THINGS were looking up for St Pat's in their men's Premier League Hockey clash on Saturday when they went into the first quarter break leading 1-0 against the Lithgow Storm.
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But then the Storm were able to hit back... Six times without a Saints reply.
The 6-1 loss was a brutal crash back down to earth for Pat's after an excellent showing against Parkes the previous weekend.
Pat's coach Richard Sharp said his side were their own worst enemies when Lithgow dialled up the intensity.
"We started really well to go 1-0 up at quarter time. I asked them to go out strong and win that first quarter, and that's what they did, but then Lithgow started to apply more pressure with their press," he said.
"That when we started making errors ... and they were able to capitalise on them."
It was much more different experience for Pat's when compared to the previous clash against the Storm.
In that round two meeting Pat's adapted better to what the Storm were doing with each quarter that went by, and despite losing 4-2 it was a game that provided positives for the club.
There were far less positives to be felt in their rematch with Lithgow.
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"In the first match against them we started poorly and then worked our way into it. This time we started well but fell away. We had two or three shots that we probably should have put away and penalty corners that we couldn't capitalise on," Sharp said.
"They didn't waste their chances and that's where the big difference was.
"We had three of our players out and Lithgow had some of their Sydney players come across for this game, but that's no excuse for the way we played.
More power to Lithgow, who were the better side on the day."
Sharp said there's still a long season ahead for the team and there's plenty of time to get things in order.
"We did have Fletcher Norris back today and he was tremendous. I thought he was the best on ground. It's a pity that we couldn't capitalise on the great play that he provided," he said.
"I can't fault their effort and desire though. I spoke to the guys about making the good receives, the good traps and the good passes and they were able to nail those in the first quarter."
LITHGOW STORM 6 defeated ST PAT'S 1
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Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
