SOCCER
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DESPITE having just missed out on a finals berth with his Bathurst '75 State League Division Two side, coach Mark Rooke is still making plans on how to win a Football NSW premiership.
It is his Western NSW Mariners under 15 Super Youth League side which is now his sole focus and tomorrow at Cook Park they will face Sydney University in the qualifying semi-final.
However, Rooke knows he can use '75s State League exit as a way to motivate himself and his young Mariners.
"You always want your season to go as long as you can, the Mariners can learn a lot from what happened to '75 last week," the coach explained.
"From a personal point of view, it'd be really nice to go through the finals and finish on a high with this young team after the disappointment of last week, they've played really well throughout the season and have done a great job to finish in second place."
Rooke's Mariners FC side has had to deal with injuries and suspensions throughout the season, but they head into the first week of finals with a clean bill of health.
However, their opponents Sydney University have had a solid season thus far, finishing just a point behind Mariners FC in third and equal on goal difference.
They present a significant hurdle even to a full strength Western side.
Up until recently the Mariners had not beaten Sydney University, going down 2-1 in round seven at Alec Lamberton Field.
However, the tables turned in round 18, when the boys from the west got their first ever youth league victory against the university team.
Rooke is now hoping they can continue their good form against their former bogey team.
"University are a very physical team with a couple of very quick boys up front, but they are definitely beatable as we now know," the coach said.
"We've recognised some weaknesses, their back four and set piece can both be a little vulnerable, and we'll be working hard on these areas at training."
For many of the Mariners players, this will be their first time in the finals and the message from their coach is to make the most of it.
"The most important thing is to go out there and have fun, playing in finals is always memorable, win, lose or draw," Rooke said.
The under 14s (elimination semi-final) and 18s Mariners (qualifying semi-final) also get their finals campaigns underway this weekend against Macarthur Rams and Northern Tigers respectively. Both teams are confident of going all the way after finishing in the top four of their competitions.
The under 15s' qualifying semi-final kicks off against Sydney University at Cook Park tomorrow at 11.45am.
WESTERN NSW MARINERS UNDER 15s: 1 Jack Sargeant, 2 Justin Pickering, 3 Kyle Aubin, 4 Jayden Barber, 5 Josh Sargent, 6 Mitchell Rooke, 8 Preston Parker, 9 Lachlan Thomas, 10 Jeremy Judge, 11 Callum Christie, 15 Kenneth James, 16 Sam Bellamy, 17 Edward Kweka.