qualifying first ahead of Dubbo, Orange B and the fourth-placed Bathurst.
“We obviously had that first loss in round one and at the time you can see there may have been a little bit of complacency there.
“As a coach it makes you sit back and rethink the situation.
“But I know the girls can perform. I’m quietly confident they will.”
A shock at the time, the one-goal loss to Dubbo has since spurred Allen’s side on to bigger and better things, and when faced with the same opposition tomorrow in the major semi-final the Orange A mentor was eyeing off a far better outcome.
“We’re quietly confident, if I can say that,” she said, Sunday’s matches lengthened from 15-minute halves to 15-minute quarters.
“It’s a completely different game now that it’s fully timed, the dynamics change more and it’s not as hurried.
“I think it’ll suit us. We’re slow starters but come the second quarter I think we’ll hit our straps.”
A side stacked with representative experience and one that’s just come off an open state championship triumph, Allen said she’s been seriously impressed with shooter Danielle Turner throughout 2014.
She expected that impression of the gun shooter to continue tomorrow.
“She’s stepped up when Sinead (Davis) was injured in round two and she did the same thing at the state championship,” Allen said.
“She’s one that’s impressed me definitely.”
The Central West State League finals begin on Sunday from 9am.
Orange A will play Dubbo with the winner to progress straight through to the decider.
The loser will tackle the winner of the Orange B and Bathurst minor semi-final.
The decider will be staged at 1.30pm at Anzac Park.
For Orange A, centre-court general Amanda Hurford is still out injured but will assist Allen with the coaching reigns come the semi-finals on Sunday.
ORANGE A: Sophie Beer, Emily Callaway, Sinead Davis, Shannen Downer, Tegan Dray, Erin Johnstone, Sophie Kloosterman, Jacky Lyden, Sheryll Selwood, Danielle Turner.
