With the two top teams of the hockey Premier League ladder facing off, the game was guaranteed to be a thriller and the suspense held until the end of play as each team matched the other goal for goal, finishing in a 6-all draw. 

Zig Zag began the game strongly, securing a two goal lead in the first eight minutes.

The boys in black and white maintained their hold on the Panthers, leading 4-2 until the very last minutes of the first half. 

In the last two minutes Panthers stole one back to make it 4-3, and by the final six seconds of the half the teams were equally matched on 4-4. 

The Panthers took the quick turn around in their stride, managing to pull ahead by a goal early on in the second half.

However, after a couple of skirmishes around the Panthers’ goal posts, Zig Zag got one into the back of the net and the game sat on 5-6, Panthers’ way, for the majority of the second half.

Neither team were able to gain a significant hold over the other but with eight minutes left on the board Zig Zag scored their sixth goal. 

A failed short corner by the Panthers in extra time meant the score was locked at 6-all at full time. 

Panthers coach David Marshall was not pleased with his team’s performance.

“No, it didn’t go the way we wanted it to go,” he said.

“Zig Zag were ahead by two goals in the first eight minutes so I guess at least it showed we could come back from behind.”

He said Panthers players failed to implement the structure that has served them so well in the season so far. 

“We’ve played well up until now, playing the ball nice and short.

“We played the ball way too long, we didn’t play anywhere as well as we could have. I would say Zig Zag even deserved a win.”

Marshall said he was impressed with Zig Zag’s form, particularly that of Lachlan Sharp who only played half the match but scored two goals.

“I think Zig Zag put a bit more pressure on us up the front. We really struggled.”

Despite the Panthers’ disappointment, round six of the Premier League has left the top of the ladder unchanged; Panthers remains ahead with Zig Zag and St Pat’s on equal second. 

The Panthers now have a two week break, which Marshall said would allow injured players to recover for their next match.

“I heard a few people saying the game was really exciting so, if anything, hopefully it gets more people down to the next derby,” Mr Marshall said.

Panthers 6 (Brandon Horner 3, Trent MacDonald 2, Nic Milne) drew Zig Zag 6 (Lachlan Sharp 2, Dalton Medcalf 2, Luke Sheppeard, Hunter Medcalf)