Panthers take a big step towards clinching the title

They have their destiny in their own hands having overcome one of the other main contenders in Cubs on Saturday morning with an impressive, confident performance that fully merited all three points thanks to a 3-1 win.

With captain Caryn Rieger Vorster leading by example with a couple of goals in a fine individual display, young Island forward Mali Smith posing a threat every time she got on the ball and their teammates all fulfilling their roles creditably, the team in black always had the edge despite Cubs also rising to the occasion admirably.

The two sides had gone into the game level in the title race, just one point ahead of Puffins, but from the off it felt as if Panthers had carried forward the momentum of their vital draw of the previous weekend.

They were on the front foot immediately with Colette Falla making a good save inside the opening minute to deny Becky Hambleton.

Panthers did not have long to wait until they broke the deadlock, though.

After Smith had won them a short-corner, persistence eventually paid off for Rieger when, having seen an initial shot well blocked by Gemma Underwood, the captain made no mistake having been gifted another chance from just a few yards out.

Cubs responded well to that early setback and a minute after they had come close to converting their first short-corner of the game, they were level on 8min.

Martha Nuttall read the situation well to win the ball high up the pitch, Kath Guille then played a lovely pass into the D where Mia Lloyd-Jones took charge to score.

However, parity lasted only a couple of minutes.

Sophie Warren can consider herself extremely unfortunate to have conceded a penalty-corner having seemingly timed her tackle on Suzi Druce perfectly only for the ball to loop up and strike her on the forehead.

From the short, Rieger received the injection of the left-hand side of the D and this time her first shot found its target.

Hambleton came agonisingly close to extended the lead as she struck a post midway through the half and then had another effort well saved by Falla, ensuring there were no further goals in the first half.

But Panthers did not have long to wait for the decisive third.

Two minutes into the second half, Smith was alert to intercept a pass across the Cubs defence and she showed maturity beyond her years to go around Falla before finishing.

Both sides played some good hockey in the remaining 33min., but Falla and her opposite number Hannah Eulenkamp as well as their defences in front of them were equal to everything thrown at them.

Panthers can now look forward to a clash with Indies Ladies which could see them crowned champions.