SYDNEY sides swept the silverware when the 13th York Cup and Kim Small Shield wrapped up in Tamworth yesterday.
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North West Sydney and Northern Sydney and Beaches both overcame final-game stumbles to win the York Cup and Kim Small Shield A Division plaques, while Sydney East claimed both the boys and girls’ spoils for B Division.
It was success at first attempt for all four, with a Hockey NSW restructure this year seeing Sydney split into different areas.
The champions were decided on points after a series of round robin, and then cross-over round robin games.
There was only a couple of points in it in the Kim Small Shield, with Northern Sydney and Beaches holding off defending champions Western, who beat them 1-nil in their final game.
North West Sydney were dominant in the York Cup and, even with their last game slip-up, finished well ahead of their nearest rivals.
Tamworth had six sides competing. Their best finish was fifth but there was a local connection to one of the victorious sides with former Manilla local and former school-mate of carnival convener Graeme McKenzie, Kathy Calokerinos, coaching the Sydney East girls’ side.
She said it was a great three days.
“It’s the best junior tournament in the state,” she said.
“It’s a great development opportunity for young players to the game and a great introduction to rep hockey for talented young players.”
They can learn the ropes of tournament hockey.
The coaching clinic before the games on Saturday was also fantastic.
As to her girls, they got better with each game.
“We lost to Central Coast Blue on day 2 but came back this morning and really stuck to the game plan and defeated them,” she said.
They then beat Northern and Sydney Beaches (2), who had beaten them in the last tournament they’d played, 1-nil to secure the title.
Juliette Triccas slotted the match-winner off a penalty corner with around two-three minutes remaining.
Western’s Meghan Searle was named the player of the tournament for the Kim Small Shield and Fletcher Norris, also from Western, the York Cup, joining a distinguished list that includes Kookaburras squad member Matt Dawson.
Check out the Leader website for more carnival action.