Country clash launches hockey league
The South West Strikers women get their State league season underway on Saturday with what is becoming a traditional opening gambit of Hockey WA's Promotion 1 league - a match against fellow country side Rockingham at Lark Hill at 2.30pm.
Twice appearing in the finals but faltering at the last hurdle has resulted in the Strikers missing out on promotion to the women's premier Melville Toyota League in recent seasons.
A couple of youngsters have moved on for studies and the like - including gun defender Anna Roberts, Zoe Williams-Foale, Justine Angel and Courtney Barton - but the squad is much the same as last season's finals finisher.
The exceptions are a big boost with seasoned Boyanup gun recruit Holly Hyder and a possible regular stint by the Robins' Marie Cross medallist, ace Penne York.
Assistant coach Anita Scott was excited about this year's prospects, "with the youngsters a year older and wiser together with the experienced players we had last year".
Scott also welcomed South West Academy of Sport coach Lawrie Tylor - a former men's classic league player and finals coach - to the Strikers' coaching panel.
A squad has been training under coach Sue Nettleton and Tylor for the start of its Promotion 1 quest.
The basic South West Strikers squad contains the experience of Hyder and Scott, Yorke, goalsneak Tahnee Gibbons, Meg Snelling, Sally Brown, Jenna Gmeiner, Carly Williamson, State under-18 star Tenielle Barbetti and sister Ashleigh, Lucy Barrett, Jackie Hutton and goalkeepers Amber Vivian and Jancke Habig.
