The NSW team won all seven of its games, proving that with good coaching and teamwork, success was definitely achieveable.

NSW defeated Tasmania 8-1, the Northern Territory 10-3, Australian Capital Territory (ACT) 17-0, Western Australia 7-3, Queensland 6-0, South Australia 8-1 and Victoria 4-2.

The games against Queensland and Victoria were the two hardest games of the week, according to Dalton's father, Doug Medcalf.

No stranger to hockey himself, Medcalf said his son's team did very well, and was a cut above the other teams competing in Nowra.

"They played with a combination of skill and exceptional teamwork," he said.

"The coaching strategy used on the team has made me admire the way Dalton was coached, which was outstanding."

Doug Medcalf said his son had been playing the game for five years and was currently a member of the Lithgow Hockey Club. In that time Dalton, along with older brother Hunter, had established himself as one of the best hockey players in his age group in NSW.

He said the championships are the highest level of competition a 13-year-old like Dalton could play in.

"At this stage of his life, Dalton is too young to consider joining something like the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)," Mr Medcalf said.

"In a few years, if that is Dalton's dream, we will explore the different avenues available to him. Until then, he's going to focus on playing the game well."

Medcalf said his son was quite confident during the competition, and knew he was part of a good hockey side that worked hard.

He explained how important it was to support his children in their various sports.

"When opportunities to go further in sport come along, we make the most of it," he said.

"If our children are able to compete in national and even international competitions, then we'll support them 100 per cent."

Dalton Medcalf enjoyed success in 2011 when he competed in the Primary School Sports Association Championships alongside Lithgow teammates Sam Gray and Logan Hunter.

anthony.cini@ruralpress.com