Limestone Coast dominating hockey

Junior players & team officials making their mark on the South Australian stage
The Lower South East Hockey Association and Naracoorte Hockey Associations this weekend took part in the first ever zone carnival held by HockeySA, in a major re-vamp to the way State sides are selected in South Australia.

With Adelaide City split into three zones, and two regional zones, it was a five team round robin style tournament that saw teams from our region compete against the top under 14 and under 17 hockey players in the state.

Combined with athletes from the Riverland, LSE and Naracoorte athletes played under the South Eastern Eagles banner, competing against the Western Pirates, North West Rangers, Southern Storm and the Eastern Saints. The teams were the culmination of selection events held throughout the season in Naracoorte and Berri, in which teams from each individual region competed against each other for players to gain selection in the final side to play at the championships in Adelaide.

All Eagles sides found the going difficult against the city sides, with the under 14 girls the only side to get a win against a metro counterpart, beating the Southern Storm 2-1 on the final day in a gutsy performance. The U17 girls and U17 boys defeated the other country zone side (Rangers) for their win of the weekend, with the U14 boys competitive in all games to come away with a draw.

With the standard of hockey extremely high throughout the weekend, it was very pleasing for the coaching staff to see the up and coming talent from our region mixing it with the best junior players and being highly competitive against some well oiled city machines.

From this tournament athletes will be selected to be in the squad for state selection, which will consist of about 35 players. This will eventually form the final squad of 16, and the LSEHA will hope to have a number of players vying for these spots after some strong individual performances this weekend.

Lower South East & Naracoorte Players & Officials U14 boys.
Tim Kuchel
Archie Aitkin
Will Ellis
Eric Deleland
Sebastian Ricketts
Thomas Shephard
Troy Horbury
Lachlan Dolphin
Toby Boord
Chris Hille
Coach – Julian Smith

U17 Boys
Nash Lobley
Shaunn Robinson
Blake McKee
Ben Goodridge
Jaali Breenan
Lachlan Ebert
Will Cameron
Pattrick Robinson
Cameron Taylor
Callum Carruthers-Murray
Buzz Brennan
Connor Butler
Henry Boord
Devlin Harpham
Coach – Kieran Brennan
Manager – Renae Cameron

U17 Girls
Mercedes Theobald
Abbey Hood
Lily Deleland
Tori Grosse
Shae Delaney
Arrabelle Searle
Brooklyn Hill
Chloe Boylan
Jess Gerritson
Mia Kleinberg
Amelie Nancarrow
Coach – Mat Boylan
Manager – Wendy Hill

U14 Girls
Chloe Nancarrow
Sophie Grosse
Eliza Beck
Taryn Hansen
Monique Shephard
Jorja Beck
Corrie Taylor
Sarrah Ryan
Jade Boylan
Eliza Withers
Grace Gale
Clare Hopgood
Lily McIntosh
Briony Pettingill
Coach – Megan Beck
Assistant Coach – Jo Hopgood
Manager – Justyna Grosse

MAKING THEIR MARK: (Above top) Lower South East Hockey Association & Narcoorte based Under 14 boys, girls & officials & (above bottom) Under 17 boys, girls & officials.