Parkes United will make its official return to the men's Premier League Hockey competition at Bathurst on Saturday and skipper Dan Wilson says there's two things the 2019 title race can expect from his young, bullish outfit.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
No qualms and a stack of ability.
"The young guys have no fear," Wilson said.
"They've all got the skills and they're confident enough to play at this level."
Headlining those young guys in the Parkes PLH squad are a couple of state guns Wilson says have been seriously impressive throughout the pre-season nines gala days PLH officials put on throughout April.
Will Searl has been part of the NSW under 18s squad that recently toured and Koby Johnstone has just been selected in the 2020 NSW under 18s squad.
"For those guys, it's just about getting that experience. They can already play," Wilson added.
The returning United boys will tackle St Pat's in round one of what is a shortened season following the withdrawals Bathurst Souths and Lithgow Zig Zag.
Parkes had a season off in 2018 so Wilson knows the trials of getting a top grade side together for the Central West competition.
"There's so many sporting opportunities now available for blokes. There's rugby, league, AFL, soccer ... badminton, probably," he laughed.
"There's a lot of options and a lot of sports are fighting for the same athlete to keep their numbers growing.
No one likes losing, and it's either Pat's or (premier Lithgow) Panthers you want first up to see where you're at.
- Parkes skipper Dan Wilson.
"And the junior development side of it, a lot of people want to play with their mates and when you're third or fourth sport in the pecking order it can be tough."
He said that's a battle Parkes will always contend with, especially considering the size of the town and the strength of football codes in the area - rugby leauge, rugby union and AFL clubs all participate in region-wide competitions as well.
But Wilson was quick to add United will be more than competitive first-up in 2019, and Saturday's opening round is the test they've been waiting for.
"We'll be like most sides, battle with numbers week-to-week but the blokes we send down (to Bathurst on Saturday) will do the job. We've got a young side this year," he added.
"No one likes losing, and it's either Pat's or (premier Lithgow) Panthers you want first up to see where you're at.
"We've got that and we're looking forward to it."
Parkes takes on St Pat's from 1.50pm on Saturday in Bathurst.
In the opening round's only other game, Panthers will kick-off their premiership defence with a trip to Orange to face another young side, Wanderers, at the Orange Hockey Complex at 12.30pm.
Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
