LGSHA men aim for top four finish

Lower Great Southern Hockey Association will take one of their most inexperienced men’s senior teams to the 2016 CBH Group Men’s Country Championships to be played in Perth this weekend.

Key senior player Tim Pyle will coach the men’s senior team that will compete in division 1 at the tournament played at the Perth Hockey Stadium.

Tim Pyle and his younger brother David Pyle along with Kieran Howie and State representative Xander Burcham will be crucial to their side’s chances of improving on last year’s fifth place finish.

The new six-team division 1 format will see each side play each other once before a grand final between the two highest-ranked sides.

The LGSHA has a number of younger players getting their first taste of men’s country championship hockey but Pyle was optimistic about their chances.

“We haven’t got a strong team, certainly not as strong as the last couple of years,” Pyle said.

“But we are aiming for top four if we can win a couple of games.

“We have a few young guys like Brett Stevens who is up for a big tournament, Jack Stevens and Justin Hannig as well.”

Star Reece Curwen is a chance to play some games across the three days while Burcham, Jack Stevens, Sam Williamson and Mitch Bradbury all live in Perth but are eligible.

The LGSHA will face Bunbury and Geraldton on Saturday before games against Greater Wheatbelt and Peel on Sunday and the final pool match is on Monday against Upper Great Southern.

“The first day is always crucial,” Pyle said.

“If we are going to do all right they are going to be the teams we need to do well against and then you can afford to drop a game to one of the better teams later on.

“The format makes it tougher for us but top four would be good.”

LGSHA Men’s Squad: Tim Pyle, David Pyle, Kieran Howie, Hudson Field, Trevor Gray, Justin Hannig, Brett Stevens, Nathan Diamond, Heath Cremasco, Tom Sherrington, Xander Burcham, Jack Stevens, Sam Williamson, Mitch Bradbury, Reece Curwen.