HOCKEY
ORANGE Ex-Services will have to qualify for the women’s Premier League Hockey grand final the hard way after their semi-final loss on Saturday.
Bathurst St Pat’s won the preliminary major semi-final 2-0 on their home turf despite the best efforts of Ex-Services.
The Orange side had a majority of possession in the first 20 minutes and while St Pat’s did finish the half the stronger of the two sides, it was nil-all at the break.
“I think we got a little bit frustrated, we were creating opportunities but not putting them away,” Pat’s skipper Bec Clayton said of the opening half.
“We had a pretty aggressive talk at half-time, we went out there and weren’t making those leads and weren’t giving 100 per cent. “So we had a bit of a scream, it made us get off our high horse and we went from there.”
The improved second stanza put Pat’s into the grand final qualifier against Bathurst City while Ex-Services will have to down Souths if they wish to keep their season alive.
While disappointed with the loss, Ex-Services coach Gail Kennewell could not fault the effort of her players.
“They tried their hardest, just a few little things didn’t come off for us. We had some good opportunities at the end there,” she said. “I think if we had gone up 1-0 up at any time there we could have gone on with it.”
After an early scare Ex-Services lifted their game, Rebecka Davis and Linda Wilson combining nicely down the right wing, but despite the possession they struggled to get shots on goal.
Australian Schoolgirls representative Jade Warrender showed glimpses of brilliance, but she too was restricted by the Saints defence.
Pat’s absorbed the pressure and then mounted their own and while their shooting was better, Ex-Services goalkeeper Natalie Parmetre was up to the task.
She twice denied Weal by diving to her right and stopping the ball with her stick, these sharp saves seeing the score remain locked at nil-all after 35 minutes.
It was a much more intense Pat’s side that emerged after the break as players led well off the ball, supported their team-mates and chase back hard in defence when required.
Eight minutes after the resumption they had the lead, Kristy Conroy intercepting a pass then linking with Amelia Burke who blasted home from the top of the circle.
Conroy then had one of her own after some nice lead up from Weal who dragged two Ex-Services players before finding her striker in support.
While trailing, the visitors worked hard in the final 15 minutes to try and get back in the match, Tara Picker having to make two good saves to hold out Tarlee Roberts.
“I think the fact that we came away with a win from a game like that, because they are quite physical, the girls will take a lot of confidence from that,” Clayton said.
ST PAT’S 2 (Amelia Burke, Kristy Conroy) defeated EX-SERVICES 0.
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