Whanganui women hit Massey for six to make Manawatū Women's Premier Reserve hockey final

Colleen Baylis (left) said that keeping composed and passing well was the key to beating Evergreens in this Saturday's Manawatū Women's Premier Reserve hockey final. Photo / Stuart Munro

The best team of the Manawatū Women's Premier Reserve hockey season will compete in the final.

The Whanganui Women smashed Massey University Reserves for six and knocked them out of the Manawatū Women's Premier Reserve hockey competition on Saturday.

The 6-2 semifinal result reflected Whanganui's dominance throughout the season, in which they finished on top of the table with only one loss.

That loss came in May courtesy of High School Hockey Club Evergreens, who beat them 1-0 and who beat the Athletic Hockey Women 3-2 for the other spot in Saturday's final.

Player/coach Colleen Baylis said that returning the favour two weeks ago by beating Evergreens 3-0 counted for little.

"It's always a good game with the 'greens, they're in the same position as us, they've got a lot of experienced players and you can never go on the last game because anything can happen.

"To beat them we just need to maintain our composure and keep up our passing game, we looked really good on Saturday when we passed and that's the key to the game obviously."

Whanganui Women got on the front foot early against Massey, smashing the ball into the back of the net four times for a halftime scoreline of 4-0.

However, the second half was level.

"We talked about that before the game, we wanted to go up by a couple of goals early to make it easier, because we've had to come from behind lately," Baylis said.

"We had a couple of moments where we lapsed in concentration towards the end of the first half, but we definitely had more possession and more of the play than they did."

Robbie Matthews, Melissa Goss and Charlotte Baker each scored two goals in match.

Baylis said support was good in Palmerston North at the weekend and she hopes it will be even better on Saturday.

"It's always good to get to the end of the season and have one more game left.

"We've still got a job to do and then we can sit back and relax for the summer."

Whanganui Women take on High School Hockey Club Evergreens in the Manawatū Women's Premier Reserve hockey final on Saturday August 25 at 12.30pm.