MANNING Valley Hockey Association's under 18 boys team won the Hockey NSW division two championships played at Narellan.
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This is the 10th State championship the boys have won while under the Manning Valley banner from when they first started representing the association in under 13s.
The team was determined to win the division and be promoted to division one for next year. They beat some very stiff competition along the way.
The aim of moving to division one is to obtain a record of successfully promoting Manning Valley Hockey boys into division one in both indoor and outdoor for all ages from under 13s to 18s.
Manning played Tamworth in their first game coming away with a 6-0 win followed by 9-1 success against Newcastle. The second day saw the boys beat Orange 6-2 and Southern Highlands 9-0. The third day saw the Manning play Bathurst in the semi-final, coming away with a hard fought 2-1 win.
This put them into the final against star studded Goulburn side. Goulburn had four under 18 State players in the line-up. Manning led 3-2 when Goulburn scored to level the game with five seconds remaining in regular time. The game was then sent into golden goal drop off, meaning that each team only took the field with nine players (eight field players and a keeper). The first to score won the game. It only took Manning five minutes of the extra time for some fine passing from the team lead to a tomahawk goal from Wade Harry giving them a hard fought win.
The team was coached by Shaun Fuller and managed by Dylan Turner who did a splendid job. Players in the team were Blake Chivas, Blake Hudson, Bailey Pitman, Wade Harry, Harry Wallace, Mitch Saxby, Daniel Sewell, Reid Bourke, Jacob Searle, Brad Paterson (goal keeper), Jett Shoesmith, Billy Bartlett, Sam Mudford and captain Sam Ferguson. There was further good news with Billy Bartlett, Sam Mudford and Jacob Searle gaining selection in both the under 16 All Schools and NSW under 18 squads. Wade Harry was named in the under 16 All Schools while Blake Hudson was selected into the NSW under 18 squad.