ILLAWARRA HOCKEY
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With their star clubman Tristan White chasing gold for Australia in Glasgow, University’s best players have their own representative agenda this weekend.
Captain Heath Ogilvy will be among four Uni players chasing NSW selection for this season’s Australia Hockey League squad at the trials in Sydney.
Blake Govers and Jack Hayes, from Uni’s arch-rivals Albion Park, will also be pressing for a place in the Waratahs team for the AHL series in October.
A national indoor champion, among a lengthy list of representative achievements, Ogilvie is cautious about his selection chances, with a number of NSW under 21 players ready to stake their claim.
The NSW under 21s claims the national title with a thumping 7-2 win over Victoria in the final.
Govers starred in the title romp, scoring three goals.
‘‘I’m 50-50 about selection,’’ Ogilvie said.
‘‘There’s certainly going to be a number of 21s guys who are starting to step up and push for AHL selection, but I’d certainly like to be part of it again.’’
Govers and Heath’s brother Flynn are the top of a lengthy list of Illawarra talent on the radar of Australian hockey selectors.
With the Commonwealth Games under way this week, Govers’ brother Kieran will spearhead the Kookaburras charge for gold in Glasgow, after winning the World Cup earlier this year.
University and Mittagong agreed to shift their Illawarra hockey showdown from Sunday to Thursday night.
Closing in on the minor premiership, claiming victory in their trip to the southern highlands would be an important step towards clinching top spot.
‘‘We’ve beaten them at home, but everyone has found it pretty tough winning up there in Mittagong,’’ Ogilvie said.
‘‘I’m sure it will be a cold night and they’ll be tough to beat.’’
The students claimed a 4-2 victory over Robertson, who are an emerging force in the competition last weekend.
Robertson face the second leg of an Illawarra hockey doomsday double when they clash with Albion Park on Sunday at Croome Road.
In the other round 17 game, Dapto will chase their first win of the season against third-placed Wests.