AFTER a four-year hiatus Lithgow Zig Zag men’s Premier League Hockey side will once again take their place in a finals series.
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It has been a long wait but the Zig Zag men will travel to Bathurst this weekend to take on reigning premiers St Pat’s in an elimination final.
The Zig Zag team cemented fourth spot on the ladder after the other contenders Parkes United and Orange Wanderers fell away in form towards the end of the season.
Being back in the finals is down to what Lithgow Zig Zag men’s coach Mark Sheppeard said was a good mixture of young and more experienced players.
Sheppeard said Zig Zag hopefully will field a nearly full-strength side on Saturday in a finals series he thinks anyone that came in the top four can win.
“We have high respect for St Pat’s.
“They have been the premiers for a few years now.
“They play in a similar way to what we do.
“It will be a close game that will come down to who takes their chances.
“We will have to play to our best to beat them.”
The Zig Zag men’s side has been mentioned as dark horses in the finals series.
Opposing coaches over the last few weeks have watched as the form and injury concerns that plagued them earlier in the season are now over.
Sheppeard said the team that has mostly come through the Lithgow Zig Zag juniors system together is hitting their straps at the right time.
“A lot of our younger players are just starting to peak.”
Sheppeard was not too concerned about Lithgow Zig Zag not playing at home.
“We have traveled to Bathurst alright in the past.”
Zig Zag had a good warm up for the finals last weekend.
They play in a similar way to what we do. It will be a close game that will come down to who takes their chances.
- Lithgow Zig Zag coach Mark Sheppeard.
The 10-0 win over Bathurst City looked comfortable for Zig Zag.
It will need to take advantage more of the opportunities it creates in front of goal as it could have been a bigger win according to Sheppeard.
The Bathurst St Pat’s men’s side defeated the Parkes United team 4-2 last weekend in their lead up game to the finals.
The mens Premier League Hockey minor semi-final between Lithgow Zig Zag and Bathurst St Pat’s will kick off at 1.50pm at Bathurst’s Bob Roach Field.