EX-SERVICES’ Gail Kennewell, Ali Baker, Linda Wilson and Leanne Kennewell have waited eight years for today.

The fab four were part of the Ex-Services side which played in the inaugural Western Premier League semi-finals in 2000.

That year they won the minor semi-final 5-1 against Waratahs but then lost the final to St Pat’s 3-0.

Since then Ex-Services have not made the now women’s Premier League Hockey semi-finals - until today.

Fittingly Ex-Services will take on St Pat’s in the preliminary major semi-final at Bathurst and the four girls will be back.

Gail has changed her role and now coaches Ex-Services but the other three girls will be on the field doing their best to help their side into the next round.

“All that hard work is finally paying off,” Linda said.

The girls noted there are differences from the 2000 season and how they’ve played this year.

“We were fitter back then. We were the young ones,” Leanne laughed.

During the last eight years all the girls have stayed with Ex-Services and only had time away when they were having children. They said they had too much fun to ever leave Ex-Services.

Today they will be hoping to enjoy a win against St Pat’s.

Ex-Services have not beaten St Pat’s this season losing their round six match 4-1 in Bathurst and then going down 2-1 in Orange.

Gail is confident her girls can reverse those results today.

“The girls have played in semi-finals in juniors and through the (Orange) grades,” Gail said.

“They’ve played in semis and know how it feels to lose. They also know how good it is to win. We’ll try to draw on that in these semi-finals.”

Gail said the three girls from the 2000 side will be key in the team because they are so passionate and it filters through to the other girls.

The three girls believe Gail has just as much influence on the team.

“We owe a lot to Gail. She stuck by us all this time. She had faith in us,” Linda said.

The winner from today’s game will play in next week’s major semi-final against minor premiers Bathurst City. The loser will contest the minor semi-final.

Today’s preliminary major semi-final will be played at Bathurst at 12.20pm.