Thanks largely to a quick-fire Maggie Smith double just after half-time Confederates prevailed 4-nil at Orange Hockey Centre and that win actually pushed the side up to fifth, adding a sliver more respectability to their year despite missing the finals.

The defeat was Ex-Services’ 12^th from 14 starts, the blue and golds finished a disappointing season – results wise – in seventh but they still avoided the wooden spoon that Lithgow Zig Zag were eventually resigned to.

Smith’s two goals came in the 40^th and 43^rd minutes of the game and pushed Confederates to that ultimately match-winning 4-nil margin, building on the two-goal buffer they enjoyed at the break.

That two-goal, half-time lead came thanks to Brianna Lippiatt and Emily Hurst, who found the back of the net in the 25^th and 34^th minutes, respectively.

Confederates’ win also ensured one of Orange’s three women’s Premier League Hockey sides claimed competition points from the final round, with CYMS also dropping their last game before the finals.

The green and golds were beaten by minor premiers Bathurst St Pat’s in an epic at Orange Hockey Centre, the Saints coming out of the brutal clash 3-2 victors.

St Pat’s star Kristy Ekert opened the scoring in just the fourth minute but one of CYMS’ NSW Country guns in Madie Smith cancelled that out five minutes later, landing a ninth-minute equaliser.

The two sides traded opportunities for the rest of the opening half and then in the start of the second, with Ekert breaking the deadlock 11 minutes into the new period.

The green and golds hit back almost immediately again though, this time Phoebe Litchfield brought her side back to level pegging, scoring two minutes after Ekert found the mark.

But, completing a flurry of goals midway through the second half, Georgie McGregor found the back of the net at the 51-minute mark to push the Saints back in front.

Both sides gave themselves opportunities to add to that 3-2 scoreline in the final stages, but neither could, McGregor’s goal proving the decisive one.

Despite the loss CYMS will still play finals hockey although they’re resigned to a trip to Bathurst for next weekend’s sudden-death minor semi-final.

They’ll take on reigning champions Bathurst City in that elimination game, after the perennial powerhouse jumped up to third with a 6-1 win over Zig Zag.

In the women’s major semi-final, St Pat’s will host Lithgow Panthers.

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