TAMWORTH and New England will both field sides brimming with young talent at this weekend’s State Open Womens Championships at Narellan.
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After avoiding relegation last year Tamworth will compete in the top division, while the Lions have been promoted to Division 2 following their success in Division 3 last year.
They’ve got the nucleus of that side and if anything, coach Paul Eichorn said are probably a bit stronger.
“The side that we’ve got this year is a step up again,” Eichorn said.
“We haven’t got Brit Parker and that is a cog that is missing but Em Hegney will fill those shoes.”
Hegney has returned home this year after a few seasons playing in Belgium and is a former Australian Country representative.
Tamworth will also have the services of a national rep with former Hockeyroo Kate Jenner to lead them.
She is a big in and will complement the likes of Abigail Doolan, Em Chaffey, Tayla King and Alice Arnott, who was this week named in the National Junior Squad.
“Having the experience of Kate will be great,” coach Graeme McKenzie said.
“I’m really looking forward to coaching her again.”
He coached her at both school and club level before she went on to bigger and brighter things.
She’ll play at the back, although McKenzie did joke that he’ll be telling both her and King that King is the senior defender.
King went away with the side last year as a 14-year-old and held her own.
They are probably a bit short the defensive end, McKenzie conceded, with a lot of the side playing up front or in the attacking midfield.
Australian Country rep Pip Ash will lead the charge up front.
They have picked up a few outside recruits including NSW and Australian Country reps Holli Wheeler Carolyn Margetts.
Margetts has regularly played with Tamworth.
“What happens in both circles will determine how we go,” McKenzie said.
His biggest concern is cohesion, having not had the opportunity to play together.
Their first game will be against Manning Valley at 8am tomorrow morning.
Tamworth have a later start and will take on Illawarra South Coast at 3.30pm.
McKenzie would like to get some points out of the day playing effectively the two top teams on Sunday.
