However, they ran into a determined Panthers side that was still smarting after their major semi-final loss to St Pats the previous week.

Panthers took the high scoring match 6-4 and advanced to next week’s grand final in Bathurst, however, by no means did they have it their own way.

It was a brilliant final with Panthers’ coach Graham Muir full of praise for the contest.

“I’ve seen a lot of hockey in my time and I would say that there would not be too many games quicker than that one,” Muir said.

“The ball zinged from one end to the other with the trapping and running by both sides excellent.

“It was a game well worthy of a final.

“At halftime, all my players were really ‘blowing’,” he said.

Panthers showed that they meant business right from the opening whistle when Parkes’ goalie Trent Thompson was called on to make three good saves in the first three minutes.

But the intense attack of Panthers paid off in the fourth minute when live wire striker Brandan Horner drew Thompson out of his goals and then passed off to Travis Cameron who sent the ball home to put his side 1-0 up.

Panthers were all over Parkes, forcing two more penalty corners, but they were well handled.

Parkes gained their first short corner after eight minutes and Jack Elliott equalised with one of his trade mark drag-flicks to lock up the scores at 1-all.

It was the Panthers’ turn to show their expertise when Ron Charlton finished off a well rehearsed corner to put the home side 2-1 up.

12 minutes before the break, it was like an ‘action replay’ of his first goal when Elliott again drag-flicked a corner high into the goals to level the scores again at 2-all.

Panthers had two more chances with short corners, but the Parkes defence held firm.

With half time looming, Elliott got his short corner hat-trick to put Parkes up 3-2.

The frantic pace of the game did not abate and it was Horner, having one of his best games of the year, who split the Parkes defence to drive home a goal and again lock up the scores at 3-all.

With eight minutes of the first half remaining, Panthers had a golden opportunity to regain the lead when awarded a plenty stroke, but the Travis Cameron attempt sailed well wide.

Cameron made amends moments later, when he got a brilliant touch off a Ron Charlton drive to put his side up 4-3 going into halftime.

Panthers only took one minute of the second half to extend their lead when Horner struck again to push their advantage out to a handy 5-3.

Both sides had a couple of chances through short corners, but both goalies – Mitch Britton (Panthers) and Thompson – were showing why they are regarded as two of the best in the competition with some top saves.

Midway through the second half, Ron Charlton blasted a rocket like short corner strike, low and hard giving the Parkes’ defence no chance and putting Panthers up 6-3.

The speed of Parkes was starting to tell on Panthers who had a couple of ‘walking wounded’ carrying leg injuries, though gamely battled on.

Andrew Bourke gave Parkes a sniff of a comeback when he scored a good field goal to make the score 6-4 with 11 minutes left on the clock.

The defence and experience of Panthers shut the game down and held Parkes out for the remaining period to take the match 6-4 and advance to next week’s grand final against Bathurst St Patricks.

Best for the visitors were Trent Thomson, Kurt Lovett, Jack Elliott and Andrew Bourke.

United’s season ended with the final whistle with the men from Parkes forced to settle for third place.