TAMWORTH fields a team in this weekend’s State Indoor Men’s Hockey Championships for the first time in a few years.
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The side starts its campaign in Wollongong this evening with a nine-man squad, five from Tamworth and four former locals now living in Sydney and Wollongong, all of whom are hoping to earn the Tamworth side a berth back in First Division.
“We haven’t fielded a team for a couple of years,” spokesman Ian Woodley said.
“We’re trying to get back in first division.”
And the Tamworth Hockey Association is also about to re-launch its indoor competition in the Tamworth Sports Dome.
That’s played Tuesday nights from 6 to 8pm although it will be played along club lines this year and starts Tuesday week.
Woodley said it would run into Christmas and provide some off-season hockey for local players.
Wollongong will provide a challenge for the Tamworth team this weekend.
Andrew Farmilo, Antony Doolan, Isaac Woodley, Josh Worpel and Isaac Farmilo headed down to Wollongong last night to link with Sydney-based Andrew Kelly and Tom Budden and Wollongong uni students Alex Hile and James Fisher for the indoor
championships.
Their first game is this evening, said Andrew Farmilo, who is coming off a pretty good hockey year.
He coached the 13A boys and 18A boys this year in the rep stuff as well as coaching the Olympian women to a first grade premiership and the Workies men to their first grade premiership.
“I got the double,” he smiled on Wednesday.
“The Under 18s lost their final though.”
While looking forward to Wollongong, he’s also keen to ensure the indoor comp goes well in Tamworth.
“It’s good to get in and have a go,” he said.
“It’s more of an off-season enjoyment.
“We picked four even teams last year – this time we’re going in club based.”
17-year-old Doolan is also looking forward to this weekend and the approaching indoor competition.
He prefers the fast-paced game played on a court a little bigger than a basketball court.
“I prefer the indoor,” the young fullback said.
“It’s faster,” he said.
18-year-old Worpel had just finished his HSC maths exam when he arrived at the Hockey Complex.
“I’ve got two more – one tomorrow and one next Wednesday.”
He’s hoping an interview for an apprenticeship with the Tamworth Regional Council goes well next Friday.
Woodley, 17, is also a defender.
The Year 12 Carinya student plays for Workies in the local competition and has something of a roving commission.
He enjoys popping up anywhere on the hockey field and on the indoor court.
“Indoor’s all right. It’s fast but I prefer outdoor,” Woodley said.
