By Lucas Ball
Holcombe Boys’ Talent Academy captain Cameron MacQuarrie is looking forward to the Talent Academy Cup which starts tomorrow, Sunday 28 July, as his side prepare to face Hampstead & Westminster, Yorkshire and Beeston.
Holcs have won three out of their last four matches heading into the showpiece event, only losing narrowly to the East TA by the odd-goal in five.
MacQuarrie was selected by Head Coach Jake Owen as captain for the event, where Holcombe will play four matches in as many days, starting with three Pool C matches against the aforementioned academies.
Looking ahead to the festival, MacQuarrie said: “I think the recent games have gone really well, actually.
“Some have been scrappy but we’ve had some really nice passages of play.
“We’ve played in different game states – for example, one game we went from three up to them equalising in the last quarter and then we were able to go and win the game late on.
“It was useful to be in that situation and face the pressure to learn how to deal with it and come back as a team, it was quite a challenge.
“You’ve got to win your games where you can – it’d be nice to be comfortable but you also have to be realistic, that isn’t always going to be the case in these games so knowing how to deal with it on the pitch, not necessarily where the coaches can have too much direct impact with quarter time.
“It’s an important skill to learn where you’re thinking on your feet, so that really helps.
“I don’t think the quick run of games changes things too much – just eat plenty of food and get a good sleep!
“I remember last year there was quite a bit of video analysis stuff so there’ll probably be a lot of that and lots of recovery I think as well.
“It’s about taking each game at a time.
“I think it’s really important to make sure we keep playing as a team and eliminate that individual focus if we can.
“To move forward and to progress, it’s really important to show we’re a team, it’s a team sport – you’ve got to try to block that out as much as you can, and it helps to relieve some of the pressure if you can block it out too which is really important.
“It’s a real privilege to be named as captain, I’m really thankful to be given the opportunity to lead the team.
“I’m a bit nervous, too, but it should be really good.
“We’ve got a good team and a really nice bunch of lads so I’m really looking forward to it.”
MacQuarrie also reflected on his entire period in the Talent Academy since its inception, paying tribute to the coaches who have aided his development.
He also provided a look ahead and an insight to his long-term goals, while offering advice to others coming through the Talent Academy trials and then system.
“I think my leadership skills have definitely improved, I’ve become a lot more confident both on and off the field and I’d also say it’s been quite good in terms of having much more of a tactical focus than any training I’ve done before, the training’s been really useful with implementing strategies and other tactics into gameplay.
“At the same time, it’s maintained an individual development focus so it’s been really good.
“The tactical and technical aspects of my game have improved.
“Having Jake [Owen] and Oz [Walker] is so useful, and then having other people come in from the club too is great.
“You can constantly rely on people like Jake but then there’s new interaction and ideas brought in at times by other people which is so important, they’re sometimes new ideas and insights that you wouldn’t get without a different perspective.
“I just want to see how far I can take it in hockey to be honest, I don’t really know yet.
“Obviously, I’d love to play internationally – whether that’s achievable, I don’t know but if not, I’d definitely love to play Premier Division – there are lots of good teams out there.
“I think the most important thing is try not to be afraid and enjoy it at the same time.
I know when I started the trials – and have done various trial sessions – it’s very easy to be quite nervous but, at the end of the day, you play hockey because it’s fun so you have to keep the enjoyable aspect to it as well.
“Also, you have to realise that everyone makes mistakes – I’ve been quite down when I’ve made some and you’ve got to just accept them and move on, they can be a good thing for you to learn from.
“Just move forward, it gives you a chance to do your next job well and get set again.
“Be bold in your decision making and enjoy it, be brave.”
Holcombe begin their campaign against Hampstead & Westminster at 3pm tomorrow.
Fixtures:
Sunday, 28 July (3pm) – Hampstead & Westminster
Monday, 29 July (2pm) – Yorkshire
Tuesday, 30 July (2pm) – Beeston
Full squad:
ORIN DENTON (GK)
SAM JENKINS (GK)
DOMINIC CURTISS
WILLIAM GARDINER
HARRY LEDGER
TOM ROGERS
ARTHUR PEACHEY
BLAKE JONES
MARTIN POPRELKOV
WILLIAM STURRIDGE
JACK CHESTER
CAMERON MACQUARRIE (C)
FREDDIE MCMULLAN
BEN SPACKMAN
OLIVER STEWART
EDWARD PITCHER
LUKE PRIOR
JOSHUA BONDZIO
RAFAEL DEKKERS
FRANS-LOUIS VAN SCHALKWYK