Labrador’s still not satisfied with start
Tigerstix aiming for much more
LABRADOR coach Darren Fowler knows that his side’s work is far from over despite a ravaging start to the Brisbane Hockey League season,
A third of the way through the season, the Tigerstix sit second on the league ladder with a 5-1 record however Fowler said that a good start to the season wouldn’t satisfy his men.
“We set ourselves a goal at the start of the season that we wanted to play in the grand final,” he said.
“We’ve never played in the Memorial Cup final (mid-season final match between first and second placed sides on ladder) and we’re on track to do that at the moment.”
Despite being one of the Brisbane Hockey League’s most consistent performers since entering the league in 2007, Fowler believes that his side is still growing and improving each year as they chase their maiden premiership.
“We have been a lot more consistent this year,” he said.
“This year our good games are great but our poorer games are still a good standard.”
Fowler also believes some strong individual performances are behind the team’s blistering start.
“Our whole squad is playing really well which makes it tough for selection,” he said.
“We have some really good players playing in our second team.”
Today the Tigerstix face their biggest test yet with a top-of-the-table clash against the Eastern Suburbs who are yet to lose a game this season.
Labrador will again be without captain Joe Reardon and Kookaburra Dylan Wotherspoon with the former on his honeymoon and the latter battling injury.
“It’s going to be a really tough challenge,” said Fowler.
“I’d be lying if I said that it wasn’t a bigger game than normal.
“They are the benchmark so I think there will only be one goal in it by the end.
“Both teams are really good on the park so if we can minimise our errors and capitalise on theirs then I think we can get on top.”
Today’s match kicks off at 4pm at the Gold Coast Hockey Centre.
In the local Division 1 women’s league, the ladder leading Roosters will do battle with Capri while Mudgeeraba will still be searching for their first win of the campaign when they come up against Burleigh tomorrow.
In the men’s competition, Kingscliff and Casuarina face off this afternoon followed by Labrador against Burleigh and the Roosters facing Capri tomorrow.
THIS YEAR OUR GOOD GAMES ARE GREAT BUT OUR POORER GAMES ARE STILL A GOOD STANDARD
LABRADOR COACH DARREN FOWLER