The finals bound Panthers won the match 4-2 at Bob Roach Field, but Souths frustrated them for long periods in defence and scored the last two goals of the contest.

It was a performance which showed heart and tenacity – something which typified Souths’ hockey this year.

“We spoke after the game and said that from where we have been the last couple of years – it is disappointing, but to be the top of the bottom crew, we’re pretty happy with that,” Souths’ Tahni Isedale said.

“It’s a good effort considering not all of us had played together before and we’ve got a few young ones. We are really happy that we have been competitive throughout the year against some of the top teams – we had a draw with Pat’s, we had a draw with CYMS, we had a draw with City.

“We held them [Panthers] out for most of the first half, held them out for quite awhile, but then they seemed to put four goals on us really quickly.”

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While trailing 4-0, the Souths rallied.

Sophie McCauley gave her side something to cheer when her tomahawk from a penalty corner play hit the target, while winger Sam Porter doubled the tally when she converted from a goal mouth scramble.

Isedale said Porter’s goal came as a good reward given the way the young talent performed against one of the competition’s power houses. She also praised one of her Lithgow rivals.

“Sammy Porter, she had a screamer today. She got our players’ player and coaches award today,” she said.

“They are really quick and skilful. Hannah Kable was really good for them, she carved us up a little bit in the midfield.”

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