The six-a-side competition was the first time Angus Richards, Lachlan Batley and Ryan King had ever picked up a hockey stick after a slew of male representative players finished at the school last year, although their perceived skills were no fluke.

The four girls in the side – Maddie and Dolly Powell, Abigail Doolan and Annie Fotheringham –have been there and done it before, several times, and, as such, cast a keen eye over the school’s male talent.

“We hand-picked them,” Maddie said.

“They play cricket and rugby and things but we thought that they might be good hockey players.

“They were rookies at the start of the carnival but not by the end.” 

The two coaches were also rookies, with married teachers Charles and Lara Bickersteth stepping up to the role this season and keeping a perfect record.

 The six-a-side game is modified to be quicker, with games played across half a regular hockey field with smaller goals at either end.

While the side had a shaky start to the day, it didn’t take long for the boys to catch on to the new sport and by the time they played their way into the semi-final against Illawarra Cordeaux, King even scored the winning goal with a flick between his legs.

The side had only dropped their first game and won all five thereafter as they headed into the final against St George Christian School.

Doolan and Richards found the back of the net in the final, but so did their counterparts as the full-time whistle sounded with the scores locked at 2-2.

The first five minutes of extra time had the ball going end to end, with Carinya defenders Dolly Powell and Batley putting a wall up at the back, while the others poured pressure on the St George goal, Richards and King getting good service from Maddie Powell, Fotheringham and Doolan in a hard- working all-girl midfield.

The deadlock still remained unbroken after the first five minutes of extra time.

With five minutes of golden goal to follow, the team dug deep and, despite going down with severe cramps in her legs, Maddie Powell got up and found the winner to take her and the school’s fourth title in a row, and her final title as the only player in her final year in the side.

“The side went with only one female reserve and were able to withstand some high temperatures and squads of almost double the side admirably,” Lara Bickersteth said.

“In the face of some fierce defending, real character was shown in holding their nerve against a really tough opposition.” 

All four girls were rewarded with selection into the CSSA side, which will now play in another carnival that doubles as a CIS trial for the NSW Championships later in the year.