McCARTHY Catholic College sends two teams to this week’s NSW Combined Catholic College Hockey Carnival in Lithgow, one of which is confident of success while the other has been knocked around by State selection trials and unavailability.
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Geoff Denton is coach and manager of the Under 16 girls’ side while Andrew Farmilo coaches the open boys’ side being managed by Ian McKenzie.
“It’s the first time we haven’t had an open girls’ side,” Denton said yesterday.
“This year we clash with the NSW Under 18 selection trials.
“ A lot of our girls are at those trials.
“And we have nine unavailable for our Under 16 girls as well.
“Some are at those Under 18 trials and some are in Year 11 and are preparing for exams.
“The girls will play in B Division. We have six Year 7 girls in the side and, while we have some very promising young players, it will be a good experience for them.
“They will be playing on grass (natural) too.
“A lot of them haven’t done that for a while.
“We have had a couple of training sessions on grass though.”
The McCarthy sides travel to Lithgow today, with games beginning tomorrow and playoff matches and finals Friday.
“The boys should go all right,” McKenzie said of an open boys’ side that just missed a State title last year when beaten by Grafton in extra-time and after strokes.
“We’ve got some very talented young players.
“Isaac Farmilo, Matt Johnson, Ehren Hazell and Darren Doyle all play first grade in Tamworth. Even little Calvin Farmilo.
“Jack Cruickshank made the NSW All Schools Squad.
“But we are missing Chris Ninness.
“He is a big loss for us – leaves a big hole.
“Isaac and Chris both played NSW Under 18s.”