TAMWORTH’S Thunderbolt Under 16 Girls’ Country Premier League hopes go under the blowtorch again in Minto this weekend.
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The John Ireland-coached side won three of their four first -round CPL games in Tamworth last month and have maybe an even tougher round in Sydney’s west this weekend, not that it hasn’t been tough already.
“We’ve had a disrupted start,” Ireland said.
“We’ve had a change in coaching staff, and quite a few injuries too – had rib injuries, broken fingers and ankle injuries as well as a number of them away playing in NIAS.
“So to win three of their four games was good.
“They really came together well in Tamworth, performed very well.
“I was very happy with that.
“The next round is going to be even tougher.
“We come up against a few of the southern teams, who are very strong, teams like Illawarra, Canberra and Western Reds but we are confident.
“We have a good, hard-working group of girls.”
Ireland’s main problem has been a packed schedule over the past few weeks.
They have had the NIAS Academy Games, a State camp and then a Country Development camp.
That some of his side have been in the representative spotlight is a welcome reward for their hard work.
“Miah O’Sullivan has been to New Zealand with an Australian Country side,” he said.
“She and Josie Chick are still in the final 15 for selection in the NSW Country Under 15s too.
“They go to the nationals in Victoria in July (if selected).
“Jess Watt was very unlucky to miss the cut too.
“She outplayed a couple of other girls who are in that squad at the CPL round here.
“Jess was dominant against them but missed out.”
O’Sullivan has since been named in the Country side with Josie Chick a reserve.
COUNTRY PREMIER LEAGUE
CPL first round Under 16 Girls: Tamworth Thunderbolts 73 Gosford City Rebels 37, Newcastle Hunters 91 Coffs Harbour Suns 29, Gosford City Rebels 74 Maitland Mustangs 52, Western Reds 67 Canberra Capitals 49, Illawarra Hawks 87 Albury Cougars 20, Tamworth Thunderbolts 72 Coffs Harbour Suns 37, Western Reds 66 Illawarra Hawks 40, Canberra Capitals 93 Albury Cougars 49, Maitland Mustangs 70 Coffs Harbour Suns 67, Newcastle Hunters 67 Tamworth Thunderbolts 56, Western Reds 79 Albury Cougars 35, Canberra Capitals 59 Illawarra Hawks 39, Gosford City Rebels 61 Coffs Harbour Suns 38, Newcastle Hunters 76 Maitland Mustangs 25, Newcastle Hunters 94 Gosford City Rebels 32, Tamworth Thunderbolts 91 Maitland Mustangs 44.
