As was the case when the pair met at Bob Roach Field earlier this season, the pace of the game was high and plenty of chances came down both ends.

The opening 15 minutes alone featured five penalty corners, while the match-long battle between Bathurst City’s Kelly Baker and St Pat’s Carly Hagney in the midfield was a highlight.

Both teams dealt well with missing experienced players, City playing without coach Lisa Quinn while the Saints had to cover for Amy Glenn’s absence.

But as the final siren sounded, it was the Saints who celebrated victory. Naturally winning coach Jaden Ekert was delighted.

“It was always going to be a battle of the midfield, always. Even without Amy Glenn, Erin Cobcroft, Michelle Somers had to play there, Alex [White] and Sam [Tibbles], they all had to do their part,” he said.

“They all knew they had to run and run more than they normally would and they did that. They exceeded my expectations by a million times.”

Both teams worked hard from the first whistle in the first versus third contest with chances flowing in a frenetic start.

And the pace rarely wavered from there.

While City had six penalty corners in the first half and another on-target attempt when Jess Hotham dived to connect with a cross, the competition leaders could not breach the Saints’ defence.

Pat’s had chances of its own and on the stroke of half-time was able to capitalise on one of them. Awarded a penalty stroke, Kristy Ekert fired the ball into the left side of the goal.

It was Ekert who struck again in the 45^th minute to give the Saints a 2-0 lead, turning the ball into the net after Julie Hanman’s initial attempt clattered into the post.

Two minutes later City struck back when Tirah Jarvis deflected an Andrea Seymour ball blasted towards the goal.

City continued to probe for an equaliser, Kelsey Willott drawing a pair of penalty corners while Brooke McFadden made some penetrating runs from the midfield.

But Saints goalkeeper Tracey Gunning and her fellow defenders were up to the task.

“To their credit, City played really well to get those corners. Kelsey Willott played really well and held the ball well to get those corners. That was my concern, that we weren’t stepping out to make the tackle and letting her run with the ball,” Jaden Ekert said.

“But the structure in our short corners, we work really hard at that as it can be a key component. If you’re structured you can shut them down quite easily and we did.”