Defender Jasmine Roydhouse-Ross attests to a philosophy of coaching that empowers them to dictate terms with confidence.
The 14-year-old says teammates came away comfortable in the knowledge it provided a template to counter the many different variations out there.
"Our team were more skilful than the Aussies and passed the ball more and got around quickest to get the ball into the goal."
Roydhouse-Ross says they had an advantage over the Aussies, having played together from the time they were Year 5 pupils.
"A couple of those teams, any other day, could have beaten us," she says.
One-match captain/defender Georgia Lane salutes the rotational policy that also passes the captain's armband around.
"It's a privilege to be a captain but we still help each other out and it's not about bossing around everyone," says the 15-year-old.
Like Roydhouse-Ross, Lane harbours ambitions to be a Black Stick someday.
"We'd like to see where hockey takes us," she says.
The players broadened their horizon between hockey matches with trips to Australia Zoo, Movie World, Wet 'n' Wild theme parks, Bondi Beach, Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, an aboriginal centre, the Art Gallery of NSW, the Fred Hollows Centre and shopping.
The pair say the girls learned a lot from the trip, both on and off the turf.
Australian tour details:
The undefeated HB U15 Girls' Invitational Australian Tour hockey team results against Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sydney representative counterparts from April 16-28:
* Ipswich Hockey Association 9-1.
* Brisbane Women's HA 5-3.
* Tweed Border HA 10-1.
* Gold Coast HA 3-2.
* Northern Sydney and Beaches HA 9-5.
* Sydney South HA 10-1.
* Sydney East HA 9-1.
* North Western Sydney HA/Northern Sydney Beaches HA Selection 13-1.
Bay team:
Bella Greig, Olivia Shannon, Lexie Heaphy, Zara Harnett (Iona College); Jasmine Roydhouse-Ross, Georgia Lane (Havelock North High); Sophie James, Rileigh Knapp, Caitlin Cotter, Jess Moffett, Molly Frame, Summer Gray, Mikeely Jones, Hannah Jones (Napier Girls' High); Jamie Wilson (Taradale High); Sasha Norris (Woodford House); Hannah Cotter (Taradale Intermediate).
Co-coaches: Jonathan Heaphy/Dominique Cresswell.
Managers: Rob Jones/Conrad Knapp.
