LGSHA 2024: Strong women’s division one team gear up for shot at CBH Group Women’s Country Championships title

Lower Great Southern Hockey Association women’s division one side must contend with limited preparation as they head to Perth to chase country week glory this weekend. Coach Darren Parkes conceded they have been challenged by a lack of preparation in the lead-up for the CBH Group Women’s Country Championships but believed his side boasted talent that can go the distance. “We haven’t had the best lead-up with turf time and availability of the turf but we got a couple of training sessions in so hopefully we can go away with a strong team that clicks and works together,” he said. “To take it out it’d be awesome and we do have the team to do it, and if the girls click and play together and really work as a team, we will. “We’ll have a very good crack at it but to come away with the championship, that’d be the cherry on top.” Mt Barker’s Zali Spencer, Spencer Park’s Anna Moffat and Manypeaks’ Meg Slattery are new additions to the side who Parkes hopes can spur them on to a triumphant campaign. “The lead-up hasn’t really been the best but the experience of the girls and some of the new girls coming in is a good boost as well,” Parkes said. “So it’ll be interesting to see, and exciting to see what they can do. “Zali (Spencer) is coming back into the team which is good, she has been away a couple of years now. “A little bit of advantage down here (is) that you play everyone every three weeks so you know what each other are doing down here so it is good in terms of that.” LGSHA finished third at last year’s country championships and will kickstart their tournament against Bunbury on Friday morning before facing Geraldton in the afternoon. They begin their Saturday games by locking horns with counterparts Upper Great Southern Hockey Association followed by Eastern Goldfields before the finals on Sunday. The LGSHA will also send a division five team and masters division two side to the championships. Lower Great Southern Hockey Association Women’s Division One Team Bonnie Crook (GK), Annie Judd, Tallulah Gouldthorp, Anna Moffat (Spencer Park), Casey Gabriel, Charlotte Powis, Georgetta Powis, Beck Gallimore, Felicty Ericsson, Michelle Ericcson (North Albany), Madelyne Tomlinson, Meg Slattery (Manypeaks), Zali Spencer, Laura Archer (Mt Barker)