Lower South East Hockey and Naracoorte Hockey association players recently competed in the first ever zone carnival held by Hockey SA.
The competition was a major revamp to the way state sides are selected in South Australia and with Adelaide City split into three zones and two regional zones, it was a five team round robin style tournament which saw local teams compete against the state’s top Under 14 and Under 17 hockey players.
The local players combined with Riverland peers to play under the South Eastern Eagles banner, competing against the Western Pirates, North West Rangers, Southern Storm and the Eastern Saints.
The teams were selected following events held during the season in Naracoorte and Berri, where teams from each region competed against each other to gain selection in the final side to play at the championships.
All Eagles sides found the going difficult against the city sides, with the Under 14 girls the only side to claim a win against a metro counterpart, beating the Southern Storm 2-1 on the final day in a gutsy performance.
The Under 17 girls and Under 17 boys defeated fellow country zone side Rangers for their win of the weekend, with the Under 14 boys competitive in all games to come away with a draw.
With the standard of hockey extremely high throughout the weekend, it was pleasing for coaching staff to see the up-and-coming local talent mixing it with the best junior players and being highly competitive.
From this tournament, athletes will be selected for state squad selection, which will consist of about 35 players.
This will eventually form the final squad of 16 and the Lower South East Hockey Association will look to have a number of players vying for these spots after some strong individual performances during the event.
Lower South East and Naracoorte players and officials: U14 boys: Tim Kuchel, Archie Aitkin, Will Ellis, Eric Deleland, Sebastian Ricketts, Thomas Shephard, Troy Horbury, Lachlan Dolphin, Toby Boord, Chris Hille and 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 and 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 and 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 and manager Justyna Grosse.
