Parkes Public School boys hockey team 2017 NSW PSSA champions

In 2015 the team placed third in the NSW Primary Schools Sports Association (PSSA) Boys Hockey Knockout, and they were runners-up in 2016.

With nine of the players in Year 6 this year, the team was determined to make 2017 their year.

And that they did on September 12 at the state final in Narellan, with Parkes Public emerging 2017 NSW PSSA champions.

The competition is run as a knockout series, played firstly across school sports divisions.

Parkes Public played and won against Parkes East, Middleton and Dubbo South schools to make the Western finals which they won in Lithgow against Wallerawang Primary School to progress to the state finals.

The team played Crookwell in the semi-final, winning 6-1 and heading into the final against Westlawn from Grafton.

“This was the team which defeated Parkes Public in the finals in 2016, so we knew they would be tough,” team manager Judy Elliott said.

Tough could be considered an understatement when the final score was just 1-0, with Parkes’ goal coming in the final three minutes of the match.

“Most of the boys knew that this would be a really tough day as they have played in state finals for the last four years,” Elliott said.

“The team consists of players from Year 3 to Year 6 – we have nine Year 6 boys who will be moving onto high school next year.

“Some of these boys have played since they were in Year 3, for most this was their third year in the team and their third experience in the finals.

“They were very excited but nervous.”

Coached by Graeme Tanswell for the last three years, the team began training for the knockout in Week 7 of Term 1, meeting every Monday for more than an hour.

Elliott said the atmosphere when Parkes won was “one of extreme excitement and relief”.

“When the goal was scored the boys in the dugout were ecstatic and the crowd of Parkes parents cheered loudly, encouraging the boys to refocus and defend their lead,” she said.

“At the end of the match the boys showed their sportsmanship congratulating Westlawn for their effort and a great match.”

According to Elliott, the finals match was a very even contest, with their opponents quite physical in their marking of the Parkes boys.

The match was played at a quick pace, with play going from end to end.

“Our defence matched their attack and vice versa, really there was nothing between the teams,” Elliott said.

“Our boys remained cool and focused, they listened well at half time and tried to let the ball do the work and pass it out wide as has been our game plan in all matches.”

In the last five or so minutes Westlawn worked their way into Parkes’ circle and putting a number of shots on goal, all saved by goalie – and new player to the team this year – Hunter Hawke.

“But our worst fears were then realised [when Westlawn] were awarded four short corners in a row,” Elliott said.

“Our goalie made repeated amazing saves allowing us a chance.”

After one such save, Parkes’ backs were able to send the ball to the mid field who released it to inner Liam Moody and striker Joseph Tanswell – who, Elliott said, no doubt had Coach Tanswell’s words ringing in their ears about passing the ball around the goalie.

The boys went back and forth between each other carrying the ball into Westlawn’s circle, offloading it to Flynn Thomson who slammed the ball past the goalkeeper.

“We then had to withstand some energetic and desperate attack by Westlawn to keep the lead,” Elliott said.

“Highlights in the games always occurred when the boys moved the ball around and played wide, as this lets the ball do the work and other teams find it difficult to defend.”

For Elliott, one of the side’s stand-out players for the finals goalkeeper Hawke.

“Hunter doesn’t play hockey but he’s an excellent cricket player and the boys on the team talked him into having a go at keeping this year,” she said.

“He listened really well to Coach Graeme and also to Shane Jones, who came along to many training runs to help Hunter learn some of the finer points of keeping.

“He hadn’t had a lot of work to do in the matches prior to Narellan as our very solid back line players, led by Kaid Lydford, have done an excellent job, so for Hunter to make so many saves in a very high pressure game is to be commended.

“I’m sure any hockey team in town would welcome him into their team.

“The greatest thing about Hunter’s experience was the excitement and joy he had at making such amazing saves and being such an important part of our team.”

Parkes Public is building quite the reputation for itself when it comes to the sport, having first won the knockout trophy in 2005.

The school won again in 2014 with coach Glenn Johnstone at the helm after being runners-up in 2013.

Joseph Tanswell and Ryan Dunford – who are member’s of this year’s winning team – were both in Year 3 in 2014 and were part of the winning team then.

”Parkes Public is extremely grateful to the parents of our students who support the team at every game and in ensuring all boys are at training every week,” Elliott said.

“This has been a major commitment and we know that the players appreciate the support.”