The platform for Souths’ 7-0 win was set up in the first half at Bob Roach Field as they found the back of the net five times while at the same time restricting their rivals to just one circle penetration.

While Souths did drop their intensity in the second half and both sides finished with six penalty corners, by then the damage had certainly been done.

Coming into the match off the back of their first win of the season, Souths began Saturday’s contest full of confidence and did not take long to make their presence felt.

With just three minutes gone and off their second penalty corner play, Souths opened their account as Ali Stanford cleaned up a deflection from Tahlia Cranston’s initial strike.

Souths’ second goal came in similar fashion eight minutes later, this time Ashleigh Corby pouncing after Confederates goalkeeper Stephanie Hinds used her glove to block Candice Falconer’s shot from the top of the circle.

With Souths worked hard in defence, Confederates struggled to get out of their own half. The Orange side’s transfer options were shut down, which often saw the ball fruitlessly blasted long in hope of finding a stick.

Souths were by no means perfect, at times rushing passes and turning over possession, but as those errors came well away from their circle, Confederates could not capitalise.

Corby, who created leads all match with her high work rate off the ball, made it 3-0 with 20 minutes gone when she steamed onto a bobbling effort from Stacey Tomlinson and turned it into the net.

Sarah Watterson got her name on the scoresheet as well before Confederates finally created a chance. It was only a sharp one-on-one save from Souths goalkeeper Kate Brown that denied Anna Evans after she worked her way into the circle.

When Souths were awarded a penalty stroke after the half-time siren and the ball struck a defender on the line, Hinds was unable to come up with the block on Amelia Burke’s shot for Souths to lead 5-0.

The second half was more open as Souths dropped their intensity and the visitors renewed their efforts.

Annie Pakinga and Evans tested the Souths defence but it lifted and kept the Orange side out.

Corby made it a personal hat-trick when she deflected in a Falconer ball from a penalty corner play, Corby then turning provider as her cross set up Nikki Braun.

“Our defence set the platform definitely and that is what we were aiming to do,” Souths coach Melissa Bestwick said.

“We knew we wanted to put them on the back foot early and we did that, so it was a really positive outcome.”

BATHURST SOUTHS 7 (Ashleigh Corby 3, Ali Stanford, Nikki Braun, Sarah Watterson, Amelia Burke) def CONFEDERATES 0.