Hockey
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
FORTY one years in a long time to wait for premiership success, but CSU's wait could be over tonight.
The Hockeyducks tackle Lake Albert in the men's division one grand final tonight.
The last time the university club won the title in 1973 they didn't even have the same name, instead going by the Riverina College of Advanced Education Turtles.
"We won the premiership 41 years ago and hopefully this year we will be able to celebrate again," president Bryce Philpott said.
"It's the first year we've had both the first grade men's and women's team in the grand final together.
"The men haven't been in it since 1978 and the girls were last in it in 2009 so its been a fair while since we've been in it and even longer since we've won."
Philpott is also the men's captain and the team enjoyed a big 7-3 win over Lake Albert in the major semi-final a fortnight ago.
Despite the comfortable winning margin, Philpott expects a closer grand final.
"It was a good performance but I think it will be closer in the grand final," he said.
"We've got the form coming in even though we've had a week off."
During the home and away season CSU played Lake Albert 6 times with the Hockeyducks winning three times, Lake Albert twice and the teams couldn't be separated on one occasion.
Goalkeeper Benson Williams is one of men to look out for the Hockeyducks while Mick Fahey will be looking to do damage at the other end of the field.
Fahey is the leading goalscorer for the club this season and Logan Dolbel was an important role to play in CSU's midfield.
Paul Wakeman is one Philpott will be looking to contain in the centre with Casey Younie and Brendan Pottie also very influential for Lake Albert.
"There wouldn't be a person in the club who has seen a first grade men's premiership nor a women's won either, so it would be a pretty major if they could both come away with wins," Philpott said.
Philpott believes the women will face a bigger task trying to take down Lake Albert Cavaliers in its grand final.
YOU could be forgiven for feeling a case of deja vu at Wagga Hockey's grand finals today.
Lake Albert and CSU will feature in both the men's and women's first division deciders at Jubilee Park.
The Lake Albert Cavaliers are out to take it three in a row in the women's, after claiming victory over the Royals in the past two season.
Minor premiers and the first team into the grand final, confidence is high within the group.
Booking a place in the grand final with a 4-1 win over the Hockeyducks in the major semi-final, coach Phil McManus is confident they can come out on top in the biggest game of the season.
"We've got a couple short but I'm pretty confident we can handle it," he said.
Leading the competition's goal scoring this season Samantha Swaysland will be one to watch up forward, although the team will be without Jess Tinning due to work commitments.
McManus is hoping Claire Tokley will have a quiet time in goal, but said her relaxed attitude was the key to her shot blocking skills.
In a personal touch McManus will have two children in the first division grand finals.
He coaches daughter Janelle, while son Rhys will tackle CSU in the men's grand final.
The men's team had to go the hard way into the grand final, falling to CSU in the major semi-final.
However the minor premiers bounced back, defeating Cavaliers in the preliminary final.
Lake Albert's men's team are looking to go one better than last year after falling to Harlequins at the final hurdle.