Washout fails to slow Swifts
ONLY three minutes and 40 seconds of play was possible before defending premiers Swifts had their latest A-grade match washed out on Saturday night.
But senior player Bridget McLean remained upbeat about her team's progress under new coach Damien Goodwin.
"He's good. His drills are really high intensity," McLean said.
"He's good value as a person.
"He's fitted into the group really well. He's picked up on personalities and how we all work.
"Everyone seems pretty happy with the way we're progressing."
McLean knew Goodwin as a Wests' A-grade player when she was a Magpie defender before she joined Swifts three years ago.
McLean said another positive for the team this season was having Dulane "Dules" Carson returning after some time off following knee surgery.
Carson has slotted into the halfline, bringing added experience along with key recruit Courtney Litzow.
"We've just got to get used to some of the new girls," McLean said, having played in every game this season.
"We've got a pretty good little group."
Swifts are undefeated after beating Thistles 8-2, Bellbowrie 4-1, Norths 5-1 and having a 1-1 draw with Hancocks.
Saturday night's match at the Ipswich Hockey Complex was against Toowoomba club side Newtown in the second week of the intercity competition. However, steady rain before the encounter quickly made conditions unplayable.
"The field was in a pretty poor condition when we got out there after the men's game and the rain just got heavier and heavier," she said.
McLean's focus now turns to Ipswich this weekend where she's co-captain of the women's side contesting the state open championships in Brisbane.
Although Ipswich has a young side, McLean is backing her team to challenge strongly over the long weekend.
"We had a trial match and they (the girls) are not short of ticker," McLean said. "They'll run and put the effort in.
"It's going to be a learning curve for a few of them stepping up into the opens and playing with some more physical girls.
"I know they are a bit younger but certainly not less skilful than any other team that we've had in the last couple of years."
McLean, 26, continues to enjoy her club and representative hockey after more than a decade of A-grade experience.
"Fitting it in with the pub is a bit of a challenge," the Coronation Hotel co-owner said.
"But it (hockey) is good to go out and see all the girls and get that competitive streak out again."
In other A-grade women's matches over the weekend, Hancocks beat Bellbowrie 11-0, Thistles downed Past High (Toowoomba) 3-1 and Norths held out Rangeville (Toowoomba) 2-1.
