Defence will be key for the Maitland Rams on Saturday if they are to take out the Newcastle District Hockey Association third grade major premiership, according to team stalwart Troy Martin.
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The experienced campaigner and club president reckons that will the difference between winning and losing the 2014 decider against Souths at Newcastle International Hockey Centre.
“It will probably come down to defence,” Martin said.
“We are good at scoring goals and we were well in front of the competition this season, but there’s no use scoring four if they score five.”
Maitland haven’t beaten Souths in their two encounters this season and Martin said age was the biggest difference between the sides heading into the grand final.
“We have plenty of experience there but they are a pretty young team,” Martin said.
“The average age is a bit different.”
The Rams have the likes of Martin, first grade coach Nathan Baker, Glen Meehan, Michael Gallagher and Nathan Packham, who have played in higher grade grand finals previously.
The Rams, who beat minor premiers Port Stephens 5-2 in the major semi-final a fortnight ago to qualify for the decider, will be without teenager Brendan Crouch (groin) while Darrel Miller (finger) will undergo a fitness test on Friday.
The third grade showdown will be played at 11.30am.
In the top grades perennial heavyweights Norths and Souths will do battle in the men’s grand final while Regals and Souths clash in the women’s decider.
