Bathurst City is gunning for a fifth consecutive women’s Premier League Hockey grand final appearance in 2018 but if they’re to achieve that incredible feat it’ll be the hard way.
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City faces Orange CYMS in the minor semi-final at Bathurst on Saturday, the green and golds expected to field a near full-strength line-up for the sudden death clash.
City hasn’t suffered a first-week finals exit since 2013 – that year the Bathurst girls went down 3-2 against Souths – but with former Hockeyroo Jade Georgiou and current Canberra Strikers skipper Meredith Bone headlining CYMS tilt at the title, in the club’s first season back in the big time, the defending premiers’ run at a second consecutive crown will be incredibly tough.
For Bone, Saturday’s semi-final will mark her first game for her junior club in a few weeks. In fact, this time last weekend she was sipping cocktails in Singapore with her sister, Hockeyroos star Eddie Bone.
“We caught up with her in Singapore and I’ve been travelling for a few weeks,” Meredith said.
“I think the last game I played was against Bathurst City in Bathurst. It’s going to be interesting. We got away with a point that day after scoring quite late.
“That sort of helped us stay in the top four.”
Luci Ferguson scored the equaliser in CYMS’ last clash with City in Bathurst, the end result a 3-all draw – one Bone says gives her side a stack of confidence ahead of the finals.
“They’re definitely going to be tough. They’ve had a lot of players return and with all of those girls back we’ll need to be on top of our game to get a result,” she added.
Bone said she’s been impressed with the depth at her club, which has been stretched over the course of the final few rounds.
Injury, representative commitments and unavailability stalled CYMS’ bid for a top two finish during that time but a place in the finals has Pete Shea’s girls keen to perform.
They’re not here to make up the numbers, not according to Bone.
“I think we need to play as a team. Stay positive. We know City, we’ve played them many times, need to be on our best to win the game and get the goals,” she added.
“We’re excited for this weekend. We’re ready and raring to go.”
CYMS takes on Bathurst City from 3.20pm on Saturday.
Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
