THE Lithgow boys under 17 hockey team travelled to Newcastle for the state championships and after a draining couple of days finished fourth in the state.
Results were:
Versus Newcastle: Lithgow started well and all but scored before Newcastle hit back to score.
Lachi Sharp equalised from a short corner.
The mid field of Hunter Medcalf and Jack Neale were pressing hard to keep the ball down Lithgow’s end but Newcastle again broke through to score.
Newcastle scored the final goal to take the match 3-1.
Versus Sydney: Stung by their loss, Lithgow pressed hard and earned a short corner.
With great execution Zach Sharp was able score for a 1-0 lead.
Hunter Medcalf and Jordan Smith worked hard in the middle with Hunter gaining a good ball from Lachlan Sharp to score Lithgow’s second goal.
Lithgow continued to press forward with Michael Dillon and Sam Williams looking good.
After a number of short corners, Hunter Medcalf converted to make it 3-0.
Lachlan Sharp wrapped up the match with another good goal.
The defence from Joe Radburn, Jack Eckford and Hayden Dillon was able to keep Newcastle out to win the match 4-2.
Saturday’s games versus Macarthur: Macarthur scored first, but following a good pass from Jordan Smith to Lachlan Sharp, Michael Dillon to equalised.
Jack Neale, Nick Judge and Thomas Castillo were showing excellent form and Lithgow were up 2-1.
Macarthur came back to equalise at 2-all.
Hunter Medcalf worked with Michael Dillon to score Lithgow’s third goal followed by another by Zach Sharp to go 4-2 up.
Mick Dillon wrapped up the match with a good goal and with Joe Radburn strong in defence the score finished at 5-2.
Versus Goulburn: Goulburn came out hard and had Lithgow worried in the circle Lithgow having to defend hard.
Nick Judge worked hard up the back while Gregory Nelson found the spaces to push the ball into the centre.
Michael Dillon opened the scoring which was quickly followed by another goal to Hunter.
The second half saw Goulburn score twice, but Hunter Medcalf gave Lithgow some breathing space for their third goal.
Nick Judge showed his skills in the circle and with a great drag flick found the goal while Sam Williams made it goal number five for Lithgow for Lithgow to take the match 5-2.
Semi finals versus Grafton: Lithgow finished on top of their table and were up against Grafton.
Lithgow scored within the first few minutes with Hunter Medcalf slamming the ball into the back of the net.
Grafton gained a short corner and the defence from Joe Radburn was amazing, sliding just to get the tip of his stick onto the ball to hit it out of the circle.
Lithgow were dominating in both attack and defence while Callum Ebsom was strong in goals making some good saves.
Grafton knocked in two quick goals to hit the front.
Lithgow equalised following a good pass from Jack Neale to find Lachlan sharp who deflected the ball into the back of the net.
Grafton hit back with two goals to take the match 4-2.