HOCKEY
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University will be out to halt the impressive form of Mittagong after the Southern Highlands club handed Dapto a 7-0 drubbing.
After pulling off one of the season's biggest upsets in a 3-2 defeat of Albion Park in round four, Mittagong proved their performance at Welby Hockey Centre was no fluke with a second successive win.
The result leaves them tied for third with perennial finalists Wests on the First Grade ladder, with an enormous match against University this weekend.
The Students continued their hot scoring run with a 10-4 triumph over Robertson in round five and will be out to retain their table lead when they travel to the Southern Highlands.
Mittagong coach Graham Isedale played down his side's chances against the competition powerhouse, but was expecting his squad to be up for a fight.
"I am confident it will be close, up here [in Mittagong] and the way we are playing," Isedale said.
"Closer than our last round, at least, where we got beaten 10-0. But I think everyone will be doing a lot [of work] this week."
Isedale is expecting all hands on deck again on Sunday and attributed Mittagong's improved performance this year to a sense of continuity.
"We seem to be playing a bit better this season. We have had a full team the past couple of weeks and hopefully again this weekend against Uni, so that is probably what is going right," Isedale said.
"Our younger guys are getting stronger and our older guys are coming on pretty well.
"You have to have those guys clicking.
"The older guys use their head and the younger ones do all the running. That is how our team seems to work."
In other matches, Dapto meet Wests and Albion Park play host to Robertson after drawing 2-2 with Wests in round five.
Albion Park will miss Bede Gillard, out with a broken collarbone.
In women's hockey, University and Albion Park shared the spoils in a 3-3 top-of-the-table draw.
Gerringong defeated Wests Illawarra 1-0 to claim first place on the ladder.
Figtree Unanderra kept Fairy Meadow winless with a 1-0 win, while Railways Greys beat Jamberoo 3-2.
In representative hockey, Illawarra will send two teams to this weekend's under-18 State Championships in Newcastle.