SHE began the week with an Australian Country Championships silver medal around her neck and now Sarah Watterson aims to end it with a women's Premier League Hockey grand final date.
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After campaigning at Shepparton with New South Wales Country while the regular Premier League Hockey season drew to a close, Watterson will make her return to St Pat's in Saturday's major semi-final.
The mission for the Saints - the defending premiers - is to defeat minor premiers Orange CYMS for the first time in 2019 and earn hosting rights for the grand final.
Beating CYMS in Orange will be no easy task, but the attacking spark which Watterson provides certainly gives the Saints hope.
It was attacking spark she showed while representing NSW Country.
Playing in a squad which also included Bathurst City talent Kelly Baker, Watterson began the tournament with a player of the match performance as she scored a hat-trick in an 8-0 win over Western Australia.
While NSW Country went on to lose two of their next four pool games, they still had done enough to qualify for the semi-finals.
It was Watterson who struck the first blow in NSW Country's semi-final against Victoria - scoring in the 13th minute.
NSW Country went on to win 3-0 and while Queensland Country took out the decider 1-0, the Bathurst duo still impressed.
Watterson's St Pat's club coach Jaden Ekert, who was at the tournament as mentor of the NSW Country men's outfit, was proud of what he saw.
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"They played really well. Some of their round games weren't the best but after losing to Victoria in the round game 3-1, then they came out and slapped them 3-0 in the semi-final - so it was a big turnaround for them," he said.
"In the final they nearly had it, Queensland didn't play that well, but New South Wales just didn't capitalise on their opportunities. But they were there, they fought hard and they did really well.
"Having those athletes, it puts Bathurst on the hockey map as well that we have some phenomenal players.
"My wife Kristy [Ekert] was captain of this side for six years, so to have those guys then come in, younger heads but more experienced, it just makes it better for Bathurst club hockey as well."
Saturday's major semi-final between St Pat's and Orange CYMS in Orange starts at 1pm. The minor semi-final will see Lithgow Panthers do battle with Confederates.
