With victory over a lowly Lithgow Zig Zag outfit this weekend Orange CYMS will all but cement the women's Premier League Hockey minor premiership, in just their second season back in the competition as a stand-alone outfit.
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After finishing third in their return season the green and golds have built again and with 10 wins from their 12 starts this season they're now four points clear of second-placed Bathurst St Pat's, and they boast a substantially better goal difference too.
Considering that and the fact Zig Zag are on the bottom of the table with just a fortnight left in the regular season, a win on Saturday should be enough for the Pete Shea-coached CYMS side to claim the first piece of silverware in 2019.
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Granted they'll have to do it at Lithgow and without NSW Country reps Madie Smith and Courtney Hogan, but even so, it's a win the green and golds are expected to secure.
While stranger things have happened, St Pat's gun Kristy Ekert said her side has virtually ruled out any hope of disaster striking the green and golds.
She and her troops are resigned to playing for second now, with headlining the chasing pack their aim to ensure they have a crucial second chance come finals time.
They're just two points ahead of third-placed Lithgow Panthers, so for the Saints that means firstly knocking off Ex-Services this weekend and then Souths in their all-Bathurst, final-round local derby.
"Everyone wants first, but if you can't get first then it's second you want because that gives you a second bite. There's no chance now of us getting first, so making sure we hold second, that's our aim," Ekert said.
Ex-Services' season is over and has been for some time, they're 14 points adrift of fourth-placed Confederates, and while Ekert said the blue and golds will still pose a challenge she added her Saints are confident.
A usual gripe for visiting Bathurst sides, she did say adjusting the Orange Hockey Centre turf will pose a challenge, but should things play out as expected it's one they'll face in the major semi-final against CYMS too.
"We always seem to struggle on that turf, but you can't really use that as an excuse at this level," she said.
"If we play to our game and our structures and not let the little things frustrate us, then we'll be right."
CYMS travel to Lithgow to face Zig Zag from 1.30pm while Ex-Services host St Pat's from 1.55pm on Saturday afternoon. In Saturday's other games Bathurst City host Lithgow Panthers from 1.50pm and Confederates host Souths from 12.30pm.
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