With his side's women's Premier League Hockey season ending on last weekend's abandoned round Bathurst Souths mentor Chris Stafford offered his opinion on which of the finals-bound sides will face-off in the grand final three weeks from now.
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He boldly predicted minor premiers Orange CYMS might not make it that far too.
Stafford labelled Bathurst St Pat's and Lithgow Panthers "the two strongest" top four sides and predicted they'll face-off in the decider, although he did clarify his forecast depends on who wins this weekend's major semi-final.
If CYMS don't win the major semi ... I don't think they make the grand final.
- Souths coach Chris Stafford
CYMS host St Pat's in this weekend's initial grand final qualifier, on the harder, bouncier Orange Hockey Centre turf that's been the bane of visiting sides for years, with Bathurst outfits in particular seeming to have the biggest struggles adapting to it.
If the Saints do adapt and CYMS don't make the most of that advantage this weekend, based on what he's seen so far this year Stafford predicted the green and golds to get bounced out by Panthers in the preliminary final the week after.
CYMS would still be on home turf in that game but Stafford thinks Panthers are "building nicely", will end Confederates' year at home in this weekend's minor semi-final and in that circumstance, would come to Orange and do the same to the minor premiers the week after
"I honestly see Pat's and (Lithgow) Panthers as the two strongest teams in there, that's who I would be tipping for a grand final," Stafford said, his side was one of just two to knock CYMS off in the regular season as well.
"I know CYMS have ended up minor premiers, but they're really going to have to make the most of their turf. CYMS in Orange in a major semi-final and (on) that turf, it is always going to be hard.
"But if CYMS don't win the major semi-final against Pat's, if CYMS don't win that, I don't think they make the grand final.
"But that's just going off when we've played them, obviously they've won the minor premiership so they've done something right."
"I think Panthers are just building nicely too."
The start times for this weekend's finals are still to be confirmed.
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