Grafton Hockey Association recently had two talented young players compete in the Under 15 National Championships held in Darwin.

Zayden Third was selected in the Boys State team, who finished just out of the medals in 4^th position. Shanae Crispin played in the Girls State team, who came away from the competition with a bronze medal. Both players gained valuable experiences both on and off the pitch and have returned in great playing form for their local teams.

In Under 21 news, after competing strongly in the recent Australian Under 21 Championships, Jake Lambeth and Rhys Cropper have been rewarded with selection in the Men’s Australian Junior squad (the Burras). The Burras will compete in a European tour mid-year, with the Junior World Cup to be played in Malaysia at the end of the year. Rhys and Jake will be working hard to secure a place in the final team, with rigorous training schedules, and playing for Royals in the local competition, as well as travelling to play in the Queensland competition each weekend.

Grafton Hockey Association is very pleased to be entering a team in the Under 18 Boys State Championships to be held in Illawarra this weekend. GHA has been unable to field a team for this age group since 2019, with COVID restrictions preventing competition in 2020, and a drop in player numbers in 2021-22. Grafton will hope to compete strongly in Div 3, and with most players still eligible for under 18s in 2024, they will be working to develop the side for a return to a higher division in coming years. For local hockey buffs keen to follow the team, there should be some games streamed through Live Hockey, with free membership for current registered players.

Angie Day