The Sydney North Women's Hockey Association has completed its competition rounds, and SU has had a good run again.

SU 4s came second in A Division, and will play arch-rivals Mirrabooka in the major semi. Unfortunately SU 5s and SU 6s finished out of the semis, but did well.

In B Division the U18/1s were pushed down to third in the final round, so they meet Ryde 5s in the minor semi. SU7s finished 7th but in the middle of a group of 6 teams which were separated by just 4 points. The Rollers were mature and gracious as they occupied an unusual end of the table. 

In C Division the U18/2s were just one point out of the semis: a win rather than a draw in the last round would have seen them come 4th. SU 8s had a good time but did not make the semis.

Good luck to 4s and the U18/1s in the coming weeks. 

SUHC's 1st and 2nd grade women's teams have both made it to the semis next Sunday (5 September) at Olympic. Our 3rds (ML3) just missed out at the end. being in the tp 5 teams in the top 3 grades of women's hockey in Sydney is a well-earned and massive endorsement for the club.

Our 2nds play in ML2 and have gone through the season unbeaten. They will now play Macarthur in the semis at 1pm on Sunday. They have drawn with Macarthur twice this year, so it will be a tough game. 

Our 1st grade team has made the semis for the first time ever in ML1. SU finished in 4th and will play Esquires at 4:30pm on Sunday (NB this is a new, changed time). SU has beaten Esquires in both encounters so far this year, but it will also be a tough game.

Make it easier for the players - go to Olymic and support them loudly!

The SUHC Gallery Page has some images fom their last games - thanks Liam.

Carly is full steam into organising Preso Night for 2010 and it's shaping up to be another great night. Please save the date, Saturday 23 October at the Grandstand, Sydney Uni. It's slightly later than usual but this will accommodate several state indoor champs in early October that a lot of our players will be at. 

Preso Night is a fantastic night to share the memories of the season that has been and to celebrate our successes (on and off the pitch!?) in 2010. There are prizes for club person of the year, social person of the year, best and fairest, valued contribution, best webmaster and many more...

Finals are only weeks away and SU is looking good, particularly on the women's side. Then men are strong in Div 1, Div 2.2 and Div 4 on the men's side. Our Juniors and Vets are smashing it so SU continues to go from strength to strength. Mens 1sts may not make the final four but look like having their best year in recent memory...although 1980 was a good show. 

Save the date and start saving the money - which should be even less than last year.

Preso Night is not to be missed. If you need inspiration think of 2009 and remember Georgia's dress, Khev's youtube video link up, Zanzi's dancefloor, Georgia's dress, Dan Paech and Remo's trophy cabinet (and vote, so the last of those things doesn't happen again!)

Andy Andy Elton

Club Captain 2010

Just over a month of the season left, and already there are those little doubts. What will happen to your mates, your weight, your social life and your chat in the off-season? 

Not a worry at all. Lize has the answer..play indoor hockey with SUHC! The season starts soon and we have teams that cater for everyone, including:

Sydney Lions - Men's Premier
Sydney Lionesses - Women's Premier
Sydney Tigers - Men's A
Sydney Tigresses - Women's A
Sydney Ligers - Men's B
Sydney Mixed Cats - Mixed

Most competitions go from September through to early December, with some next year as well. They are all played at various indoor centres throughout Sydney. Coopers remains open for business, too

Contact Eliza Grant (e.grant@sport.usyd.edu.au) by Friday 27th August to be sure of a spot. 

4ths drew 2-2 with UTS on 22 August 

It has been a long race for the Fours. We burst out of the blocks with a blistering start but then the holiday period, Sports Lived departures (Cindy and Soph, it's been emotional..), injuries/sickness and the numerous Kate "Ralph #5" Walker stories began to take their toll. But we have stayed resilient, and despite a string of draws find ourselves sitting in second place. As defending champions, and as the sole Sydney Uni representatives of Sydney North comp progressing into the finals, this is our time to step up (cue Rocky intro music).

So match report time, Sydney Uni were facing 3rd placed uni rivals UTS (do I hear chants of "S" "L" echoing in the background?). The match didn't start so great with the opposition getting in with an apt sledge on Elle "I'll take the stroke" Kershaw.

But Hannah "Refs love me" Coffey soon shut them up carving up the opposition on the left side and putting one on the board. BAM! (Nat might have poached this one but I'm giving it to Hannah). Unfortunately UTS pegged one back with a quick play of the ball outside the D.

Coach "Coachmaster" Scott came up with something constructive at half time. Then we came up with our most perfect short corner this season yet. Oooh yeah. This was as I saw it from the other side of halfway (and I used to wear glasses). Slick Primrose push out, succinct Nat "I don't hit forestick" Stewart trap, Georgie "Miranda" sneaky slip left,  Captain Ange slap to far post, Anna (welcome back!) deft deflection in. Ah... satisfying thud into the backboard. Sweeet.

Perhaps unlucky, perhaps just not quite skilled enough, UTS snuck another one past our super goalie Fi "Ready!!" Jamison. Bugger. We played pretty well in patches and with our extra training (aren't we professional), we are shaping up for finals. Next week is our final round match with pressure on to win and retain our spot in the major semi, let's bring it Fours!!

WA

SU 1sts beat Esquires 3-2 on 2 JUly

SU 1sts went into the 3rd vs 4th match against long-time rivals Esquires missing 5 regular first graders. They included our top goal scorer, German international  Silky, whose skills would be sorely missed against a team which has conceded only five goals in 11 matches, the lowest of any Premier 1 team.  We were also missing heroic co-captain, Louie as well as our German rock and our two  talented young strikers, Fi and Scriven. There was a silver lining, though: former Hockeyroo Bianca Netzler, who played a whopping 92 matches for Australia, has come out of retirement recently and made her debut for the Blue and Gold.

The task ahead of us was steep. Outright third on the table was up for grabs, and after an intense (and long) warm up we definitely hit the ground running and dominated the early parts of the match. Uni dominance continued throughout the first half but numerous short corners and shots missed, and at half time the nil all score line was probably flattering for Esquires. Thankfully, we maintained our focus and scored early in the second half. But after not conceding a single short in the first half, Esquires scored soon after our goal with a low flick from a short . It was 1-1 in a game Esquires shouldn't even be in. Game on! But then we conceded another short soon after and Esquires scored with another low flick to take the lead 2-1.

After dominating so much of possession and territory we were now trailing late into the match.

Thankfully the Arrows combination of Bianca and Hollie combined to give us a little bit more life for a late rally, and through some more hard work from our forwards we managed to pin the score back to 2-2 with under five minutes to play. A draw was not enough. We stepped up a gear and went all out for the win in the final minutes. Again who else would prove the difference, but Hollie received a ball deep in the pocket and worked a well earned short corner with a minute and half on the clock. A well rehearsed short corner, and Uni took what was a well deserved lead into the final minute of play. Again some cool, calm and collected heads at the back held possession and ensured a win. Final score 3-2. SU had overtaken Esquires to take 3rd place on the table.

Goals: Jess Blake, Maya, Cara
B&F: Hollie 3, Bianca 2, Jess Blake 1

LD

The training schedule for the women's teams at SUHC for 2010 is as follows:

NOTE : Updated times for Monday Feb 15th and 22nd - Lower Grade Women's Training ie for Women's 4th-8th grades will run from 7:30pm-8:30pm.

Normal training schedule will resume from 1 March.

Monday:
4th & 5th Grade 6:30pm-7:30pm at Concord
6th - 8th Grade  7:30pm-8:30pm at Concord

Wednesday:
EAP Session* 9:30pm-10:30pm at Concord (*attendees to be invited separately)
Lower Grade Skills** 9:30pm -10:30pm at Concord (commencing when the season starts: Harriet will confirm dates).

Thursday: 
3rd Grade: 8:30pm-9:30pm at Kyeemagh
Premier Squad; 8:30pm-10:30pm at Kyeemagh
Club Fitness: 7pm meet at The Square, Sydney Uni

Please contact your VP Harriet or Captain Andy Andy if you have any questions.

From 19 April women's 8th grade will train in the 6.30pm timeslot at Concord whilst 5th grade women move to the 9.30pm slot on Wednesday at Concord.

Please email your coaches or Harriet (Women's VP) if you have any questions.