Toowoomba prepares for state title campaign

HOCKEY: Toowoomba’s U15s teams are gearing up for their respective state championship tilts from tomorrow.

Two boys teams will head to Warwick while a pair of girls sides will make the trip to Gladstone for the four-day carnivals.

For the U15s boys, they’re hoping to improve on a seventh-placed finish at last year’s event on the Sunshine Coast, something that coach Steve Hawthorne is quietly confident of achieving.

He said the previous experience would bode well for the side, as would welcoming a few players from last year’s U13s state champion side.

“We’re quietly confident in our abilities,” Hawthorne said.

“We have a large portion of quality players in their second year, and that experience last year will help them.”

The side will also feature an array of players with current and previous Queensland experience, something that will play into the hands of Toowoomba, according to Hawthorne.

“There are a number of reps in the side, 10 of the 16 players have represented Queensland at some stage,” he said.

“They have had plenty of experience in these carnival-type settings..”

Perhaps the thing most in the favour of the young squad is the chemistry they’ve been able to build.

“The guys are well combined, it’s like another club team,” he said.

“They’ve spent so much time training, travelling and going away together, that it is like they’re another club team.

“We treat it like that. We believe they all play for Toowoomba as their club.

“It’s good for the boys because the bond they’ve been able to form as a group is fantastic.

The side starts its campaign against Sunshine Coast, before a game against Rockhampton.

Finals take place on Wednesday.