Premier League Hockey: Bathurst to host six games in the inaugural Indigenous round

That is the opinion of St Pat's star Mish Somers as she and players from across the Central West prepare for Premier League Hockey's inaugural Indigenous round this Saturday.

It's opinion that is shared by many and is reflected in the effort clubs have gone to in designing special playing strips to wear for the round which sees all games being played in Bathurst.

The shirts the Saints men and women will wear were designed with the assistance of Shona Kennedy.

It features a goanna which represents the region, circles to represent a meeting place, hands for friends and collaboration, plus feet for the journey to the meeting place.

As a point of difference between the two kits, there are secret women's business and secret men's business symbols for the respective teams.

"I think it's a really cool idea, a lot of other sports are doing it now, you look at the NRL and it's the Indigenous round as well. So the girls are pretty pumped, it's something different and the girls are pretty keen to get a new shirt as well," Somers said.

"We've got a couple of Indigenous girls like the Fultons and Lilli-Rai from Dubbo, so it will be really special for those girls and hopefully we can get around them and get a win. They are playing for their culture.

"It's massive, it's really good, the sport needs something like this. All the games in Bathurst, it should make for a great day of viewing and there will be some quality hockey for sure."

The Saints men will aiming to strengthen their hold on second place with another victory over Parkes, having won their previous encounters this season 3-1 and 6-2.

READ MORE: St Pat's pleased with win over Orange Wanderers but chase improvement

Somers and her team-mates met Ex-Services, an outfit which has an identical record thus far of two wins, a draw and three defeats.

"They are a bit of an unknown Ex-Servies, we haven't talked about them too much actually but they've had a bit of a mixed season. They've beaten some good sides and then had some maybe poor results against other sides," she said.

"But they've got the likes of Chloe Barrett and she's a very good hockey player and if she's on her day and the girls are firing around her, they are going to be very hard to beat."

Bathurst City's Kelsey Webb is also excited about what lies ahead on Saturday. She and her team-mates will take on local rivals in Souths in shirts which were designed by Fully Promoted Bathurst.

"I love the shirt, it's very pretty with the colours," she said.

"I think it's great for the league, it think it's great to represent the Aboriginal people."

City is yet to post a win this season, a 1-all draw against Orange United their best result thus far.

However, two of City's defeats have been by a single goal and Webb feels that the young squad have learned and improved along the way.

"I think we can do it this time, I really do. We've got the confidence and we are building every week," Webb said.

"Every week we think 'We could have got that goal, we could have got it but we didn't'. We have a very young side, but every week we are building in confidence.

"I think we are more focussing on our transfer at the back and making that stronger. We have also been doing a lot of work on our short corners and might have a bit of specialness in there - we'll have to wait and see."

While Webb talks about her team-mates improving, the 16-year-old has also worked hard on bettering her skill set this season.

It has seen her selected in the open Bathurst women's team and the 2021-22 Hockey NSW Athlete Acceleration Program girls squad.

READ MORE: Souths step up, but can't inflict Lithgow Panthers' first defeat

"I definitely have made an effort, like getting named in that [AAP] really hit me and made me want to go harder," she said.

"I've been working on my skills, my ball skills, that's mainly what I've been focussing on. When I did WRAS [Western Region Academy of Sport] they really worked with me and did one-on-one coaching, it was great."

With those representative selections has come more confidence for Webb. It means that she finds herself in the position of being one of the more experienced members of the City squad despite her age.

"I've been playing [PLH] for four years so I feel older than I am in the team, I'm not going to lie, because the other people around my age are pretty new to the team," she said.

"So I guess you can call me one of the older ones, but it does feel pretty weird."

The Souths-City derby is expected to be one of the highlights of a packed program of six games across three time slots.

READ MORE: Bathurst City and Orange United play out a 1-all draw

Before the action begins the atmosphere will be built with a Welcome to Country at 11.15am, followed by a performance of traditional dances by Orange-based dance group Dyiramaalang.

As well as players wearing special playing strips, the umpires will also have an Indigenous shirt designed by Kirsten Fitzpatrick.

Premier League Hockey vice-president Nicole Riley has been delighted with the way the concept has been embraced and hopes plenty of supporters will take in the action.

"We've been really keen to get an Indigenous round going and this year we've made it happen," she said.

"We're really excited, we can't wait to see everyone in their strips.

"The feedback from the clubs has been excellent, they're really keen for it. It may not always be in Bathurst but we've got the most turfs at the moment so it makes sense to have it here.

"Having all the teams here, it just makes it that bit more special. Everyone feels quite passionate about it."

Players, spectators and officials are reminded that they must sign/scan in when entering the Cooke Hockey Complex premises.

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