IN GOOD FORM: Chloe Barrett, Emma Dillon, Courtney Reeson, Grace Evans, Anna Evans and Sam Mills will play in Orange’s under 15s girls' side competing at the NSW Indoor State Championships starting on Friday. Absent are Annabelle Tierney, Ally Thurn, Barbara King-Christopher and Anabelle Mutton. Photo: MICHELLE COOK 1015mcindoor15s
EXPERIENCE will be key when Orange lines up in the Hockey NSW under 15 girls’ Indoor State Championships starting tomorrow.
Orange fielded a team in the same competition last year and more than half that side will return for this year’s event at Maitland.
Coach David Mike is looking forward to seeing the girls in action again.
“We had a really good time last year. I was happy to come back,” Mike said.
“More than half the team is back from last year.”
The Orange side will play in division two and is in a pool with Central Coast, Macarthur 2, Grafton 1 and Sydney 2.
Mike said what the girls learnt at the 2011 championships will benefit them this time around.
“The experience they gained last year will be very valuable,” he explained.
“They’ll have more of a physical presence this year. They’re playing with a lot more confidence.”
The team has been training under the guidance of Alex Said and Mike has come in at the final stages after being away.
“I’m quite pleased with the way the girls are heading,” Mike said.
“We’ve got a solid unit here. I’m not saying we’re going to win but the girls will be competitive.”
Orange’s campaign will start tomorrow with a game against Macarthur 2 at 1pm followed by a match against Central Coast at 6pm.
On Saturday Orange will take on Grafton 1 and Sydney 2.
If they finish in the top two in their pool they will play in Saturday afternoon’s semi-finals.
A win there would propel them into Sunday’s final.
However, if they miss out on the semi-final, they will compete in a positional play-off on Sunday.
If they finish at the bottom of their pool they will play a relegation match with the winner remaining in division two for next year and the loser dropping back to division three in 2013.
n ORANGE: Emma Dillon, Courtney Reeson, Annabelle Tierney, Ally Thurn, Amanda Mills, Grace Evans, Chloe Barrett, Anna Evans, Barbara King-Christopher, Anabelle Mutton. Coaches: David Mike, Alex Said.