Port Macquarie-Hastings Hockey Association claimed its first-ever division two title in Orange on November 6

The under-13 girls team completed an undefeated Hockey NSW Indoor State Championship success with a 3-1 win over the hosts in the final.

Evie Wignall scored a double while teammate Maddie Drewitt found the back of the net on the way to finishing the tournament as the leading goalscorer with 10.

Port held a 2-0 lead at the break, after Drewitt opened the scoring before Wignall extended the visitors’ lead midway through the second half.

Orange’s Kelsie Whyte gave her side a lifeline soon after the restart, before Wignall restored Port’s two-goal advantage with a tap-in soon after.

Port Macquarie coach Colin Pursehouse said it was a “huge” effort from his girls.

“We finished third last year and we hoped we could go a step further and make the grand final,” he said.

“The girls managed to go one step further than that.”

Finding the back of the net was no problem for Port Macquarie throughout the tournament, as they scored 24 goals in their six matches, including the grand final.

Their defence was tight and only conceded eight goals, with defender Domi Toohey judged as the player of the grand final.

“She shut down their number one player and stuck to her,” Pursehouse said.

“I don’t think it’s set in for the girls yet that they’ve taken out division two; for me it’s huge.”

Port Macquarie defeated Parkes (4-0), Northern Sydney and Beaches (3-2), Southern Highlands (4-1), North West Sydney (5-1) and Sydney South (5-3) on the way to the final.

They will lose most of the side next year as they will go up an age group and manager Rob Walker said it was a great way for them to progress.

“We did have to work hard for it but the girls just played so well as a group; we couldn’t be prouder,” he said.

“I couldn’t fault anybody, the whole team was fantastic from the goalkeeper right up to the strikers.”

Earlier in the weekend, Port Macquarie suffered a 5-2 loss to Bathurst in the under-13 boys grand final.

They progressed to the tournament decider with a draw (3-all) with Northern Sydney and Beaches in their first match.

Wins over Goulburn (6-2), Tamworth 2 (6-1) and Newcastle 2 (6-2 in the semi-final) were impressive, but it was their fightback in an earlier match against Tamworth 2 that pleased coach Leigh McIntosh the most.

“They were down 3-0 early, but came back to win 5-4,” he said.

“It’s the first time a Port Macquarie boys team – indoor or outdoor – have made the semi-finals in division three.”

Taj McIntosh led the way with 12 goals, while Luke Merrill  was awarded the players player and Patrick Mainey won the improvement award.

Story first appeared in Central Western Daily.