Uppers hockey stars Lucy Ward and Liam Sweeney to share turf for WA Country at national championships in NSW

Narrogin hockey stars Lucy Ward and Liam Sweeney will represent the Upper Great Southern Hockey Association as WA start their campaign at the Hockey Australia Country Championships this weekend. Sweeney has played in WA Country colours before while Ward will be making her debut in the women’s side. The pair will travel to Goulburn in New South Wales this week to compete for the WA State Country teams from August 3-10, after they were selected from strong performances at the 2024 Hockey WA Country Championships. The local athletes played side by side for the Collegians at WA College of Agriculture Narrogin and now they’ll be sharing the turf once again at the the nationals. “I’m excited to be going away with Liam, we played in high school in the same team and we’ve played for the Narrogin club our whole life,” Ward said. The 21-year-old picked up her stick at eight years old and first trialled for the State team at 12 while playing for the Narrogin Cougars. “It’s exciting because I had tried for a few State teams when I was quite young,” Ward said. “The distance, time, and money it takes travelling from the country to trial up in Perth, it’s really hard to get to. “So being selected now is much more special because it’s after so many years of persistence.” Ward submitted her application an hour before stepping onto the Perth Hockey Stadium turf after her mum’s encouragement. She said she thought “nothing of it” but her Upper Great Southern coach Jason Hill had made the tournament so enjoyable she had played some of her best hockey. “If I’m playing under UGS there’s a million percent chance I’m giving it my all, that club has done everything for me,” Ward said. Ward’s pop held a wood raffle on July 19 and raised $3300 to fund the full-time university student’s dream as once selected, players must pay upwards of $4000 to participate. “I can’t put into words how amazing it is,” she said. “All the kind wishes that came from doing the raffle and knowing you have a town like that back home which supports you. “It’s just the best thing.” Fletcher Taylor from Roe Districts has also been selected in the men’s team, along with Broomehill’s Lewis Barritt (Central Great Southern) to play with Sweeney.