NATIONAL PRIDE: Orange's Darryn Marjoram has earned national selection again.
DARRYN Marjoram and David Watson came back from the Australian Masters Men’s Hockey Championships with something to smile about.
For Marjoram it was national team selection.
For Watson it was a gold medal.
Marjoram was selected in the Australian men’s over 45s team to contest the Trans-Tasman Test against New Zealand in May next year.
It was a good reward after his NSW team finished fourth in the over 40s men’s division one national event in Hobart.
“It was very tough. I was lucky [to be selected] considering the team finished fourth,” Marjoram said.
“It was the first time in seven or eight years we haven’t made the final.”
This the fifth year in a row Marjoram has earned national selection in a Masters team.
The 44-year-old said he was happy with the way he performed during the championships.
“The selectors must have seen the good things I did and not the mistakes I made,” he laughed.
“I thought I was a chance. I thought I did enough good things. I didn’t score any goals which, as a striker, isn’t a good thing.”
Watson was vice-captain of the NSW team which took out the over 40s division two national title.
“It was a real joy to be involved with that team,” Watson said.
Watson was unlucky to miss out on national team selection but was still pleased with his performance during the championships.
“I played some good hockey. I don’t think I can play any better,” he said.
“I picked up a couple of opposition’s trophies for man-of-the-match. I picked up a few players’ player for my own team. I was happy with that.”
This is the second gold medal from the national event for Watson after he was part of the 2008 NSW team which took out the over 40s division two title.
At this year’s event, NSW started with a 1-all draw with Tasmania before losing to Victoria 2-1.
NSW recorded wins against Queensland (4-2) and South Australia (6-2) before losing to Tasmania 1-nil and beating Victoria 4-1.
In the semi-final, NSW downed Victoria 1-nil.
The final was tight but NSW came out on top against Tasmania, who had been undefeated until then, 2-1.
“I was stoked,” Watson said.