After earning promotion back into the open women's state championships top division last year, Tamworth 1s coach Greg Doolan lauded the potential of his young side.
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At Bathurst on the weekend they reiterated that potential, finishing fifth.
It was a great result Doolan said, and has prompted him to readjust his expectations.
"My expectations after this year with the squad are a lot higher," he said.
"I thought it would take a few years to crack semi-finals."
On what they showed on the weekend, with another years experience behind them, he is optimistic they can get there sooner than that.
"It was a massively positive weekend," Doolan said.
He commended the attitude, effort and culture of the team, and remarked how the younger players in the side really grew in confidence from the first game to the last.
"Eight out of the 14 were new to playing at this level," he said.
They finished their campaign with a 2-all draw with Bathurst, Em Chaffey scoring both of Tamworth goals.
She slotted both in the third quarter to put Tamworth ahead after they had trailed 1-nil at half-time.
Their finals hopes had been dashed on the first day with losses to North West Sydney (4-nil) and Nepean (1-nil). The latter was a game, Doolan lamented, they should have won.
They had more of the ball and the territory, just a couple of back-to-back mistakes cost them a goal.
But they bounced back on Sunday to beat Central Coast and Sydney East 2-nil.
Doolan said they were well lead by Hockeyroo Kate Jenner and Kimmy McLean.
He was also really impressed by Lori Edgar.
"She was one of the biggest surprise packets. She played out of her skin," he said.
"She was probably the biggest improver."
Tanisha Donnelly wasn't far behind, he said.
It was also a strong weekend from the 2's team. Playing in Division 3, they made it through to the semi-finals, going down to Illawarra South Coast (2) 3-nil.
New England were meanwhile beaten by Orange 4-2 in the Division 2 final.
