Premier League Hockey: Souths and Bathurst City share points in derby

That's the short and sweet summary of Bathurst City and Souths' nil-all game of women's Premier League Hockey on Saturday, where both sides came away feeling like they'd missed out on a valuable winning chance.

It was a tough result on both teams, as a win for Souths would have taken them inside the top four while success for Bathurst City would have given them a confidence-boosting first win of the season.

However, the defensive efforts from both Bathurst squads was a highlight in the eyes of both coaches.

The bulk of City's chances came earlier in the match before the two blues had a stack of shots on goal across the second half.

City mentor Mal Willott said it was unfortunate that his team couldn't change the potential momentum of the match with an early goal but it should detract from an enthusiastic effort across the park.

"It was a really good game of hockey. I thought in the first quarter was had around three good opportunities but we couldn't score. We were playing all over them," he said.

"From there the rest of the game felt pretty even. There was actually a stage in the second half where we did manage to put the ball in the back of the net but the umpire had blown a short corner so that was disappointing.

"Souths had more of their chances in the second half, and they had started to play better in the second quarter. We may have dropped off a little bit but they really started to step it up."

Willott would love to bottle up the energy that City showed in that first quarter.

"That was probably our best start all year and one of our best quarters," he said.

"It was an even game everywhere on the field and everyone was pretty well matched. I thought Emily Thompson really stood up for us and our keeper Maddie [Tattersall] kept us in the game."

Souths played their way into the match after a slow start but once they got their attack together they looked the more threatened side in the later stages.

City did enough in defence to keep them stuck on zero, leaving Souths level on the ladder with Parkes and CYMS - wedged in the middle of them based on goal difference.

"I think City really showed up and they scrambled quite well in defence, which we did too. Both teams had their scoring opportunities but unfortunately we couldn't capitalise," Souths coach Ange Johnson said.

"It was probably our slowest start of the season, which might be due to having the week off, but even the second quarter was a slow one. But in the second half we had seven shots on goal and two short corners.

"We didn't have much going for us in the first half but I think that's a credit to how well City played."

Johnson is expecting to hear a little more talk on the field when Souths take to the field next round.

"It was very quiet in that first quarter. There wasn't much communication coming from either side. At times calls would go against teams unexpectedly and that can also disrupt play but it was definitely a different start compared to the Lithgow game two weeks ago," she said.

"I think when you're getting into this part of the season you have to be a realist - and while a draw is by no means a bad thing, the four points stack up really quickly when you're stringing together a few wins so that's got to be our goals moving forward.

"Training's going well, everything's there, we just need to click into that next level."

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