Bosco Hockey Annual Report Season 2020
In what has been a unique year, Bosco Hockey Club has finished the winter hockey season with a premiership and an equal third place for the two teams that represented the Club in 2020.
Before a whistle was blown in 2020, it became clear that we would not have the numbers to field junior teams in the Under 9, 11 and 13 age groups. While this was and remains disappointing, we were able to find a home for all remaining players with other Clubs and each of those players has performed well in 2020.
For the juniors that we did have, we formed an Under 15 team, made up of players aged from 10 to 15. We also were looking good to have two senior women’s teams, our traditional participants at Moorebank and a second team playing for the first time in the Sydney South Saturday afternoon competition.
And then, Covid-19 shut everything down.
By the time we were ready to re-confirm the season and prepare to play, we had lost a couple of junior team members and a whole senior women’s team. Those that remained prepared for the season with some training runs and then, finally, the season commenced in June.
The Junior competition was re-branded open high school, pitting our team against some much older players. This had no effect on the plucky juniors, who turned up week after wet week (seriously, 6 or 7 wet games out of 11 for the season on a Friday night!) and played an exciting brand of hockey that had most other teams searching for answers. The Under 18 Tartans and Sharks teams both provided stiff competition, and both had wins over Bosco during the season.
At the end of the competition rounds, Bosco sat in second place, pitting us against the Under 18 Tartans team in the Junior First Grade Grand Final. That match was as hard a game of junior hockey and I have seen for some time and for a long period it looked as though the game may go to extra time. But, from nowhere, Bosco scored two goals in the space of three minutes to get the better of the Tartans team. We finished the match 2-0 winners and lifted the Junior First Grade trophy for the first time since 2009.
Congratulations to all team members – Asen, Jami, Taylor, Isaak, Keira, Lyla, Jade, Oisin, Haylee, Lauren, Georgia, Jayden and Lili and to coach Luke Mecham for an outstanding year and for making the Club and your families very proud of you.
In the senior competition, what a pleasant surprise package 2020 turned out to be!
With a late start and short season commencing at Greenhills, Bosco Hockey Club managed to draw more than enough interest from our lovely senior players - and ended up with a fantastic mix of ladies who really enjoyed a run on a Saturday afternoon.
Whilst we were often short on the field, our Open team were always ready to play their best, and surprisingly beat the minor premiers in Round 7.
However, 2020 was all about strong teamwork, having some fun and playing for our beloved Bosco Club – Blue and White.
The best part of the season was an annual catchup at our captain’s residence. Everyone showed up with a plate of goodies and enjoyed a glass of champagne or two to celebrate the end of season.
Well done to our award recipients:
- Deb Vrachas (Player of the Year
- Emma Penrose (Most Improved)
- Jacinta Davidson-Bunch (Highest Goal Scorer)
- Haylee McNally (Most Consistent)
- Sarah Martin (Club Service Award of 17 years)
Thank you to everyone who played this year and we truly hope you are available to return for some more fun in 2021.
Although we can’t claim any credit for it, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the combined Sharks/Bosco team that entered the SEHA Premier League competition and promptly won it. That was an outstanding effort by a mostly Under 21 aged team.
As with any season, Clubs and competitions cannot run without the band of volunteers that manage them. For the Club, many thanks to Luke and Melissa Mecham for coaching and managing the Junior team, and Nicola McNally and Jasmine Davidson-Bunch for managing the senior team. Thanks too to our long serving Treasurer Gary Tucker and for general advice and administration, Lawrie Daly.
From the Association, we are very thankful to Janice Tully, Carol Harris and Bridget Crowley for their outstanding work in managing the competition side of the Association and to Lyn Smith, Scott Tully, Justine Maroney and Donna Eagleton who all give up their time to manage specific areas of the Association’s functions, the Bosco Club is very thankful for your ongoing involvement.
Congratulations to all Clubs and participants on making a challenging 2020 a success and best of luck to each and all of you for 2021.
Michael Mecham
President – Bosco Hockey Club
