THERE was no feeling sorry for themselves when Camden Haven Hockey Club’s senior men and women lost their grand final double in Taree last Saturday.

Instead, players and spectators made a beeline for Laurieton United Services Club (LUSC) to celebrate what has otherwise been a remarkable year.

“It’s very hard to get into a grand final and even harder to win,” club president and men’s coach Terry Rhook told News Of The Area.

“The teams are taking solace from the fact that they were good enough to get there.

“In fact, if you were on our supporter bus, you wouldn’t have thought we had lost.”

This is the first year the club has made both the men’s and women’s grand finals of the Mid North Coast Hockey League.

The women only secured their berth in the last round of the regular season and went up against minor premiers the Taree Tigers, losing 1-0.

“We were the underdogs and we came out and had a very good game; a hard fought game,” captain Alison Britt told NOTA.

“We’ve got some young up-and-comers who are just excelling.

“They are essential to our team. They’re the people who are going to be here next year and the year after.”

Britt said both the players and their coach of two years, Scott Bradford, should be proud of themselves.

“He’s just that supportive person who can build our club up.”

The men claimed the minor premiership, but lost 4-2 to the Taree Sharks in Saturday’s grand final.

Rhook said that like the women, they had the bulk of possession but struggled to convert.

Early injury didn’t help, with Adam Rhook needing treatment after falling in a tackle.

“Adam did something to his knee. He went back on but wasn’t 100 percent. He’s now waiting on scans,” he said.

Adam and team-mate Taj Macintosh were recently selected in Hockey Australia’s Under 21 Country team to tour Malaysia and Thailand in January.

Their success speaks to the strength of the players coming through the local club.

“There was so much junior talent in both teams, it puts us in good stead.

“It gives them a hunger to do better next year.”

The club has already regrouped ahead of the final four weeks of the Port Macquarie-Hastings Hockey Association competition.

This year the club fielded a team in every division from the Venom Under 8s to seniors B and C grades.

By Sue STEPHENSON and Kim AMBROSE