2006 Muswellbrook Show Under 21 Queensland Team Polocrosse Report.
After
the early withdrawal of Tom O’Neil, the inclusion of Matthew Gilbert was a welcome addition to our team. Then one week before we were due to leave, Nathan Preston was forced to withdraw due to horse injury and
Jamie Secombe was our new member. We all traveled down on Wednesday, with most
of us having over 1000 km’s to cover, we arrived in the afternoon. After
having a meeting and introduction session we realized that most of these players have never played together and I needed to
have an input towards the team positions. We ended up with all players thinking
they were 2’s or 3’s, so we had to seek out our lucky number 1’s.
This happened easily and in no time we were lining up and practicing. The
Official Welcome Dinner and Photo session was on that night and a slight disruption occurred when a certain player realized
his blazer had been carried on to Sydney on Greyhound. The photos will tell the
story, and the blazer arrived back the following day. Friday lunchtime saw our first game with the first chucka QLD 2 -- NSW
3 and the pace was to set a precedent for all chucks to follow. 2nd
chucka score went to QLD 5—NSW 4, 3rd chucka we lost Russell Owens’s horse, so changes had to be made. Thanks to Matthew Gilbert for letting Russell play his horse as a one for his last
chucka. Final score for this game being 15 – 11 NSW way.
Back to camp and discuss
some changes. Our spare horse was Sam Capewell’s, “Little Flame”
and Russell was only to happy to try her. What a combination, we left Russell as the goal shooter and he scored 5 goals in
their 1st chucka. Dean Russell then moved up to the one in the other section and was very equal to the task. Things were looking not too bad. 5th
chucka score was 14 – 12 NSW way but with this only the second game, we were running out of horse legs and combinations. Michael Kerr put up his hand to have a run at two and after trying very hard NSW took
the game 21 – 13.
The Chinese Banquet at Aberdeen
was looking very appealing. We mixed it with the NSW on the Pool Table and Social
Set, and a good social time was had by both teams. Next Team meeting was getting
serious as we weren’t coming home without one our way. We called on the
expertise of Matt Johnson, (Team Mentor, Goal Waiver and supporter) as we were already one horse down and a couple looking
a bit worse for wear, his “mentoring” was an inspiration to our players. With the game not beginning until 3-30pm Saturday afternoon, we arranged a tour of
“Strathmore Park” Thoroughbred Stud. NSW joined us in this tour.
Very interesting to see the other side of the thoroughbred industry and at the conclusion of the tour, Manager, Willie Toner
gave us a tip for the day and those that listened, won.
We paraded in the opening
ceremony, and then the 3rd game began. Our changes obviously confused
NSW as the 1st chucka QLD 3 – 1, 2nd Chucka 3 each, 3rd chucka NSW 4 – 2, 4th
chucka QLD 7- 0, which put QLD 15 – NSW 8. We must have relaxed a little
or NSW copped a bomb and they came out 5th chucka NSW 6 – 0. Score
sitting at 15-14 the last chucka seemed like the most important chucka of the weekend.
Trevor Domjahn’s horse was crawling from exhaustion so, Liam Capewell dropped back to the three and Russell Owens
stayed the One on our spare horse. Fingers crossed they could hold the 1 point lead.
6th chucka, 2 goals each. QLD won the final game 17-16.
I must give credit to the
team on the fitness and condition of their horses. The attitude and extra commitment
these players displayed is indicative of what Queenslanders can do when its against the Blues.
We may have lost the series but you are only as good as your last start and we came out on top. One last comment or
suggestion for any future teams going to this competition, please arrange an umpire to travel with you as all 3 games were
controlled by one person and I feel polocrosse at this level definitely requires
two umpires.
Thanks to the QPA and
players for my debut coaching job and what a pleasure it was to be involved with all players, supporters and Matthew Johnson(Mentor)
and Nicole Fraser (Chief Tail Plaiter, Chauffer)for the effort they added to our team.
Thank you all very much.
GAME ONE
QLD NSW
2
3
3
1
1
4
3
2
1
2
1
3
Result: NSW 15 – QLD 11
GAME TWO
QLD NSW
3
2
5
4
0
3
1
2
3
3
1
7
Result: NSW 21 –QLD
13
GAME THREE
QLD NSW
3
1
3
3
2
4
7
0
0
6
2
2
Result: QLD 17 – NSW
16
Report by Lyn Capewell, Charleville
