EXCITEMENT is brewing in the Bathurst High School’s Bill Turner Trophy camp as the girls side prepare to play in the national competition’s round of 16 this Friday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bathurst has the chance to enter the quarter-finals of the girls under 15s tournament when they travel to face Holy Spirit College Bellambi.
The Bellambi school were runners-up in the tournament just three years ago while the Bathurst girls are trying to emulate the success of their 2000 team who made it to the semi-finals.
Bathurst won their place in the round of 16 by taking a 1-0 win in the Western region play-off against Mudgee.
Coach Heidi Waldron is hopeful her Bathurst girls will be buoyed by the win which came under plenty of pressure.
“That was a stressful game going up against the state goalkeeper so that made our shots a lot harder. We had to go to a golden goal drop off,” she said.
“It was a great experience for our team because we’ve got a mix of girls who are very experienced but some who only play at school level.
“We’ve got players who have been in the NSW institute, the Mariners and some strong club players. I’m really happy with how they’ve played and how they’ve helped our less experienced players out.”
Holy Spirit College will undoubtedly be a tough opponent, particularly with home support, but Waldron and Bathurst High are focused on playing their own game.
With an aggressive approach to their defence Bathurst High’s work rate off the ball could be a game changer.
“There’s a bit of excitement around knowing that its the final 16 but we’re trying to put that aside and just play our game and see how we go,” Waldron said.
“We like to push forward with our triangle in the midfield. We push those number nines quite high because we have some fast strikers and there’s some versatile backs as well.
“That pressure moving forward is the style that works best for us.”
RELATED:
Several experienced members of the under 15s Bathurst High team also enjoyed recent play time for their school in the open age Puma Trophy tournament.
The top four schools in the trophy will contest the National Finals Series to be held at Speers Point over September 4 and 5.
BATHURST HIGH SCHOOL UNDER 15S: Menzi White ©, Charli Siversten, Samantha Clarke, Hannah Peard, Charlotte Steele, Joely Anderson, Zoe Peters, Miranda Campbell, Carlee Edwards, Olivia Clemens, Molly Mashmann, Kate Duffy, Tayla Slattery, Aaliyah Blenman, Zoey Wade, Kacey Fox
Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
