THE Bathurst Souths' Watterson twins – Sarah and Jessica – were the difference between winning and losing for Zig Zag in the Western Premier League semi final with Sarah scoring a double and Jessica one.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After a courageous effort, Zig Zag's season was prematurely ended with a 4-2 loss.
Playing Bathurst Souths on their home turf was always going to be difficult, but to their credit, Zig Zag pushed Souths for the entire match – and it was only a bit of Watterson magic that brought them undone.
Souths' coach Damien Carter paid tribute to Ziggies saying: “They played really well, I don't think they missed a trap.
“Every ball that bounced was trapped and it was a smooth trap, there was no loss of control of the ball.
“Their number three (Clare Bosman) was great.”
It was Zig Zag that opened the scoring in the sudden death semi final, when Jess Harris slotted the ball home after drawing the Souths' keeper out of her cage.
Zig Zag were dominating with centre half Keely Hunter, half Emily Williams and centre forward Millie Leard playing some great hockey to keep the pressure on.
Souths earned a number of short corners and on their third attempt, Mandy George flicked the ball in the goals to lock the scores up at 1-all.
Zig Zag began the second half the better of the two sides with goalie Kate Brown having to make a pair of smart blocks to deny Milly Leard and Kate Wilkins goals.
Seven minutes into the second stanza Zig Zag found a way past Brown, a penalty corner variation seeing the visitors lay the ball off left to Leard who flicked her effort into the top corner to go 2-1 up.Ziggies looked like going 3-1 up shortly after when Jess Harris made a good shot at goal only to see it saved on the line.
Sarah Watterson showed her brilliance when she carried the ball wide to the left, drew out Zig Zag goalkeeper Kim Northey then powered in a reverse stick effort to put Souths back on level terms at 2-all.With 18 minutes left Sarah Watterson scored again off a penalty corner play then Jess Watterson added another with an effort cut in from a tight angle along the baseline to make it 4-2.
That goal came with just over six minutes left, but Zig Zag kept coming.Zig Zag had too good attempts -- one from Bosman the other from Leard, with both shots going begging.
Souths hung on grimly and now advance to a semi-final showdown with Parkes.
Best for Zig Zag were Keely Hunter, Emily Williams, Milly Leard, Clare Bosman and Sam Hill in a team that all played well.
Hill said: “We gave it our best.
“There was nothing between the two sides with Souths converting their chances just that little better.
“I was really proud of the girls, they really stuck it to them.
“We have a good base of young talented girls in the side and things look good for our future.”
Zig Zag would like to thank their valued sponsors – Club Lithgow, Joss Group, Hunter Mining, Bulktrans, Anytime Fitness, Thrive MMA, Norwood Apiaries and M and M Produce.
