MANNING Valley will be looking to go one better than last year in the NSW under 18 women's hockey championship starting today at Taree Recreation Centre.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The side will again play in division two. In 2018 Manning lost the final to Northern Sydney and Beaches.
"Most of last year's team is back again,'' Terry Bourke, who has taken over as coach this campaign, explained.
Manning's first game will be potentially a tough encounter against Far North Coast, a team expected to be a major contender for overall honours.
"There's a saying that you can't win the championship in the first game, but you can lose it,'' Bourke said.
"So hopefully we can get off to a good start.''
Manning will play in Pool B against Nepean, Lithgow, Far North Coast and Bathurst, with the first game against FNC at 3.30 today while they'll tackle Bathurst tonight at 7.15.
Tomorrow they'll be on the field against Nepean at 11.45 with the round games finishing against Lithgow at 3.30.
There's a saying that you can't win the championship in the first game, but you can lose it
- Manning under 18 coach Terry Bourke
Semi-finals will be underway from 8am on Sunday.
Sydney East (1), Hockey New England, Grafton, Illawarra South Coast (2) and Parkes will play in the other pool.
Bourke believes Manning will have to win at least three games to make it through to the semi-finals.
"It's a different ball game once you get there,'' he added.
Related:
He said Manning has the nucleus of a strong side, with three players, Lara Watts, Priya Bourke and goal keeper Jamie Balding playing in NSW sides at the recent Australian under 18 championships in Hobart.
Bourke pointed out that Bree Pensini, Abby Watts and Tilly Hunter have also had experience at State level in younger age divisions.
However, he added for varying reasons the team's preparation has been limited.
"Because the kids have had other things on we haven't trained together as much as I would have liked,'' he said.
Manning Valley will enter two sides in the championship, with the No 2 team to be coached by Nicole Clark contesting division three.
They'll be early starters today, with their first game against Southern Highlands to start at 9.15. Manning then meet Metro South West (2) at 2.15.
Manning's three synthetic surface turf fields will be in play for the duration of the championships.
