Hockey NE Blue Lion Under 15 girls (back from left) Matt Jackson (coach), Tahlia Rekunow, Brianna Sutton, Elise Matheson, Clare Askey, Jacko Burton, Ashley Parker (front from left) Talia Constance, Georgina Cleanthous. Absent - Bronte Walsh.
HOCKEY New England continues its assault on State hockey carnivals when it sends two junior teams to State Under 15 Indoor Hockey Championships in Maitland this weekend.
Publicity officer Denise Doughan said two strong “Blue Lions” teams had been selected for the titles which begin today.
“HNE Indoor Hockey would like to congratulate some very talented indoor hockey Blue Lions players who have been selected to represent HNE Indoor Hockey at State Championships,” Doughan said.
“They have all been training hard and will travel down on Thursday and play their first games on Friday.”
The Blue Lions HNE Girls are in Pool B of the Division 2 Championship and are coached by Matt Jackson.
They play Dubbo at 8.50am tomorrow and then wait to play Coffs Coast at 6pm. Games against Manning Valley (1pm) and Illawarra 2 (3.30pm) on Saturday follow.
They must finish first or second in their pool to make the semi-finals on Saturday night.
It’s the same situation for the boys’ team, coached by Blair Chalmers, Doughan said.
They are in Pool A of Division 1 and play Illawarra in their first game at 9.40am today. Then they play Newcastle 1 at 2.40pm.
A 9.40am game against Tamworth 1 on Saturday morning follows with a 3.30pm game against Lithgow completing their pool games.
They, too, play a semi-final if they finish in the top two of their pool. If not, they have a playoff game on Sunday morning.
BLUE LIONS HNE GIRLS: Ashley Parker (goalkeeper), Bronte Walsh, Brianna Sutton, Jacko Burton, Georgina Cleanthous, Tahlia Rekunow, Talia Constance, Clare Askey, Elise Matheson. Coach - Matt Jackson.
BLUE LIONS HNE BOYS: Will Brissett (goalkeeper), Dylan Yeomans, Alex Brown, Rhys Hillard, Jeremy Maguire, Justin Hickey, Darby Chalmers, Donovan Chalmers, Matt Kaukianen. Coach - Blair Chalmers