The Mudgee girls that attended were Hilary Guilfoyle, Emma Reid and Amy Ioane, and they joined a cohort of around forty girls that attended the trials.

As well as skill drills and games, the sessions on the tennis courts helped them prepare for the challenge of playing on an artificial turf.

Amy Ioane was selected in the Western PSSA team, which will be playing in the NSW State Championship in July. 

The next day a small group of Mudgee juniors then headed to Lithgow after an invitation was extended to join the town’s hockey session.

The players participated in a coaching session with the Lithgow District Under 13s coach, Paul Thurtell and the Lithgow juniors. 

The Mudgee players really enjoyed the opportunity to play hockey on the purpose built, water based turf field. 

“It’s so much easier than on grass,” one junior commented.

“The ball goes where you want it to.”

The general consensus was that the juniors were eager to see a similar style turf implemented in Mudgee for local competitions and for junior training.