JUNIOR hockey is once again on the rise in Margaret River, with the advent of the first U11s girls hockey team playing in the Busselton competition for many years.

Following a hockey muster earlier in the year, 10 young local girls from Margaret River and Cowaramup answered the call and have been making the trip to Busselton each week to play for St Josephs No 2 team in the U11s competition.

With the team made up almost exclusively of girls from “down south” and with more and more enthusiasts turning up to training, it is hoped that next year Cowaramup/Margaret River will be able to field its own team in the competition.

The girls have come a long way from the beginning of the season.

Three quarters of the team had never picked up a hockey stick prior to playing this year, but dedicated coaching from Cowaramup locals John and Robyn Curtin and Claire Parker has seen them learn the rules and work hard on honing their skills.

With the mighty Hockeyroos in Beijing providing inspiration, the team have broken the drought and got their first win for the season under their belt, defeating fellow St Josephs No 1 team in a hard fought game full of running and fierce defence.

With the season coming now to a close, the girls are on a high and hoping that their new found enthusiasm for hockey will entice other players onto the pitch and maybe one day into the Olympics.