For the fifth time this women's Premier League Hockey season Souths has been forced to share the points with their rivals, this time playing out a 1-all draw against Orange United.

While their quest to be just the second side this season to better United fell short, that Souths was able to score against a team that boasts the league's best defence was a big positive.

But an even bigger one was the quality and speed of hockey that Souths played to match a talented opposition on their home turf.

"Gee it was a good game, it was a cracking game, it was awesome," Souths coach Angela Johnson enthused.

"Conversing with the other team after the game the comments were what a great game of hockey and it was great to watch from a spectator point of view.

"The girls are over draws, but when you see what you've been talking about and practicing executed, it's hard to be disappointed.

"You look at passages of play and think 'I don't know what else we could have done there'. When both teams turn up to play that well, you've just got to appreciate good hockey."

From the opening quarter the speed of the game was intense, setting the tone for what was to come.

It was Souths who struck the first blow in the second quarter, Nikki Thurtell blasting in her shot from the two blues' first penalty corner play of the contest.

But three minutes later United hit back via Zoe Tattersall after a successful raid down the right edge.

That made it 1-all and while both sides created more chances over the second half of the contest, that's how it stayed.

Just as Johnson was extremely proud of the way Souths performed, she also praised United saying "you can tell they are a very well-trained unit".

"Both teams scrambled really, really, really well, their keeper she definitely had a positive game," the Souths coach said.

"Everything from the way we defended as a unit and were really consistent in attack and had some positive outcomes in the circle - she was a good game of hockey that's for sure."

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