THERE will be no back-to-back men’s Premier League Hockey grand final appearances for Souths as their 2014 campaign ended with a 4-1 defeat away to Parkes on Saturday.

After keeping in touch with the home side for much of the opening half of the minor semi-final, the two blues couldn’t cope with Parkes’ speed. They let two more goals in off short corners to bring their season to a close.

A Jono Baillie goal midway through the first half was the sole contribution from Souths to the scoreboard.

The defeat also brings to an end to coach Kent Bestwick’s two-year tenure as coach, but he couldn’t be happier with the state he’s leaving the Premier League side in.

“We had a plan over the two years that I was here and that was to make sure that I kept us up in the semis, we achieved that so I’m happy. There’s plenty of positive signs for the future,” he said.

“It’s been sensational. We’re all like brothers at this club and we all get on well. It’s been great being here.”

Parkes got off to an excellent start with a goal in the first five minutes, but Souths remained upbeat.

It led to a scrappy equaliser when Baillie’s attempt deflected off a Parkes stick into their own goal.

However, Parkes made sure they had the ascendancy at the half-time break with a goal from the field.

Short corners broke Souths in the second half, the home side finding their third goal 15 minutes after the resumption.

Another goal from the set play 10 minutes later sealed the result.

Bestwick said his team were frustrated by the speed of the Parkes outfit.

“Their fast break is very quick. Those teams that are left in the finals will really have to watch out for it because they could get dusted if they don’t keep watch,” he said.

“They did have to earn their goals though. There was a lot happening at the end, by the end of it we had three players sitting off the field with yellow cards – not for anything really bad but just some tough tackles.

“All the boys put in as hard an effort as they could. No one was really upset with the result, they left everything out there today.”

Parkes go on to play the Lithgow Panthers for the right to join St Pat’s in the grand final.

PARKES 4 (Jack Elliott 3, Hamish Orr) defeated SOUTHS 1 (Jono Baillie)