THREE hockey prodigies had good news to report upon their return to Dubbo as they formed part of a 13-woman team to take out the recent NSW Primary School Sports Association Girls Hockey Championships at Grafton. Lilli Campbell, Kate Tucker and Phoebe Bloink-Hollier were part of the Western School Sports Association (WSSA) side that finished first in the final placing, over 11 other teams. The team had girls from Bathurst, Lithgow, Dubbo, Orange, Parkes, Millthorpe and Oberon who worked their magic in a squad that displayed great strength and skill. WSSA coach Dianne Daymond said the team played extremely well together, showing their strength and skill. "The selectors were impressed with the skill level of all three, and if Kate and Phoebe had not been turning 13 this year I think they would have been strong contenders for the state team," she said. "Lilli in my opinion was very unlucky. She didn't get a lot of work but threw herself around when needed. "Kate played in the backs, Phoebe at centre-half and Lilli at goalie." Upon her return, Tucker said the girls were unanimously ecstatic and had not been expecting to come out as the number one team. "Western played Polding in the final and I remember the other girls felt really nervous leading up to the game," she said. "We managed to get a short corner in the last half, leaving the score 1-0." Tucker recalled hearing a member of the crowd commending the Western team on their brilliant teamwork throughout the three-day carnival. Last year, Western finished fourth with coach Daymond hoping for a second place finish, but was more than happy with the number one spot. On day three, Tucker said, selectors were asking if she really was turning 13, making her and Bloink-Hollier ineligible for state PSSA selection. Tucker, along with 13 teammates, will next compete in the under-13 NSW championships at Wagga Wagga. o SCORES: Western 9 (later 13 due to mercy rule) def Riverina 0; Western 5 def Hunter 1; Polding 2 def Western 1; Western 5 def Sydney East 0; Western 3 def Mackillop 0; Western 1 def Sydney South West 0; Western 4 def Sydney North 0; (FINAL) Western 1 def Polding 0. FINAL PLACINGS: Western 1st; Polding 2nd; South Coast 3rd; Sydney North 4th; Sydney South West 5th; CIS 6th; Mackillop 7th; North Coast 8th; Hunter, North West equal 9th; Sydney East 11th; Sydney West 12th; Riverina 13th.
Kate Tucker, Phoebe Bloink-Hollier and Lilli Campbell were among the Western victors at the recent NSW PSSA Girls Hockey Championships at Grafton. Photo: BELINDA SOOLE
THREE hockey prodigies had good news to report upon their return to Dubbo as they formed part of a 13-woman team to take out the recent NSW Primary School Sports Association Girls Hockey Championships at Grafton.
Lilli Campbell, Kate Tucker and Phoebe Bloink-Hollier were part of the Western School Sports Association (WSSA) side that finished first in the final placing, over 11 other teams.
The team had girls from Bathurst, Lithgow, Dubbo, Orange, Parkes, Millthorpe and Oberon who worked their magic in a squad that displayed great strength and skill.
WSSA coach Dianne Daymond said the team played extremely well together, showing their strength and skill.
"The selectors were impressed with the skill level of all three, and if Kate and Phoebe had not been turning 13 this year I think they would have been strong contenders for the state team," she said.
"Lilli in my opinion was very unlucky. She didn't get a lot of work but threw herself around when needed.
"Kate played in the backs, Phoebe at centre-half and Lilli at goalie."
Upon her return, Tucker said the girls were unanimously ecstatic and had not been expecting to come out as the number one team.
"Western played Polding in the final and I remember the other girls felt really nervous leading up to the game," she said.
"We managed to get a short corner in the last half, leaving the score 1-0."
Tucker recalled hearing a member of the crowd commending the Western team on their brilliant teamwork throughout the three-day carnival.
Last year, Western finished fourth with coach Daymond hoping for a second place finish, but was more than happy with the number one spot.
On day three, Tucker said, selectors were asking if she really was turning 13, making her and Bloink-Hollier ineligible for state PSSA selection.
Tucker, along with 13 teammates, will next compete in the under-13 NSW championships at Wagga Wagga.
o SCORES: Western 9 (later 13 due to mercy rule) def Riverina 0; Western 5 def Hunter 1; Polding 2 def Western 1; Western 5 def Sydney East 0; Western 3 def Mackillop 0; Western 1 def Sydney South West 0; Western 4 def Sydney North 0; (FINAL) Western 1 def Polding 0.
FINAL PLACINGS: Western 1st; Polding 2nd; South Coast 3rd; Sydney North 4th; Sydney South West 5th; CIS 6th; Mackillop 7th; North Coast 8th; Hunter, North West equal 9th; Sydney East 11th; Sydney West 12th; Riverina 13th.
