Parkes recorded their first win for the season in the Premier League last Saturday when they thrashed Orange Ex-Services 4-nil.
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India Draper continued her strong season with two goals, taking the striker to equal top on the league's goal scoring charts, while Chloe Carty and Meghan Searl each nabbed a goal.
16-year-old utility Abi Simpson has been one of the stronger players for Parkes this season, and the youngster is growing in confidence every game, as are the rest of her young teammates.
"We are only a young team and have really surprised ourselves with how well we have been going this season.
"Everyone is showing up to training each week really keen to improve their skills," says Simpson.
Head Coach Graham Thompson was keen to temper expectations at the start of the season, but the athletic, attacking and eye-catching Parkes side is playing, for the most part, with a maturity belying their young age.
"Playing against better players and gaining experience will hopefully lead to us to representing at a higher level too," says Simpson, who has represented NSW at underage level.
It's clear that Parkes hockey, which has a very proud history, is in a good spot with the current crop of youngsters, though they will face their sternest test this Saturday when they take on the ladder leaders.
Parkes will be hosting Lithgow Panthers at Mariah Williams Field at 1.30pm, and they'll need to make the home ground advantage really count.
The Panthers are undefeated and are sitting at the top of the ladder, having scored 10 goals and conceding just two.
Last round they were losing 0-1 to Bathurst side St Pat's with just four minutes and 20 seconds to go before Millie Leard found an unmarked Erin Burns on the far post with 4:20 left on the clock- taking the Panthers to 1-all.
Then with 1:14 left Panthers scored the winner. Leard again came up with the assist and this time Marshall provided the finish on the right post.
Given the young Parkes side has been guilty of costly lapses at stages in games this season, there will be absolutely no room for complacency no matter the circumstances of the game.
Parkes 4 (India Draper 2, Chloe Carty, Meghan Searl goals) defeated Orange Ex-Services 0 at Parkes Hockey Complex.
