A trio of Lithgow hockey players have led NSW to victory in the Under 21 Australian Championships, with Abigail Wilson captaining the state’s team and Andrea Gillard scoring the decisive goal in the grand final.
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Lithgow Panthers’ Clare Bosman made her debut playing for NSW’s top under 21 team.
“I think they were really stable, very consistent players. Clare played really well controlling the midfield, always making sure there was an option,” Wilson said.
“Andrea distributed the ball around the back really well, executed really strong tackles, and did not allow other attackers into the circle.”
The three players were selected to join NSW’s campaign in the nationals during the state championships last year, where the Lithgow open women’s team claimed the trophy.
Wilson was selected by coaches to captain NSW.
“Yeah, I was very excited,” she said.
It was Wilson’s third Under 21 Australian Championships.
“I just tried to think about how I would normally lead without the label of captain,” she said.
“I focused on playing my game first and then helping the people around me by supporting them with the way I spoke on and off the field.
“I have played with most of these girls since under 13s.”
NSW remained undefeated throughout the tournament held at Sydney Olympic Park from Wednesday July 4-11.
Wilson and Gillard scored the two goals in NSW’s 2-1 victory over Queensland in Wednesday’s grand final.
“It was pretty nerve-racking,” Wilson said.
“I scored the first goal of the game off a penalty corner, and I just knew going into that penalty corner I had to do my job, block everything out and get it done.”
Queensland hit back, leveling in the 34th minute of the match.
Gillard scored the decisive goal on the cusp of three-quarter time.
Wilson trains every day with the Australian junior squad in Sydney, while working and studying part-time.
“My hope, by the end of this year, is to make the development squad, which is the squad just under the national squad.”
She said it was not a surprise Lithgow produces high-performing hockey players.
“I think it’s such a small town, and for girls there’s only a few select sports we can really hone into,” she said.
“Everyone in Lithgow is really around the hockey. We’ve always had people go through the ranks, and we’ve got such good coaching and facilities to help us get there.”