And so on Sunday, Bec D'Ambros played her first game of Tamworth first grade for Services for a couple of seasons.

Since returning from a three year adventure in the UK she has been happily playing second grade alongside sister Gabbi, making the trip over from Narrabri, where she is now based.

But with Services down a number of players for their clash with Waratahs, Gabbi, who took on the first grade coaching role last season and is continuing on this season, called her to ask if she would be able to play first grade.

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To which of course Bec, albeit maybe a bit hesitantly, said yes.

It made for an interesting dynamic - being told what to do by your younger sister, although it is a scenario she is quite familiar with now, with Gabbi coaching second grade for the past few seasons.

"She doesn't really boss me around, I think she knows she can't," Bec joked.

The older by eight years - she is 30 and Gabbi 22 - she added that they are very alike, probably "too alike".

She said it has been nice to play alongside each other again after enjoying a couple of seasons together before she went away to university.

It is one of the reasons she is happy to make the four hour round trip each week.

She also "couldn't do without hockey".

The only time she can remember not playing is the three years she was in the UK.

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Heading over there virtually straight out of uni, D'Ambros said it "was tough" but she "loved it".

For someone who loves to travel, it was a great experience.

Returning in 2018, she moved out to Narrabri to take up a teaching position at a local primary school.

Teaching predominantly Year 5 and 6, in 2020 she started getting into social work and now works with the Department of Justice in the child protection area.

"I wasn't specialised in anything, I just have an interest in well being and the child protection side of things," D'Ambros said.

Sunday finished in a 1-all draw, Lili Beattie showing some dogged determination in the circle to equalise for Services mid-way through the third quarter after captain Anita Collins had put Waratahs ahead.

Services probably had the better of the chances in the final quarter but they couldn't convert them.

Still it was a good result, D'Ambros said, given that they had a number of players filling in. They had one player come up from fourth grade.

In the other second round matches South United pipped Tudor Wests 3-2 and Flames accounted for Olympians 3-1.

The men's first grade hit-off on the weekend with Workies beating Tudors 4-2 and South United defeating Kiwis 5-2.

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