HOCKEY
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THEIR last meeting didn’t make for pretty reading, not if you’re a Wanderers fan anyway, but Orange gun Keiran Gentles is confident his side is capable of competing with the men’s Premier League Hockey benchmarks, Bathurst St Pat’s.
And they’ll go some of the way to prove it today.
Led by a Matt Naylor hat-trick, St Pat’s secured a 10-2 victory over Wanderers back in round three.
And now faced with the return leg of the home-and-away season at the Orange Hockey Centre this afternoon, Gentles believes a tighter defence is the answer to ensuring another blow out doesn’t eventuate.
“That was back at the start of the season. We were playing a new system, some boys were out of position and we were probably not at our best,” the 34-year-old said.
“They’re definitely the benchmark, but we’re looking to improve against them this time around.
“If we can rectify our defence then I think we’ll be competitive.
“In saying that, (today) probably isn’t the best time to get them either with the guys we’ve got out.”
Wanderers will be without import Todd Freedman (collarbone) and gun Matt Johnson (ribs), while Nick Sharp (thumb) and Daryl Kennewell are also missing from the Wanderers fold today.
Returning after a decade playing with Burwood in the Sydney Premier League, Gentles said while the standard of hockey in the Central West is a little different to what he’s used to, he’s enjoying imparting his wealth of hockey knowledge on the young, up-and-coming Wanderers as the side eyes a top four berth in 2015.
“That’s the goal,” he said of Wanderers’ finals ambition.
“It’s good to be back after 10 years playing premier league in Sydney. There’s some good young kids in this team, the future is bright.”
And, in a bid to cover the loss of injured talent, the immediate future of the team may well include coach Pete Shea having a run with the Wanderers.
“That’s the talk,” Gentles laughed.
“It’d be nice to see him have a game with us.”
Wanderers host St Pat’s from 2.35pm today in Orange.
WANDERERS: Zachary Royle, Alex Said, Gerry Shea, Hayden Dillon, Adam Skelton, Keiran Gentles, Andrew Rutledge, Louis Shea, Adam Hurford, Lukey Skelton, Connor Morris, Troy Kelly, Jayden Watson.