Familiarity is key for Orange at this weekend’s Hockey NSW Open Men’s State Championship at Macarthur, coach Darryn Marjoram says.
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Orange has named what he labelled a “handy side on paper”, boosted by the fact most of them play with or against each other each week-in-week-out.
“It is a handy side on paper, definitely, they all know each, they’ve played together or against each other in Premier League Hockey so that will help,” Marjoram said, before highlighting one huge addition.
“Having (Lithgow Panthers gun) Nic Milne come and skipper the side is (a big inclusion). At the opens level he tends to play for Orange.
“One main goal for us is hopefully to have our younger guys learn from him and the other more experienced players.”
Orange has been grouped with central west rivals Lithgow – which makes for a friendly reunion for Milne – Tamworth, Southern Highlands and Metro South West in pool B of division two.
“Lithgow are always strong and so is Tamworth, that’s another strong hockey centre,” Marjoram said.
“But I don’t think there’ll be any easy games, we’ll have our work cut out for us.”
Marjoram said it’s too hard for him to set a goal position wise, considering the rigours of tournament hockey.
“You never know, tournament hockey is so much different to the regular weekend stuff,” he explained.
“You get a couple of injuries and your plans go out the window. We’re just hoping we can play good hockey and make sure at the end of the tournament we’ve got nothing left to give.
Having Nic Milne come and skipper the side is (a big inclusion).
- Orange coach Darryn Marjoram
“The focus becomes just playing good, smart hockey at this level. Making the ball do most of the work and taking our chances, there’s a heavy focus on recovery too, having so many games close to each other.
“If we can move it well through the midfield and on the edges we should do pretty well.”
Orange finished fourth last year, and faces Tamworth in its first game at 3.30pm on Saturday.
Orange’s task at the women’s championship won’t be an easy one, but with the calibre of players heading to Moorebank there’s every chance the side can flourish.
The feature of the line up is the two sisters Smith – Madie and Libby – while NSW Combined Catholic Colleges gun Millah Allcorn has also been named.
The latter is joined a handful of her Confederates teammates, among them Grace Evans, Shona Manning, Rach Pengilly, Belinda Ferguson, Sam Stevenson and Ellen Van Hoek.
The bond that group shares bodes well for Orange, as does the inclusion of Madie Smith.
She’s taken a year off playing Premier League Hockey, but brings a wealth of state and national experience to the side.
Orange will face Sydney East in its opening division three clash, at 10.30am on Saturday, before facing Wagga, Coffs Coast and Goulburn before Monday’s finals.
The finals will be played on Monday.
- ORANGE: Nic Milne ©, Daryl Kennewell, Bailey Ferguson, Caiden Redden, Luke Skelton, Tom Peacock, Connor Morris, Logan Dolbel, Adam Hukins, Adam Hurford, Riley Hanrahan, Henry Jones, Mick Dillon, Adam Skelton, Darcy Davis, Stu McKenzie
- ORANGE: Madie Smith, Libby Smith, Erin Abrahams, Millah Allcorn, Grace Evans, Sarah Barrett, Shona Manning, Rach Pengilly, Belinda Ferguson, Sam Stevenson, Ellen Van Hoek, Nicole Chapman